The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-01-07
CHAPTER li-contInusd.

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II shall never forget that day spent
In q lonely part Of the woods" the
good woman wrote to her brother. ut
sndeAred the children to me more than
any day can remember. They
brought water from the creek. q great
quantity, and told me stories and
chsered me In every way they could.
Ny faith in Gods protection was per-
feet and in spite Of my misery the
children were q great comfort. In
the middle Of the afternoon Samson
returned with doctor and some tools
and q stick of seasoned timber. How
good he looked when he came and
kneit by my bed and kissed mel This
II q hard journey. but q woman can
bear anything with such . man. The
doctor said I would be all right In
three days. and was
Lite that afternoon 1t began to
rain. Samson was singing a. he
worked Oh 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'rs 4 happy man for one In
20 much trouble said the stranger.
'aThen I heard Samson say: We'll.
DIR, I'm in q III where happiness II
absolutely necessary. It's like grease
On the wagon wheels-ws couldn't
20 on without It When we need any
thing we make 1t II We can. My wife
10 sick and the wagon IL broke and It's
raining and night 10 near In q lone
some country. and 1t amt real good
time for me to be down In the mouth
lis It, now3 We haven't broke any
bones or had an earthquake or been
scalped by Indians. 20 there's some
room for happiness.
Look here. stranger-I like you
said the man. IL there's anything
can do to help ye. I'll stop 4 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 nightfail, they were
overtaken by u tall. handsome Yankee
lad riding 4 pony. His pony stopped
beside the wagon and looked toward
the travellers as II 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 20 he began crying
like a child.
This boy is SICK" she said to Sam
son. who came and helped him off
his horse. They camped for the night
and put the boy to bed and gave him
medicine and tender care. He was
too sick to travel next day. The Tray
Tors stayed with him and nursed the
lad until he was able to 60 on. He
was from Niagara county, New York,
and his name was Harry Needles.
His mother had died when he was
ten and his father had married again.
He had not been happy In his home
after that and his father had given
him a pony and a hundred dollars
and sent him away to seek his own
fortune. Homesick and lonely and Ill,
and Just going west with sublime
faith that the West would somehow
provide for him. he might even have
persisted on the way II he had not fall
en- In with friendly people. His story
had touched the heart Of Sarah and
Samson. He was big. green. gentle
hearted country boy who had set out
filled with hope and the love Of ad.
venture. Sarah found pleasure In
mothering the poor lad. and 80 1t
happened that he became one Of their
little party. He was helpful and good
Inatured and had sundry arts that
pleased the children. The man and
the woman liked the big. honest lad.
One day he said to Samson: II
hope you won't mind II 20 along
with you, SIR"
Glad to have you with u.s." said
Samson. "ws'vs talked It over. II
you want to. you can come along
with Us and our home shall be yours
and I'll do what's right BY you"
They Jared along through Indiana
and over the wide savannas Of Mi.
hoiA aAd - ths siasty-ssvsnth dAy