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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16623-8.txt b/16623-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b0d2cf --- /dev/null +++ b/16623-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5068 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Letters of a Woman Homesteader, by Elinore Pruitt Stewart + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Letters of a Woman Homesteader + +Author: Elinore Pruitt Stewart + +Release Date: August 30, 2005 [EBook #16623] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER *** + + + + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + * * * * * + + + + + + LETTERS + OF A WOMAN + HOMESTEADER + + BY + + _Elinore Pruitt Stewart_ + + [Illustration] + + + BOSTON AND NEW YORK + HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY + The Riverside Press Cambridge + + + + + 1913 AND 1914, BY THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY CO. + + 1914, BY ELINORE PRUITT STEWART + + ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + + _Published May 1914_ + + + + +PUBLISHERS' NOTE + + +The writer of the following letters is a young woman who lost her +husband in a railroad accident and went to Denver to seek support for +herself and her two-year-old daughter, Jerrine. Turning her hand to the +nearest work, she went out by the day as house-cleaner and laundress. +Later, seeking to better herself, she accepted employment as a +housekeeper for a well-to-do Scotch cattle-man, Mr. Stewart, who had +taken up a quarter-section in Wyoming. The letters, written through +several years to a former employer in Denver, tell the story of her new +life in the new country. They are genuine letters, and are printed as +written, except for occasional omissions and the alteration of some of +the names. + + 4 PARK ST. + + + +CONTENTS + + + I. THE ARRIVAL AT BURNT FORK 3 + + II. FILING A CLAIM 7 + + III. A BUSY, HAPPY SUMMER 15 + + IV. A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND ZEBULON PIKE 23 + + V. SEDALIA AND REGALIA 45 + + VI. A THANKSGIVING-DAY WEDDING 54 + + VII. ZEBULON PIKE VISITS HIS OLD HOME 60 + + VIII. A HAPPY CHRISTMAS 64 + + IX. A CONFESSION 77 + + X. THE STORY OF CORA BELLE 81 + + XI. ZEBBIE'S STORY 100 + + XII. A CONTENTED COUPLE 117 + + XIII. PROVING UP 133 + + XIV. THE NEW HOUSE 137 + + XV. THE "STOCKING-LEG" DINNER 143 + + XVI. THE HORSE-THIEVES 157 + + XVII. AT GAVOTTE'S CAMP 180 + +XVIII. THE HOMESTEADER'S MARRIAGE AND A LITTLE FUNERAL 184 + + XIX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE 193 + + XX. THE JOYS OF HOMESTEADING 213 + + XXI. A LETTER OF JERRINE'S 218 + + XXII. THE EFFICIENT MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY 220 + +XXIII. HOW IT HAPPENED 225 + + XXIV. A LITTLE ROMANCE 230 + + XXV. AMONG THE MORMONS 256 + + XXVI. SUCCESS 279 + + * * * * * + + + + +LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER + + +I + +THE ARRIVAL AT BURNT FORK + + + BURNT FORK, WYOMING, + _April 18, 1909._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Are you thinking I am lost, like the Babes in the Wood? Well, I am not +and I'm sure the robins would have the time of their lives getting +leaves to cover me out here. I am 'way up close to the Forest Reserve +of Utah, within half a mile of the line, sixty miles from the railroad. +I was twenty-four hours on the train and two days on the stage, and oh, +those two days! The snow was just beginning to melt and the mud was +about the worst I ever heard of. + +The first stage we tackled was just about as rickety as it could very +well be and I had to sit with the driver, who was a Mormon and so +handsome that I was not a bit offended when he insisted on making love +all the way, especially after he told me that he was a widower Mormon. +But, of course, as I had no chaperone I looked very fierce (not that +that was very difficult with the wind and mud as allies) and told him +my actual opinion of Mormons in general and particular. + +Meantime my new employer, Mr. Stewart, sat upon a stack of baggage and +was dreadfully concerned about something he calls his "Tookie," but I +am unable to tell you what that is. The road, being so muddy, was full +of ruts and the stage acted as if it had the hiccoughs and made us all +talk as though we were affected in the same way. Once Mr. Stewart asked +me if I did not think it a "gey duir trip." I told him he could call it +gay if he wanted to, but it didn't seem very hilarious to me. Every +time the stage struck a rock or a rut Mr. Stewart would "hoot," until +I began to wish we would come to a hollow tree or a hole in the ground +so he could go in with the rest of the owls. + +At last we "arriv," and everything is just lovely for me. I have a +very, very comfortable situation and Mr. Stewart is absolutely no +trouble, for as soon as he has his meals he retires to his room and +plays on his bagpipe, only he calls it his "bugpeep." It is "The +Campbells are Coming," without variations, at intervals all day long +and from seven till eleven at night. Sometimes I wish they would make +haste and get here. + +There is a saddle horse especially for me and a little shotgun with +which I am to kill sage chickens. We are between two trout streams, so +you can think of me as being happy when the snow is through melting and +the water gets clear. We have the finest flock of Plymouth Rocks and +get so many nice eggs. It sure seems fine to have all the cream I want +after my town experiences. Jerrine is making good use of all the good +things we are having. She rides the pony to water every day. + +I have not filed on my land yet because the snow is fifteen feet deep +on it, and I think I would rather see what I am getting, so will wait +until summer. They have just three seasons here, winter and July and +August. We are to plant our garden the last of May. When it is so I can +get around I will see about land and find out all I can and tell you. + +I think this letter is about to reach thirty-secondly, so I will send +you my sincerest love and quit tiring you. Please write me when you +have time. + + Sincerely yours, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +II + +FILING A CLAIM + + + _May 24, 1909._ + +DEAR, DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Well, I have filed on my land and am now a bloated landowner. I waited +a long time to even _see_ land in the reserve, and the snow is yet too +deep, so I thought that as they have but three months of summer and +spring together and as I wanted the land for a ranch anyway, perhaps I +had better stay in the valley. So I have filed adjoining Mr. Stewart +and I am well pleased. I have a grove of twelve swamp pines on my +place, and I am going to build my house there. I thought it would be +very romantic to live on the peaks amid the whispering