The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-06-17

He alighted and helped his family
out Of the wagon.
You 90 right in-Ill take care O.
the oxen" said the man.
Samson started for the house with
the girl under one arm and the boy
under the other. A peasant-faced
woman greeted them with a hearty
welcome at the door.
you poor mani Come right In"
she said.
"Poorl I'm the richest man In the
world" said he. Look at the gold
on that girls head-curly, fine gold,
too-the best there is She's Betsey-
my little toy woman-half past seven
years old-blue eyes-helps her moth
er get tired every day. Here's my
toy man Josiah-yes. brown hair and
brown eyes like Sarah-heart o. gold
helps his mother. too-six times
one year DID,"
what pretty facesl" said the wo-
man as she stopped and kissed them.
"Yes, ma'am. Got 'em from the
fairies" Samson went on ~They
an / guess they color 'em up with the
blood o. roses an the gold o. butter
cups an the blue o. violets Here's
this wife O. mine. She's richern
am She owns all Of us. We're her
slaves"
Looks as young as she did the day
she was married-nine years ago"
said the woman.
Exactly" Samson exclaimed
Straight ~ an arrow and proudr /
don't blame her. She's got enough
to make her proud. 1 say. I fall in
love again every time 1 look into her
big. brown eyes,"
They had a joyous evening and a
restful night with these old friends
and resumed their journey soon after
daylight. They ferried across the
lake at Burlington and Jared away
over the mountains and through the
deep forest on the Chateaugay trail.
Since the Pilgrims landed between
the measureless waters and the path
less wilderness they and their des-
cendants had been surrounded by the
lure of mystery. The love of adven-
ture. the desire to explore the dark,
infested and beautiful forest, the
dream Of fruitful sunny lands cut
with water courses, shored with sill
yer and strewn with gold beyond 1t
these were the only heritage of their |
sons and daughters save the strength |
and courage OF the pioneer. How true |
was this dream Of theirs gathering |
detail and allurement as 1t passed |
from sire to son. On distant plains |
to the west were lands more lovely |
and fruitful than any OF their vision
In mountains far beyond was gold |
enough to gid the dome OF the heav-
ems, as the sun was wont to do at |
eventide. and silver enough to put a
fairly respectable moon In It. Yet for
their hands were not to touch. these
things They were only 10 push their
frontier a little farther to the west |
and hold the dream and pass 1t on
to their children.
Those early years OF the Nineteenth
century held the first days Of full
Samson and Sarah Traylor
had the old dream In their hearts
when they first turned their faces TO
he west. For years Sarah had re-
sisted Il, thinking OF the hardshIps
md perils In the way Of the mover.
Samson, man OF Twenty-Five when
ne set out from his old home was said
o be always chasing the bird in the
,ush." He was never content with
he thing In hand. There were GER
ain OF their friends who promised
o come and join them when, at last,
hey should have found the land of
,lenty. But most OF the group that
JADE them good-by thought It fool
sh enterprise and spoke lightly OF
samson when they were gone. Amer
ca has undervalued the brave souls
gho went west In wagons, without
whose sublime courage and endurance
he plains would still be an unplowed
Often we hear them set
own as seedy, shiftless dreamers
Who could not make living at home.
hey were mostly the best blood of
he world and the noblest OF Gods
Who does not honor
hem above the thrifty. comfort-lov-
ng men and women who preferred TO
tay at home. where risks were few.
he supply of food sure and suffI-
lent and the consultations OF friend
hip and religion always at hand?
Samson, and Sarah preferred TO enlist
md take their places In the front
,attle line OF Civilization.
They had read little book called