The Glenwood post., 1922-01-26

north of the house, were black with
them. Fever and ague descended up
on the little home in the early winter.
In letter to her brother, dated
January 4th, 1882, Sarah writes:
ave have been longing for news
from home, but not word has come
from you. 1t don't seem as If we could
stand 1t unless we hear from you or
some of the folks once in while.
We are not dead just because we are
thousand miles away. We want to
hear from you. Please write and let
us know how father and mother are
and all the news. We have all been
sick with the fever and ague. 1t is 4
beautiful country and the soil Is very
rich, but there Is some sickness. Sam
son and l were both sick at the same
time. l never knew Samson to give
up before. He couldn't go on, his head
ached SO. Little Joe helped me get
the fire started and brought some wa
ter and waited on Us. Harry Needles
had gone away to Springfield for Mr..
Offut with drove of hogs. Two 9TH
er boys are with him. He is going to
buy new suit. He Is very proud
boy. Joe and Betsey got back with
the doctor at nine. That night Abe
Lincoln came and sat up with US and
gave us our medicine and kept the
fire going 1t was comical to see him
lying beside Joe in his trundle bed,
with his long legs sticking over the
end of 1t and his feet standing on the
floor ubout yard from the bed. He
was spread all over the place. He
talked about religion and his views
would shock most of our friends in the
East. He doesn't believe in the kind
Of Heaven that the ministers talk
about or any eternal hell. He says
that nobody knows anything about the
hereafter, except that God is kind
and forgiving father and that all men
are His children. He says that we
can only serve God by serving each
other. He seems to think that every
man, good or bad, black or white, rich
or poor, is his brother. He thinks
that Henry Clay, next to Daniel Web
ster Is the greatest man in the coun-
try. He is studying hard. Expects to
60 out and make speeches for Clay
next summer. He is quite severe in
his talk against General Jackson. He
and Samson agree in politics and re-
llgion. They are a good deal alike.
He is very fond of Samson and Har-
ry-calls them his partners. We love
this big awkward giant. His feet are
set in the straight way and we think
that he is going to make his mark in
the world.
you said you would come out next
spring to look about. Please don't
dlsappolnt us. think 1t would almost
break my heart. am counting the
days. Don't be afraid Of fever and
ague. Sapington's pills cure 1t in three
or four days. would take the steam
boat at Plttsburg. the roads in Ohio
and Indiana are SO bad. You can get
a steamer up the Illinois river at AL
ton and get of at Beardstown and
drive across country. If we knew
when you were coming Samson or Abe
would meet you. Give our love to all
the folks and friends.
yours affectionately,
Sarah and Samson"
1t had been cold winter and not
easy to keep comfortable in the little
house. In the worst weather Sam
son had used to get up at night to
keep the fire going. Late in January
a wlnd from the southeast melted the
snow and warmed the air of the mid
lnnds so that, for q week or so, 1t
seemed as IL spring were come. One
night Of this week Sambo awOke the
family with his barking. A strong
and roaring over the cabin and wall
ing in its chimney. Suddenly there
was a rap on Its door. When Samson
opened 1t he saw In the moonlight q
young colored man and woman stand
ing near the doorstep
"Is dis Mistah Traylor7" the young
man asked.
ut is." said Samson. what can I
do for your"
"Masr, de good Lord done fotched
US here to ask you TO help said the
negro. 1--WE be nigh wone out with cold
an hungah, sub, deed we be-
Samson asked them In and put wood
on the fire, and Sarah got up and made
some hot lea and brought food from
the cupboard and gave 1t to the stran-
gers, who sat shiverIng in the firelight.
They wess' a good-looking pair, the
young woman being almost white.
They were man and wife. The latter
stopped eating and moaned and shook
with emotion as her husband told
their story. Their master had died
the year before and they had been
brought to st. Louis to be sold In the
slave market. There they had es-
capped by night and gone to the house
Of an old friend Of their former owner
who lived north Of the city on the
river shore. He had taken plty On