pines, but I +reckon it would be powerfully uncomfortable also, and I guess my twelve +can whisper enough for me; and a dandy thing is, I have all the nice +snow-water I want; a small stream runs right through the center of my +land and I am quite near wood. + +A neighbor and his daughter were going to Green River, the county-seat, +and said I might go along, so I did, as I could file there as well as +at the land office; and oh, that trip! I had more fun to the square +inch than Mark Twain or Samantha Allen _ever_ provoked. It took us a +whole week to go and come. We camped out, of course, for in the whole +sixty miles there was but one house, and going in that direction there +is not a tree to be seen, nothing but sage, sand, and sheep. About noon +the first day out we came near a sheep-wagon, and stalking along ahead +of us was a lanky fellow, a herder, going home for dinner. Suddenly it +seemed to me I should starve if I had to wait until we got where we had +planned to stop for dinner, so I called out to the man, "Little +Bo-Peep, have you anything to eat? If you have, we'd like to find it." +And he answered, "As soon as I am able it shall be on the table, if +you'll but trouble to get behind it." Shades of Shakespeare! Songs of +David, the Shepherd Poet! What do you think of us? Well, we got behind +it, and a more delicious "it" I never tasted. Such coffee! And out of +_such_ a pot! I promised Bo-Peep that I would send him a crook with +pink ribbons on it, but I suspect he thinks I am a crook without the +ribbons. + +The sagebrush is so short in some places that it is not large enough to +make a fire, so we had to drive until quite late before we camped that +night. After driving all day over what seemed a level desert of sand, +we came about sundown to a beautiful caņon, down which we had to drive +for a couple of miles before we could cross. In the caņon the shadows +had already fallen, but when we looked up we could see the last shafts +of sunlight on the tops of the great bare buttes. Suddenly a great wolf +started from somewhere and galloped along the edge of the caņon, +outlined black and clear by the setting sun. His curiosity overcame him +at last, so he sat down and waited to see what manner of beast we +were. I reckon he was disappointed for he howled most dismally. I +thought of Jack London's "The Wolf." + +After we quitted the caņon I saw the most beautiful sight. It seemed as +if we were driving through a golden haze. The violet shadows were +creeping up between the hills, while away back of us the snow-capped +peaks were catching the sun's last rays. On every side of us stretched +the poor, hopeless desert, the sage, grim and determined to live in +spite of starvation, and the great, bare, desolate buttes. The +beautiful colors turned to amber and rose, and then to the general +tone, dull gray. Then we stopped to camp, and such a scurrying around +to gather brush for the fire and to get supper! Everything tasted so +good! Jerrine ate like a man. Then we raised the wagon tongue and +spread the wagon sheet over it and made a bedroom for us women. We made +our beds on the warm, soft sand and went to bed. + +It was too beautiful a night to sleep, so I put my head out to look and +to think. I saw the moon come up and hang for a while over the mountain +as if it were discouraged with the prospect, and the big white stars +flirted shamelessly with the hills. I saw a coyote come trotting along +and I felt sorry for him, having to hunt food in so barren a place, but +when presently I heard the whirr of wings I felt sorry for the sage +chickens he had disturbed. At length a cloud came up and I went to +sleep, and next morning was covered several inches with snow. It didn't +hurt us a bit, but while I was struggling with stubborn corsets and +shoes I communed with myself, after the manner of prodigals, and said: +"How much better that I were down in Denver, even at Mrs. Coney's, +digging with a skewer into the corners seeking dirt which _might_ be +there, yea, even eating codfish, than that I should perish on this +desert--of imagination." So I turned the current of my imagination and +fancied that I was at home before the fireplace, and that the backlog +was about to roll down. My fancy was in such good working trim that +before I knew it I kicked the wagon wheel, and I certainly got as warm +as the most "sot" Scientist that ever read Mrs. Eddy could possibly +wish. + +After two more such days I "arrived." When I went up to the office +where I was to file, the door was open and the most taciturn old man +sat before a desk. I hesitated at the door, but he never let on. I +coughed, yet no sign but a deeper scowl. I stepped in and modestly +kicked over a chair. He whirled around like I had shot him. "Well?" he +interrogated. I said, "I am powerful glad of it. I was afraid you were +sick, you looked in such pain." He looked at me a minute, then grinned +and said he thought I was a book-agent. Fancy me, a fat, comfortable +widow, trying to sell books! + +Well, I filed and came home. If you will believe me, the Scot was glad +to see me and didn't herald the Campbells for two hours after I got +home. I'll tell you, it is mighty seldom any one's so much appreciated. + +No, we have no rural delivery. It is two miles to the office, but I go +whenever I like. It is really the jolliest kind of fun to gallop down. +We are sixty miles from the railroad, but when we want anything we send +by the mail-carrier for it, only there is nothing to get. + +I know this is an inexcusably long letter, but it is snowing so hard +and you know how I like to talk. I am sure Jerrine will enjoy the cards +and we will be glad to get them. Many things that are a comfort to us +out here came from dear Mrs. ----. Baby has the rabbit you gave her last +Easter a year ago. In Denver I was afraid my baby would grow up devoid +of imagination. Like all the kindergartners, she depended upon others +to amuse her. I was very sorry about it, for my castles in Spain have +been real homes to me. But there is no fear. She has a block of wood +she found in the blacksmith shop which she calls her "dear baby." A +spoke out of a wagon wheel is "little Margaret," and a barrel-stave is +"bad little Johnny." + +Well, I must quit writing before you vote me a nuisance. With lots of +love to you, + + Your sincere friend, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +III + +A BUSY, HAPPY SUMMER + + + _September 11, 1909._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +This has been for me the busiest, happiest summer I can remember. I +have worked very hard, but it has been work that I really enjoy. Help +of any kind is very hard to get here, and Mr. Stewart had been too +confident of getting men, so that haying caught him with too few men to +put up the hay. He had no man to run