The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1921-07-28

AAOhe.~, = bAtfr AuIbicA ~ 80 "~'t
and hold the drenm and pass II on
to their children.
Those early yenrs of tile Nineteenth
century held the first days Of full
fillment. Samson and Sarah Traylor
had the old dream In their hearts
when they first turned their faces to
the west. For years Sarah had re-
sisted II, thinking of the hardships
and perils In the way Of the mover.
Samson, a man Of twenty-nlne when
he set out from his old home, was said
to be always chasing the bird In the
BUSH" He was never content with
the thing 10 hand There were GER
tain of their friends who promised
to come and Join them when, at last,
they should hnve found the land Of
plenty. But most of the roup that
bade them good-by thought II a fool
ish enterprise and spoke lightly OF
Samson when they were gone. Amer
lea has underyalued the brave souls
who went west In wagons. without
whose sublime courage and endurance
the plains would still be an unplowed
down as seedy. shlftless dreamers
who could not make living at home.
They were mostly the best blood of
the world and the noblest of Gods
missionaries. Who does not honor
them above the thrifty, comfort-lov-
ing men and women who preferred to
stay at home, where risks were few,
the supply OF food sure and suffi-
cient and the consoatlons of friend
ship and religion always at handI
Samson and Safah preferred to enlist
and take their places In the front
battle line of Civilization.
They had read little book called
The Country Of, the Sangnmon. The
latter was a word of the Pottawa-
tonnes meaning land Of plenty. 1t was
the name Of river In Illinois drain.
ing "boundless, fowery meadows Of
unexampled beauty and fertility, belt
ed with timber, blessed with shady
groves, covered with game and mostly
| level, without a stick or stone to
vex the plOwman." Thlther they
were bound, to take up a section OF
government land.
They stopped for a visit with Elisha
Howard and his wife, old friends Of
theirs, who lived In the village of
Malone, which was in Franklin county,
New York. There they traded their
oxen for a team Of horses. They
were large gray horses named Pete and
Colonel. The lntter was fat and good
natured. His chief interest In life
was food. Pete was always looking
for food and perils. Colonel was the
near horse Now and then Samson
threw a sheepskIn over his back and
put the boy OH it and trnmped along
within arms reach of Soe's left leg.
This was a great delight to the little
lad.
They proceeded ct better pace to
the Black River country, toward
which, In the village Of Canton. they
tarried again for a visit with Captain
Moody and Sllas Wright, both OF
whom had taught school In the town
of Vergennes.
They proceeded through DeKalb,
Richville and Gouverneur and Ant
werp and on to the Sand plains. They
had gone far out of their way for q
look at these old friends of theirs
q Samson's diary tells how. at the tor
Of the long, steep hills he used to
cut small tree by the roadside and
tie Its butt to the rear axle and hanG
on to Its branches while his wife
drove the team. This held theiI
load. making an effective brake.
Travelling through the forest, ns
; they had been doing for weeks, while
the day waned. they looked for 6
brookside on which they could pass
! the night with water handy. Samson
tethered, fed and watered their horses
and while Sarah and the children
built fire and mnde tea und biscuits
he was getting bait and catching tsi
In the stream.
''ln few minutes from the time
wet my hook a mess OF trout would b'
dressed and sizzling. with a piece o.
! salt pork. in the pan, or II was bat
! day for fishing" he writes.
+ After supper the wagon was partl!
unloaded, the feather bed laid upoI
! the planks under the wagon roof ant
5 spread with blankets. Then Samson
r sang songs and told stories or playe'
3 upon the violin TO amuse the family
= Often II the others were weary ant
e depressed he would dance merrill,
around the fire. playing lively tune
a with Sambo glad 10 lend a helplnl
: foot and much noise TO the program
: BY and b.: the violin was put ava
e and all knelt by the fire while Sara
i prayed aloud for protection throug