Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-09-01
oey," said Sarah.


through long. hot. dusty days had
wearied them. Even their hearts were
getting sore as they thought Of the
endless reaches of the roads ahead
Samson stuffed sack with straw and
put 1t under her and the children on
the seat. At word Of complaint he
was wont to say:
II know it's awful tiresome, but we
got to have patience. We're goin' to
get used to 1t and have'a wonderful
lot of fun. The time'll pass quick
you see." Then he would sing and
get them all laughing with some Gu
rious bit of drollery. They spent the
night of July third at a tavern in
Buffalo, then a busy. crude and rapid
growing center for the shipping east
and west.
There were emigrants on their
way to the Far West in the
crowd-men, women and children and
babies in arms-Irish, English, Ger
mans and Yankees. There were also
weIl-dressed. handsome young men
from the colleges Of New England
going out to be missionaries between
the desert and the sowp."
Buffalo, on the edge of the mid
land seas, had the flavor Of the rank,
new soil in it those days-and especi-
ally that day, when it was thronged
with rough coated and rougher tongued,
swearing men on a holiday, steve
dores and boatmen off the lakes and
rivers of the middle border-sOme of
whom had had their training on the
Ohio and Mississippi. There was much
drunkenness and fighting in the
crowded streets. Some Of the carriers
and handlers of American commerce
vented their enthusiasm in song.
They had the lake view and it's
cool breeze on their way to Silver
Greek, Dunkirk and Erie, and a
rough way it was in those days.
Enough has been written Of this
long and wearisome journey, but the
worst Of it was ahead Of tllem-much
the worst of tin the swamp flats
of Ohio and Indiana. In one Of the
former a wagon wheel broke down,
with ague and burn with fever. Sam
son built a rude camp by the road
side, put Sarah into bed under IT'S
cover and started for the nearest viii
lage on Colonel's back.
II shall never forget that day spent
in lonely part of the woods" the
good woman wrote to her brother. "It
endeared the children to me more than
any day can remember. They
brought water from the creek. a great
quantity, and told me stories and
cheered me in every way they could.
My faith in Gods protection was per-
feet and in spite of my misery the
children were great comfort. In
the middle of the afternoon Samson
| returned with doctor and some tools
| and a stick of seasoned timber. How
! good he looked when he came and
knelt by my bed and kissed me! This
| is hard journey, but woman can
bear anything with such a man. The
| doctor said l would be all right in
| three days, and 1 was.
Late that afternoon it began to
, rain. Samson was singing as he
| worked on his wheel. A traveller
came along on horseback and saw
our plight. He was a young mission
ary going west. Samson began to
| Joke with him.
"'You're happy man for one in
so much trouble said the stranger.
.Then l heard Samson say: Well,
sir, I'm in fix where happiness ID
absolutely necessary. It's like grease
on the wagon wheels-we couldn't
| 70 on without it. When we need any
thing we make 1t If we can. My wife
is sick and the wagon is broke and it's
raining and night is neav in q lone
some country, and it amt real good
time for me to be down in the mouth
lis it, now? We haven't broke any
bones or had an earthquake or been
scalped by Indians, so there's some
room for happiness
Look here, stranger-I like you,
said the man. If there's anything I
can do to help We, I'll stop WHILE {"
He spent the night with them and
helped mend the felly and set the
tire.
The fever and ague passed from
one to another and all were sick
before the journey ended, although
Samson kept the reins in hand
through his misery. There were many
breaks to mend, but Samson's inge-
nuity was always equal to the task.
One day, near nightfall, they were
Overtaken by tall, handsome Yankee
lad riding pony. His pony stopped
beside the wagon and looked toward
the travellers as If appealing for help.
The boy was pointing toward the hori-
zon and muttering. Sarah saw at
once that his mind was wandering in
the delirium of fever, She got out
of the wagon and took his hand. The
moment she did SO he began crying
like child.
'This boy is sick,' she said to Sam
son, who came and helped Mm off
his horse They canned for tle night