the mower and he couldn't run both +the mower and the stacker, so you can fancy what a place he was in. + +I don't know that I ever told you, but my parents died within a year of +each other and left six of us to shift for ourselves. Our people +offered to take one here and there among them until we should all have +a place, but we refused to be raised on the halves and so arranged to +stay at Grandmother's and keep together. Well, we had no money to hire +men to do our work, so had to learn to do it ourselves. Consequently I +learned to do many things which girls more fortunately situated don't +even know have to be done. Among the things I learned to do was the way +to run a mowing-machine. It cost me many bitter tears because I got +sunburned, and my hands were hard, rough, and stained with machine oil, +and I used to wonder how any Prince Charming could overlook all that in +any girl he came to. For all I had ever read of the Prince had to do +with his "reverently kissing her lily-white hand," or doing some other +fool trick with a hand as white as a snowflake. Well, when my Prince +showed up he didn't lose much time in letting me know that "Barkis was +willing," and I wrapped my hands in my old checked apron and took him +up before he could catch his breath. Then there was no more mowing, and +I almost forgot that I knew how until Mr. Stewart got into such a +panic. If he put a man to mow, it kept them all idle at the stacker, +and he just couldn't get enough men. I was afraid to tell him I could +mow for fear he would forbid me to do so. But one morning, when he was +chasing a last hope of help, I went down to the barn, took out the +horses, and went to mowing. I had enough cut before he got back to show +him I knew how, and as he came back manless he was delighted as well as +surprised. I was glad because I really like to mow, and besides that, I +am adding feathers to my cap in a surprising way. When you see me again +you will think I am wearing a feather duster, but it is only that I +have been said to have almost as much sense as a "mon," and that is an +honor I never aspired to, even in my wildest dreams. + +I have done most of my cooking at night, have milked seven cows every +day, and have done all the hay-cutting, so you see I have been working. +But I have found time to put up thirty pints of jelly and the same +amount of jam for myself. I used wild fruits, gooseberries, currants, +raspberries, and cherries. I have almost two gallons of the cherry +butter, and I think it is delicious. I wish I could get some of it to +you, I am sure you would like it. + +We began haying July 5 and finished September 8. After working so hard +and so steadily I decided on a day off, so yesterday I saddled the +pony, took a few things I needed, and Jerrine and I fared forth. Baby +can ride behind quite well. We got away by sunup and a glorious day we +had. We followed a stream higher up into the mountains and the air was +so keen and clear at first we had on our coats. There was a tang of +sage and of pine in the air, and our horse was midside deep in +rabbit-brush, a shrub just covered with flowers that look and smell +like goldenrod. The blue distance promised many alluring adventures, so +we went along singing and simply gulping in summer. Occasionally a +bunch of sage chickens would fly up out of the sagebrush, or a jack +rabbit would leap out. Once we saw a bunch of antelope gallop over a +hill, but we were out just to be out, and game didn't tempt us. I +started, though, to have just as good a time as possible, so I had a +fish-hook in my knapsack. + +Presently, about noon, we came to a little dell where the grass was as +soft and as green as a lawn. The creek kept right up against the hills +on one side and there were groves of quaking asp and cottonwoods that +made shade, and service-bushes and birches that shut off the ugly hills +on the other side. We dismounted and prepared to noon. We caught a few +grasshoppers and I cut a birch pole for a rod. The trout are so +beautiful now, their sides are so silvery, with dashes of old rose and +orange, their speckles are so black, while their backs look as if they +had been sprinkled with gold-dust. They bite so well that it doesn't +require any especial skill or tackle to catch plenty for a meal in a +few minutes. + +In a little while I went back to where I had left my pony browsing, +with eight beauties. We made a fire first, then I dressed my trout +while it was burning down to a nice bed of coals. I had brought a +frying-pan and a bottle of lard, salt, and buttered bread. We gathered +a few service-berries, our trout were soon browned, and with water, +clear, and as cold as ice, we had a feast. The quaking aspens are +beginning to turn yellow, but no leaves have fallen. Their shadows +dimpled and twinkled over the grass like happy children. The sound of +the dashing, roaring water kept inviting me to cast for trout, but I +didn't want to carry them so far, so we rested until the sun was +getting low and then started for home, with the song of the locusts in +our ears warning us that the melancholy days are almost here. We would +come up over the top of a hill into the glory of a beautiful sunset +with its gorgeous colors, then down into the little valley already +purpling with mysterious twilight. So on, until, just at dark, we rode +into our corral and a mighty tired, sleepy little girl was powerfully +glad to get home. + +After I had mailed my other letter I was afraid that you would think me +plumb bold about the little Bo-Peep, and was a heap sorrier than you +can think. If you only knew the hardships these poor men endure. They +go two together and sometimes it is months before they see another +soul, and rarely ever a woman. I wouldn't act so free in town, but +these men see people so seldom that they are awkward and embarrassed. I +like to put them at ease, and it is to be done only by being kind of +hail-fellow-well-met with them. So far not one has ever misunderstood +me and I have been treated with every courtesy and kindness, so I am +powerfully glad you understand. They really enjoy doing these little +things like fixing our dinner, and if my poor company can add to any +one's pleasure I am too glad. + + Sincerely yours, + ELINORE RUPERT. + +Mr. Stewart is going to put up my house for me in pay for my extra +work. + +I am ashamed of my long letters to you, but I am such a murderer of +language that I have to use it all to tell anything. + +Please don't entirely forget me. Your letters mean so much to me and I +will try to answer more promptly. + + + + +IV + +A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND ZEBULON PIKE + + + _September 28, 1909._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Your second card just reached me and I am plumb glad because, although +I answered