The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-06-09
-G22LRLolLZ I2NZMD SA(HhZLEk2s

poor 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 II. She's Kelsey
my little toy woman-half past seven
years old-blue eyes-helps her moth
or 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 old"
-what pretty facesi" said the wo-
man as she stopped and kissed them.
"Yes. ma'nm. Got 'em from the
fairies" samson went on. "They
have all kinds o. heads for little folks,
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 richer'n !
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.
"Exactlyl' Samson exclaimed.
u
don't blame her. She's got enough
to make her proud, l say. fall In
love again every time I look into her
big. brown eyes"
They had joyous evening and n
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-
pendants had been surrounded by the
lure Of mystery The love OF adven-
ture. the desire 10 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 It.
these were the only heritage NJ their
sons and daughters save the strength
and courage Of the pioneer. How true
was this dream Of theirs gathering
detail and allurement as IL passed
from sire TO son On distant plains
10 the west were lands more lovely
and fruitful than any Of their vision
In mountains far beyond was gold
enough to gld the dome Of the heav-
ems. as the sun was wont 20 do at
eventide. and silver enough to put
fairly respectable moon In II. Yet for
generations their eyes were not To see.
their hands were not 20 touch. these
things They were only to push their
frontier little farther 10 the west
and hold the dream and pass II on
to their children
Those early years OF the Nineteenth
century held the first days Of full
fllment 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 pcrlS In the way OF the mover.
samson, u man ~ twenty-nine when
he set ont from his old home, was said
TO he always chasing the bird In the
bush" lie was never content with
the thing In hand. There were GER
tain of their friends who promised
10 come aud Join them when. at last
they should have found the land OF
plenty. But most OF the group that
babe them good-by thought II fool
ish enterprise and spoke lightly OF
Samson when they were gone. Amer
lea has UNDERMINED the brave souls
who went west In wagons, without
whose sublime courage and endurance
the plains would still be an unplowed
wilderness often we hear them set
down as seedy. shiftless dreamers
who could not make a 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-
Client and the consultations OF friend
ship and religion always at handf
Samson and Sarah preferred to enlist
and take their places In the front
battle line OF Civilization.
They had read a little book called
The Country n the Sangamon. The
latter was word OF the Pottawa-
;omles meaning land OF plenty. II was
the name OF river in Illinois drain
Ing "boundless. flowery meadows Of
unexampled beauty and fertility, belt
ed with timber, blessed with shady
groves, covered with game and mostly
level without a stick or a stone to
vex the plowman." Thither 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 q team Of horses. They
were large gray horses named Pete and
Colonel. The latter was fat and good
nstured. His chief Interest In life
vas food. Pete was always l00kin0