The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-12-16

CaDin ana his OduQnter Dim, ana
Gets a First Look at Lincoln.
They had dinner Of prairie chick
ems and roast venison, favored with
wild grape jelly, and creamed potatoes
and cookies and doughnuts and raisin
pie. 1t was well-cooked dinner
served on white linen, in a clean room,
and while they were eating, the SYM
pathetic landlady stood by the table.
eager to learn of their travels and to
make them feel at home. The good
food and their kindly welcome and
the beauty Of the rolling, wooded
prairies softened the regret which had
been growing in their hearts, and
which only the children had dared
to express.
Perhaps we haven't made a mis-
take, after ALL" Sarah whispered when
the dinner was over. II like these
people and the prairies are beautiful"
ut is the land Of plenty at last"
said Samson, as they came out of
doors ut Is even better than l
thought"
"As Douglas Jerrold said Of Austria
liza: Tickle 1t with hoe and 1t
laughs with harvest" said DR..
Allen, who still sat in the shaded
dooryard, smoking his pipe. II have
an extra horse and saddle. Suppose
you leave the family with Mrs Rut-
ledge and ride around with me little
this afternoon. I can show you how
the land lies Off to the west of ".
and tomorrow Wen look at the o,her
side"
"Thank you'll want to look around
here little" said Samson. "What's
the name of this place"
"New Salem We call 1t a village.
1t has mill, carding machine, a
tavern. a schoolhouse, five stores,
fourteen houses, two or three men Of
genius, and noisy dam. It's crude
but growing place and soon 1t will
have all the embellishments Of civil.
lized life"
That evening many of the inhabit-
ants of the little village came to the
introduced by DIR. Allen. Most Of
them had come from Kentucky, al
though there were two Yankee fam
lilies who had moved on from Ohio.
"These are good folks" said the
Doctor. There are others who are
not so good l could show you some
pretty rough customers at Clary's
Grove, not far from here. We have
to take things as they are and do
our best to make 'em better"
"Any Indansw Sarah asked.
"You see one now and then, but
they're peaceable. Most Of 'em have
gone with the uffaloes-farther west
Now and then circuit rider gets
here and breaches to us. You'll hear
the Reverend Stephen Nuckles If vol
settle In these parts. He can hollel
louder than any man in the state
The tavern was the only house In
New Salem with stairs in it-stairs
so steep, as Samson writes, that "they
were first cousins to the ladder
There were four small rooms above
them. Two of these were separated
by partition of cloth hanging from
the rafters. In each was bed and
bedstead and smaller beds on the
floor. In case there were number
of adult guests the bedstead was
screened with sheets hung upon
strings. In one of these rooms the
travellers had night of refreshing
sleep.
After riding two days with the
Doctor, Samson bought the claim of
one Isaac Gollaher to half section
of land little Inore than Il mile from
the western end of the village. He
chose site for his house on the
edge of an open prairie.
"Now wen go over and see Abe,
said DR. Allen, after the deal was
made. "fIe's the best man with an
AK and a saw in this part of the
country He clerks for Mr.. Offut
Abe Lincoln IS one of the best fellows
that ever lived--a rough diamond just
out of the great mine of the West, that
only needs to be cut and polished
Denton Onfut's store was a small
log structure about twenty by twenty
which stood near the brow of the
hill east of Rutledge's tavern. Wher
they entered it Abe lay at full length
on the counter, his head resting on 9
bolt of blue denim as he studied q
book In his hand. He wore the same
shirt and one suspender and linse!
trousers which he had worn in the
dOoryard of the tavern, but his fee
were covered only by his blue yarr
socks.
1t was general store full of exotic
fiavors, chiefly those Of tea, coffee
tobacco, muscovadO sugar and moas
SEES. There was counter on eacl
side. Bolts of cloth, mostly calico
were piled on the far end Of the righ
counter as one entered and the neal
end held showcase containing I
display Of cutlery, pewter spoons
jewelry and fishing tackle. There
wora douhIa tyiudowc IN aithar side