your other, I was wishing I could write you, for I have had +the most charming adventure. + +It is the custom here for as many women as care to to go in a party +over into Utah to Ashland (which is over a hundred miles away) after +fruit. They usually go in September, and it takes a week to make the +trip. They take wagons and camp out and of course have a good time, +but, the greater part of the way, there isn't even the semblance of a +road and it is merely a semblance anywhere. They came over to invite me +to join them. I was of two minds--I wanted to go, but it seemed a +little risky and a big chance for discomfort, since we would have to +cross the Uinta Mountains, and a snowstorm likely any time. But I +didn't like to refuse outright, so we left it to Mr. Stewart. His +"Ye're nae gang" sounded powerful final, so the ladies departed in awed +silence and I assumed a martyr-like air and acted like a very much +abused woman, although he did only what I wanted him to do. At last, in +sheer desperation he told me the "bairn canna stand the treep," and +that was why he was so determined. I knew why, of course, but I +continued to look abused lest he gets it into his head that he can boss +me. After he had been reduced to the proper plane of humility and had +explained and begged my pardon and had told me to consult only my own +pleasure about going and coming and using his horses, only not to +"expoose" the bairn, why, I forgave him and we were friends once more. + +Next day all the men left for the roundup, to be gone a week. I knew I +never could stand myself a whole week. In a little while the ladies +came past on their way to Ashland. They were all laughing and were so +happy that I really began to wish I was one of the number, but they +went their way and I kept wanting to go _somewhere_. I got reckless and +determined to do something real bad. So I went down to the barn and +saddled Robin Adair, placed a pack on "Jeems McGregor," then Jerrine +and I left for a camping-out expedition. + +It was nine o'clock when we started and we rode hard until about four, +when I turned Robin loose, saddle and all, for I knew he would go home +and some one would see him and put him into the pasture. We had gotten +to where we couldn't ride anyway, so I put Jerrine on the pack and led +"Jeems" for about two hours longer; then, as I had come to a good place +to camp, we stopped. + +While we had at least two good hours of daylight, it gets so cold here +in the evening that fire is very necessary. We had been climbing higher +into the mountains all day and had reached a level tableland where the +grass was luxuriant and there was plenty of wood and water. I unpacked +"Jeems" and staked him out, built a roaring fire, and made our bed in +an angle of a sheer wall of rock where we would be protected against +the wind. Then I put some potatoes into the embers, as Baby and I are +both fond of roasted potatoes. I started to a little spring to get +water for my coffee when I saw a couple of jack rabbits playing, so I +went back for my little shotgun. I shot one of the rabbits, so I felt +very like Leather-stocking because I had killed but one when I might +have gotten two. It was fat and young, and it was but the work of a +moment to dress it and hang it up on a tree. Then I fried some slices +of bacon, made myself a cup of coffee, and Jerrine and I sat on the +ground and ate. Everything smelled and tasted so good! This air is so +tonic that one gets delightfully hungry. Afterward we watered and +restaked "Jeems," I rolled some logs on to the fire, and then we sat +and enjoyed the prospect. + +The moon was so new that its light was very dim, but the stars were +bright. Presently a long, quivering wail arose and was answered from a +dozen hills. It seemed just the sound one ought to hear in such a +place. When the howls ceased for a moment we could hear the subdued +roar of the creek and the crooning of the wind in the pines. So we +rather enjoyed the coyote chorus and were not afraid, because they +don't attack people. Presently we crept under our Navajos and, being +tired, were soon asleep. + +I was awakened by a pebble striking my cheek. Something prowling on the +bluff above us had dislodged it and it struck me. By my Waterbury it +was four o'clock, so I arose and spitted my rabbit. The logs had left a +big bed of coals, but some ends were still burning and had burned in +such a manner that the heat would go both under and over my rabbit. So +I put plenty of bacon grease over him and hung him up to roast. Then I +went back to bed. I didn't want to start early because the air is too +keen for comfort early in the morning. + +The sun was just gilding the hilltops when we arose. Everything, even +the barrenness, was beautiful. We have had frosts, and the quaking +aspens were a trembling field of gold as far up the stream as we could +see. We were 'way up above them and could look far across the valley. +We could see the silvery gold of the willows, the russet and bronze of +the currants, and patches of cheerful green showed where the pines +were. The splendor was relieved by a background of sober gray-green +hills, but even on them gay streaks and patches of yellow showed where +rabbit-brush grew. We washed our faces at the spring,--the grasses that +grew around the edge and dipped into the water were loaded with +ice,--our rabbit was done to a turn, so I made some delicious coffee, +Jerrine got herself a can of water, and we breakfasted. Shortly +afterwards we started again. We didn't know where we were going, but we +were on our way. + +That day was more toilsome than the last, but a very happy one. The +meadowlarks kept singing like they were glad to see us. But we were +still climbing and soon got beyond the larks and sage chickens and up +into the timber, where there are lots of grouse. We stopped to noon by +a little lake, where I got two small squirrels and a string of trout. +We had some trout for dinner and salted the rest with the squirrels in +an empty can for future use. I was anxious to get a grouse and kept +close watch, but was never quick enough. Our progress was now slower +and more difficult, because in places we could scarcely get through the +forest. Fallen trees were everywhere and we had to avoid the branches, +which was powerful hard to do. Besides, it was quite dusky among the +trees long before night, but it was all so grand and awe-inspiring. +Occasionally there was an opening through which we could see the snowy +peaks, seemingly just beyond us, toward which we were headed. But when +you get among such grandeur you get to feel how little you are and how +foolish is human endeavor, except that which reunites us with the +mighty force called God. I was plumb uncomfortable, because all my own +efforts have always been just to make the best of