The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-06-25
Chapter III
By MISS ELINOR HENRY

How eagerly golden-haired Mar
ciSsa PrentiSS must have awaited
Marcus Whitman's return from the
west in December, 1885. There was
little time for courtship in the weeks
between his return and their we'd
ding February 10. 1886. Her friends
and relatives in Angelica, his in
Rushville, and those of the Parkers
in Ithaca all were busily preparing
for the missionary journey planned
for early spring.
In the little time they had for
talking together, he doubtless told
her much about his trip beyond the
Rockies the previous summer. Most
vividly her clear mind must have
pictured the Indian chiefs of the
Nez Perces and Flathead tribes who
had gathered at the Rendezvous of
the Eastern and Western fur COM
panies. There were many there, said
Marcus, who had not come for the
trading They had ridden miles to
see men near to God" asking for
teachers and for the Book.
But who would go with Narclssa
and Marcus to answer the call?
Possible candidates were rejected
young children. Another refused to
20 to a mission among tribes to whom
Whitman planned to minister.
Henry Harmon Spalding was one
who was rejected because he and
his wife were believed to have a
baby, although it had died at birth.
Precious weeks were lost in CORE
apondance, and it was not until Feb
Iuary IL, or Whereabouts, that Whit
man received q letter from Greene
Of the American Board which gave
permission but no definite orders
that Spalding might accompany the
Whitmans. Immediately Marcus left
for Prattsburg, where the Spaldings
had been visiting. When he reached
Prattsburg Saturday, February -.
he found that the Spaldings had left
the day before, but that Spalding
had an engagement to preach in the
Howard church Sunday.
Here all the suspense Of the pre-
vious weeks eliminated. Narcissa
was waiting expectantly in Angel
lea. ready to marry him and leave
for the west as soon as another
couple could be secured to accom-
pany them. The Spa1dings were on
a journey toward mission among
the Osages and would be unlikely
to stay long in Howard. DR.. Whit
man travelled on the Sabbath, for
one Of the few times in his life.
He caught up with the Spaldings at
q Howard inn and convinced them
that without their help the Mission
to the Rocky Mountains would have
to be abandoned, at least for that
year. The decision rested with Eliza
Hart Splading, who still was weak
from an illness Of the previous fall.
Prayerfully, she told her husband
that they would accept. They prom
ised to meet the Whitmans at Gin
cinnati early in March. and, the
to tell Narcissa.
Unhappily for the perfect peace
Of the future Oregon mission, he
had forgotten or overlooked one little
matter that Henry and Narcissa
disliked each other. for exactly
what reason no one has yet dis
covered. The romantic version that
a love affair was to blame has no
support.
Endeavoring to be truly Chris
tan, the missionaries attempted to
make the best of the unfortunate
situation. Being human. they did not
always succeed. These minor con-
ficts are not important to us now
that a century has passed, except
that they help to explain at least
partially why Whitman risked his
life to ride across the continent in
the winter of 1912.
Narcissa Prentiss and Marcus
Whitman were married at a Thurs
day night meeting in the little Pres
byterian church in Angelica. New
York, on February 18. 1886. as a
letter recently found by DR.. Drury
proves. The brides father was or
dained an elder in the church that
night. and the communion service
was observed. The most touching
part Of the story of their marriage
is that the bride sang alone the last
stanza Of the final hymn. "The Mis-
sionary's Farewell" Other members
OF the congregation were too deeply
affected by the words:
yes. my native land I love thee,
All thy scenes I love them well,
Friends. connections. happy coun-
try,
Can, bid you all FAREWELL"
An interested spectator at the wed.
ding was an Indian boy, the son Of
his American friends. He was one
Of two Indian lads who had come
East with Whitman from the Rem.
devious Of the Eastern and Western
FUR companies the year before. Rich.
NEXT: The Race to Catch Il
Buffalo Meat and Tea; Crossing
devious; Wagon Wheels Into the Y