everything and to +take things as they come. + +At last we came to an open side of the mountain where the trees were +scattered. We were facing south and east, and the mountain we were on +sheered away in a dangerous slant. Beyond us still greater wooded +mountains blocked the way, and in the caņon between night had already +fallen. I began to get scary. I could only think of bears and +catamounts, so, as it was five o'clock, we decided to camp. The trees +were immense. The lower branches came clear to the ground and grew so +dense that any tree afforded a splendid shelter from the weather, but I +was nervous and wanted one that would protect us against any possible +attack. At last we found one growing in a crevice of what seemed to be +a sheer wall of rock. Nothing could reach us on two sides, and in front +two large trees had fallen so that I could make a log heap which would +give us warmth and make us safe. So with rising spirits I unpacked and +prepared for the night. I soon had a roaring fire up against the logs +and, cutting away a few branches, let the heat into as snug a bedroom +as any one could wish. The pine needles made as soft a carpet as the +wealthiest could afford. Springs abound in the mountains, so water was +plenty. I staked "Jeems" quite near so that the firelight would +frighten away any wild thing that tried to harm him. Grass was very +plentiful, so when he was made "comfy" I made our bed and fried our +trout. The branches had torn off the bag in which I had my bread, so it +was lost in the forest, but who needs bread when they have good, mealy +potatoes? In a short time we were eating like Lent was just over. We +lost all the glory of the sunset except what we got by reflection, +being on the side of the mountain we were, with the dense woods +between. Big sullen clouds kept drifting over and a wind got lost in +the trees that kept them rocking and groaning in a horrid way. But we +were just as cozy as we could be and rest was as good as anything. + +I wish you could once sleep on the kind of bed we enjoyed that night. +It was both soft and firm, with the clean, spicy smell of the pine. The +heat from our big fire came in and we were warm as toast. It was so +good to stretch out and rest. I kept thinking how superior I was since +I dared to take such an outing when so many poor women down in Denver +were bent on making their twenty cents per hour in order that they +could spare a quarter to go to the "show." I went to sleep with a +powerfully self-satisfied feeling, but I awoke to realize that pride +goeth before a fall. + +I could hardly remember where I was when I awoke, and I could almost +hear the silence. Not a tree moaned, not a branch seemed to stir. I +arose and my head came in violent contact with a snag that was not +there when I went to bed. I thought either I must have grown taller or +the tree shorter during the night. As soon as I peered out, the mystery +was explained. + +Such a snowstorm I never saw! The snow had pressed the branches down +lower, hence my bumped head. Our fire was burning merrily and the heat +kept the snow from in front. I scrambled out and poked up the fire; +then, as it was only five o'clock, I went back to bed. And then I began +to think how many kinds of idiot I was. Here I was thirty or forty +miles from home, in the mountains where no one goes in the winter and +where I knew the snow got to be ten or fifteen feet deep. But I could +never see the good of moping, so I got up and got breakfast while Baby +put her shoes on. We had our squirrels and more baked potatoes and I +had delicious black coffee. + +After I had eaten I felt more hopeful. I knew Mr. Stewart would hunt +for me if he knew I was lost. It was true, he wouldn't know which way +to start, but I determined to rig up "Jeems" and turn him loose, for I +knew he would go home and that he would leave a trail so that I could +be found. I hated to do so, for I knew I should always have to be +powerfully humble afterwards. Anyway it was still snowing, great, heavy +flakes; they looked as large as dollars. I didn't want to start "Jeems" +until the snow stopped because I wanted him to leave a clear trail. I +had sixteen loads for my gun and I reasoned that I could likely kill +enough food to last twice that many days by being careful what I shot +at. It just kept snowing, so at last I decided to take a little hunt +and provide for the day. I left Jerrine happy with the towel rolled +into a baby, and went along the brow of the mountain for almost a +mile, but the snow fell so thickly that I couldn't see far. Then I +happened to look down into the caņon that lay east of us and saw smoke. +I looked toward it a long time, but could make out nothing but smoke, +but presently I heard a dog bark and I knew I was near a camp of some +kind. I resolved to join them, so went back to break my own camp. + +At last everything was ready and Jerrine and I both mounted. Of all the +times! If you think there is much comfort, or even security, in riding +a pack-horse in a snowstorm over mountains where there is no road, you +are plumb wrong. Every once in a while a tree would unload its snow +down our backs. "Jeems" kept stumbling and threatening to break our +necks. At last we got down the mountain-side, where new danger +confronted us,--we might lose sight of the smoke or ride into a bog. +But at last, after what seemed hours, we came into a "clearing" with a +small log house and, what is rare in Wyoming, a fireplace. Three or +four hounds set up their deep baying, and I knew by the chimney and the +hounds that it was the home of a Southerner. A little old man came +bustling out, chewing his tobacco so fast, and almost frantic about his +suspenders, which it seemed he couldn't get adjusted. + +As I rode up, he said, "Whither, friend?" I said "Hither." Then he +asked, "Air you spying around for one of them dinged game wardens arter +that deer I killed yisteddy?" I told him I had never even seen a game +warden and that I didn't know he had killed a deer. "Wall," he said, +"air you spying around arter that gold mine I diskivered over on the +west side of Baldy?" But after a while I convinced him that I was no +more nor less than a foolish woman lost in the snow. Then he said, +"Light, stranger, and look at your saddle." So I "lit" and looked, and +then I asked him what part of the South he was from. He answered, "Yell +County, by gum! The best place in the United States, or in the world, +either." That was my introduction to Zebulon Pike Parker. + +Only two "Johnny Rebs" could have enjoyed each other's company as +Zebulon Pike and myself did. He was so small and so old, but so +cheerful and so sprightly, and a real Southerner! He had a big, open +fireplace with backlogs and andirons. How I enjoyed it all! How we +feasted on some of the deer killed "yisteddy," and real corn-pone baked +in a skillet down on the hearth. He was so full of happy recollections +and had a few that were not so happy! He is, in some way, a kinsman of +Pike of Pike's Peak fame, and he came west "jist arter the wah" on some +expedition and "jist stayed." He told me about his home life back in +Yell County, and I feel that I know all the "young uns." + +There was George Henry, his only brother; and there were Phoebe and +"Mothie," whose real name is Martha; and poor little Mary Ann, whose +death was described so feelingly that no one could keep back the +tears. Lastly there was little Mandy, the baby and his favorite, but +who, I am afraid, was a selfish little beast since she had to have her +prunellas when all the rest of the "young uns" had to wear shoes that +old Uncle Buck made out of rawhide. But then "her eyes were blue as +morning-glories and her hair was jist like corn-silk, so yaller and +fluffy." Bless his simple, honest heart! His own eyes are blue and +kind, and his poor, thin little shoulders are so round that they almost +meet in front. How he loved to talk of his boyhood days! I can almost +see his father and George Henry as they marched away to the "wah" +together, and the poor little mother's despair as she waited day after +day for some word, that never came. + +Poor little Mary Ann was drowned in the bayou, where she was trying to +get water-lilies. She had wanted a white dress all her life and so, +when she was dead, they took down the white cross-bar curtains and +Mother made the little shroud by the light of a tallow dip. But, being +made by hand, it took all the next day, too, so that they buried her by +moonlight down back of the orchard under the big elm where the children +had always had their swing. And they lined and covered her grave with +big, fragrant water-lilies. As they lowered the poor little home-made +coffin into the grave the mockingbirds began to sing and they sang all +that dewy, moonlight night. Then little Mandy's wedding to Judge +Carter's son Jim was described. She wore a "cream-colored poplin with a +red rose throwed up in it," and the lace that was on Grandma's wedding +dress. There were bowers of sweet Southern roses and honeysuckle and +wistaria. Don't you know she was a dainty bride? + +At last it came out that he had not heard from home since he left it. +"Don't you ever write?" I asked. "No, I am not an eddicated man, +although I started to school. Yes'm, I started along of the rest, but +they told me it was a Yankee teacher and I was 'fraid, so when I got +most to the schoolhouse I hid in the bushes with my spelling-book, so +that is all the learning I ever got. But my mother was an eddicated +woman, yes'm, she could both read and write. I have the Bible she give +me yit. Yes'm, you jist wait and I'll show you." After some rummaging +in a box he came back with a small leather-bound Bible with print so +small it was hard to read. After turning to the record of births and +deaths he handed it to me, his wrinkled old face shining with pride as +he said, "There, my mother wrote that with her own hand." I took the +book and after a little deciphered that "Zebulon Pike Parker was born +Feb. 10, 1830," written in the stiff, difficult style of long ago and +written with pokeberry ink. He said his mother used to read about some +"old feller that was jist covered with biles," so I read Job to him, +and he was full of surprise they didn't "git some cherry bark and some +sasparilly and bile it good and gin it to him." + +He had a side room to his cabin, which was his bedroom; so that night +he spread down a buffalo robe and two bearskins before the fire for +Jerrine and me. After making sure there were no moths in them, I spread +blankets over them and put a sleepy, happy little girl to bed, for he +had insisted on making molasses candy for her because they happened to +be born on the same day of the month. And then he played the fiddle +until almost one o'clock. He played all the simple, sweet, old-time +pieces, in rather a squeaky, jerky way, I am afraid, but the music +suited the time and the place. + +Next morning he called me early and when I went out I saw such a +beautiful sunrise, well worth the effort of coming to see. I had +thought his cabin in a caņon, but the snow had deceived me, for a few +steps from the door the mountains seemed to drop down suddenly for +several hundred feet and the first of the snow peaks seemed to lie +right at our feet. Around its base is a great swamp, in which the swamp +pines grow very thickly and from which a vapor was rising that got +about halfway up the snow peak all around. Fancy to yourself a big +jewel-box of dark green velvet lined with silver chiffon, the snow peak +lying like an immense opal in its center and over all the amber light +of a new day. That is what it looked most like. + +Well, we next went to the corral, where I was surprised to find about +thirty head of sheep. Some of them looked like they should have been +sold ten years before. "Don't you ever sell any of your sheep?" I +asked. "No'm. There was a feller come here once and wanted to buy some +of my wethers, but I wouldn't sell any because I didn't need any +money." Then he went from animal to animal, caressing each and talking +to them, calling them each by name. He milked his one cow, fed his two +little mules, and then we went back to the house to cook breakfast. We +had delicious venison steak, smoking hot, and hoe-cakes and the +"bestest" coffee, and honey. + +After breakfast we set out for home. Our pack transferred to one of the +little mules, we rode "Jeems," and Mr. Parker rode the other mule. He +took us another way, down caņon after caņon, so that we were able to +ride all the time and could make better speed. We came down out of the +snow and camped within twelve miles of home in an old, deserted ranch +house. We had grouse and sage chicken for supper. I was so anxious to +get home that I could hardly sleep, but at last I did and was only +awakened by the odor of coffee, and barely had time to wash before +Zebulon Pike called breakfast. Afterwards we fixed "Jeems's" pack so +that I could still ride, for Zebulon Pike was very anxious to get back +to his "critters." + +Poor, lonely, childlike little man! He tried to tell me how glad he had +been to entertain me. "Why," he said, "I was plumb glad to see you and +right sorry to have you go. Why, I would jist as soon talk to you as to +a nigger. Yes'm, I would. It has been almost as good as talking to old +Aunt Dilsey." If a Yankee had said the same to me I would have demanded +instant apology, but I know how the Southern heart longs for the dear, +kindly old "niggers," so I came on homeward, thankful for the first +time that I can't talk correctly. + +I got home at twelve and found, to my joy, that none of the men had +returned, so I am safe from their superiority for a while, at least. + +With many apologies for this outrageous letter, I am + + Your ex-Washlady, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +V + +SEDALIA AND REGALIA + + + _November 22, 1909._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +I was dreadfully afraid that my last letter was too much for you and +now I feel plumb guilty. I really don't know how to write you, for I +have to write so much to say so little, and now that my last letter +made you sick I almost wish so many things didn't happen to me, for I +always want to tell you. Many things have happened since I last wrote, +and Zebulon Pike is not done for by any means, but I guess I will tell +you my newest experience. + +I am making a wedding dress. Don't grin; it isn't mine,--worse luck! +But I must begin at the beginning. Just after I wrote you before, there +came a terrific storm which made me appreciate indoor coziness, but as +only Baby and I were at home I expected to be very lonely. The snow was +just whirling when I saw some one pass the window. I opened the door +and in came the dumpiest little woman and two daughters. She asked me +if I was "Mis' Rupit." I told her that she had almost guessed it, and +then she introduced herself. She said she was "Mis' Lane," that she had +heard there was a new stranger in the country, so she had brought her +twin girls, Sedalia and Regalia, to be neighborly. While they were +taking off their many coats and wraps it came out that they were from +Linwood, thirty miles away. I was powerful glad I had a pot roast and +some baked beans. + +After we had put the horses in the barn we had dinner and I heard the +story of the girls' odd names. The mother is one of those "comfy," fat +little women who remain happy and bubbling with fun in spite of hard +knocks. I had already fallen in love with Regalia, she is so jolly and +unaffected, so fat and so plain. Sedalia has a veneer of most +uncomfortable refinement. She was shocked because Gale ate all the +roast she wanted, and if I had been very sensitive I would have been in +tears, because I ate a helping more than Gale did. + +But about the names. It seemed that "Mis' Lane" married quite young, +was an orphan, and had no one to tell her things she should have known. +She lived in Missouri, but about a year after her marriage the young +couple started overland for the West. It was in November, and one night +when they had reached the plains a real blue blizzard struck them. +"Mis' Lane" had been in pain all day and soon she knew what was the +matter. They were alone and it was a day's travel back to the last +house. The team had given out and the wind and sleet were seeing which +could do the most meanness. At last the poor man got a fire started and +a wagon sheet stretched in such a manner that it kept off the sleet. He +fixed a bed under the poor shelter and did all he could to keep the +fire from blowing away, and there, a few hours later, a little girl +baby was born. They melted sleet in the frying-pan to get water to wash +it. "Mis' Lane" kept feeling no better fast, and about the time they +got the poor baby dressed a second little one came. + +That she told me herself is proof she didn't die, I guess, but it is +right hard to believe she didn't. Luckily the fire lasted until the +babies were dressed and the mother began to feel better, for there was +no wood. Soon the wind stopped and the snow fell steadily. It was +warmer, and the whole family snuggled up under the wagon sheet and +slept. + +Mr. Lane is a powerful good husband. He waited two whole days for his +wife to gain strength before he resumed the journey, and on the third +morning he actually carried her to the wagon. Just think of it! Could +more be asked of any man? + +Every turn of the wheels made poor "Mis' Lane" more homesick. Like Mrs. +Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, she had a taste for geographical names, +and "Mis' Lane" is very loyal, so she wanted to call the little +first-born "Missouri." Mr. Lane said she might, but that if she did he +would call the other one "Arkansas." Sometimes homesickness would +almost master her. She would hug up the little red baby and murmur +"Missouri," and then daddy would growl playfully to "Arkansas." It went +on that way for a long time and at last she remembered that Sedalia was +in Missouri, so she felt glad and really named the older baby +"Sedalia." But she could think of nothing to match the name and was in +constant fear the father would name the other baby "Little Rock." + +For three years poor Gale was just "t'other one." Then the Lanes went +to Green River where some lodge was having a parade. They were watching +the drill when a "bystander that was standing by" said something about +the "fine regalia." Instantly "Mis' Lane" thought of her unnamed +child; so since that time Gale has had a name. + +There could be no two people more unlike than the sisters. Sedalia is +really handsome, and she is thin. But she is vain, selfish, shallow, +and conceited. Gale is not even pretty, but she is clean and she is +honest. She does many little things that are not exactly polite, but +she is good and true. They both went to the barn with me to milk. Gale +tucked up her skirts and helped me. She said, "I just love a stable, +with its hay and comfortable, contented cattle. I never go into one +without thinking of the little baby Christ. I almost expect to see a +little red baby in the straw every time I peek into a manger." + +Sedalia answered, "Well, for Heaven's sake, get out of the stable to +preach. Who wants to stand among these smelly cows all day?" + +They stayed with us almost a week, and one day when Gale and I were +milking she asked me to invite her to stay with me a month. She said +to ask her mother, and left her mother and myself much together. But +Sedalia stuck to her mother like a plaster and I just could not stand +Sedalia a whole month. However, I was spared all embarrassment, for +"Mis' Lane" asked me if I could not find work enough to keep Gale busy +for a month or two. She went on to explain that Sedalia was expecting +to be married and that Gale was so "common" she would really spoil the +match. I was surprised and indignant, especially as Sedalia sat and +listened so brazenly, so I said I thought Sedalia would need all the +help she could get to get married and that I should be glad to have +Gale visit me as long as she liked. + +So Gale stayed on with me. One afternoon she had gone to the +post-office when I saw Mr. Patterson ride up. He went into the +bunk-house to wait until the men should come. Now, from something Gale +had said I fancied that Bob Patterson must be the right man. I am +afraid I am not very delicate about that kind of meddling, and while I +had been given to understand that Patterson was the man Sedalia +expected to marry, I didn't think any man would choose her if he could +get Gale, so I called him. We had a long chat and he told me frankly he +wanted Gale, but that she didn't care for him, and that they kept +throwing "that danged Sedalia" at him. Then he begged my pardon for +saying "danged," but I told him I approved of the word when applied to +Sedalia, and broke the news to him that Gale was staying with me. He +fairly beamed. So that night I left Gale to wash dishes and Bob to help +her while I held Mr. Stewart a prisoner in the stable and questioned +him regarding Patterson's prospects and habits. I found both all that +need be, and told Mr. Stewart about my talk with Patterson, and he +said, "Wooman, some day ye'll gang ploom daft." But he admitted he was +glad it was the "bonny lassie, instead of the bony one." When we went +to the house Mr. Stewart said, "Weel, when are you douchy bairns +gangin' to the kirk?" + +They left it to me, so I set Thanksgiving Day, and as there is no "kirk +to gang to," we are going to have a justice of the peace and they are +to be married here. We are going to have the dandiest dinner that I can +cook, and Mr. Stewart went to town next day for the wedding dress, the +gayest plaid outside of Caledonia. But Gale has lots of sense and is +going to wear it. I have it almost finished, and while it doesn't look +just like a Worth model, still it looks plumb good for me to have made. +The boys are going up after Zebulon Pike, and Mr. Stewart is going +after "Mis' Lane." Joy waves are radiating from this ranch and about +Thanksgiving morning one will strike you. + +With lots of love and happy wishes, + + Your ex-Washlady, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +VI + +A THANKSGIVING-DAY WEDDING + + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... I think every one enjoyed our Thanksgiving programme except poor +Gale. She was grieved, I verily believe, because Mr. Patterson is not +Mormon and could not take Sedalia and herself also. I suppose it seemed +odd to her to be unable to give way to Sedalia as she had always done. + +I had cooked and cooked. Gale and Zebulon Pike both helped all they +could. The wedding was to be at twelve o'clock, so at ten I hustled +Gale into my room to dress. I had to lock the door to keep her in, and +I divided my time between the last touches to my dinner and the +finishing touches to Gale's toilet and receiving the people. The Lane +party had not come yet, and I was scared to death lest Sedalia had had +a tantrum and that Mr. Stewart would not get back in time. At last I +left the people to take care of themselves, for I had too much on my +mind to bother with them. Just after eleven Mr. Stewart, Mis' Lane, +Sedalia, and Pa Lane "arriv" and came at once into the kitchen to warm. +In a little while poor, frightened Gale came creeping in, looking +guilty. But she looked lovely, too, in spite of her plaid dress. She +wore her hair in a coronet braid, which added dignity and height, as +well as being simple and becoming. Her mother brought her a wreath for +her hair, of lilies of the valley and tiny pink rosebuds. It might seem +a little out of place to one who didn't see it, but the effect was +really charming. + +Sedalia didn't know that Mr. Stewart had given Gale her dress, so, just +to be nasty, she said, as soon as she saw Gale, "Dear me, when are you +going to dress, Gale? You will hardly have time to get out of that +horse-blanket you are wearing and get into something decent." You see, +she thought it was one of my dresses fixed over for Gale. Presently +Sedalia asked me if I was invited to the "function." She had some kind +of rash on her face and Zebulon Pike noticed the rash and heard the +word "function," so he thought that was the name of some disease and +asked Mr. Stewart if the "function" was "catching." Mr. Stewart had +heard Sedalia, but knew "Zebbie" had not heard all that was said and +how he got the idea he had, so he answered, "Yes, if ye once get the +fever." So Zebulon Pike privately warned every one against getting the +"function" from Sedalia. There are plenty of people here who don't know +exactly what a function is, myself among them. So people edged away +from Sedalia, and some asked her if she had seen the doctor and what he +thought of her case. Poor girl, I'm afraid she didn't have a very +enjoyable time. + +At last the "jestice" of the peace came, and I hope they live happy +ever afterward. That night a dance was given to celebrate the event +and we began to have dinner immediately after the wedding so as to get +through in time to start, for dances are never given in the home here, +but in "the hall." Every settlement has one and the invitations are +merely written announcements posted everywhere. We have what Sedalia +calls "homogenous" crowds. I wouldn't attempt to say what she means, +but as everybody goes no doubt she is right. + +Our dinner was a success, but that is not to be wondered at. Every +woman for miles around contributed. Of course we had to borrow dishes, +but we couldn't think of seating every one; so we set one table for +twenty-four and had three other long tables, on one of which we placed +all the meats, pickles, and sauces, on another the vegetables, soup, +and coffee, and on the third the pie, cakes, ice-cream, and other +desserts. We had two big, long shelves, one above the other, on which +were the dishes. The people helped themselves to dishes and neighbors +took turns at serving from the tables, so people got what they wanted +and hunted themselves a place to sit while they ate. Two of the cowboys +from this ranch waited upon the table at which were the wedding party +and some of their friends. Boys from other ranches helped serve and +carried coffee, cake, and ice-cream. The tablecloths were tolerably +good linen and we had ironed them wet so they looked nice. We had white +lace-paper on the shelves and we used drawn-work paper napkins. As I +said, we borrowed dishes, or, that is, every woman who called herself +our neighbor brought whatever she thought we would need. So after every +one had eaten I suggested that they sort out their dishes and wash +them, and in that way I was saved all that work. We had everything done +and were off to the dance by five o'clock. We went in sleds and +sleighs, the snow was so deep, but it was all so jolly. Zebbie, Mr. +Stewart, Jerrine, and I went in the bobsled. We jogged along at a +comfortable pace lest the "beasties" should suffer, and every now and +then a merry party would fly past us scattering snow in our faces and +yelling like Comanches. We had a lovely moon then and the snow was so +beautiful! We were driving northward, and to the south and back of us +were the great somber, pine-clad Uintah Mountains, while ahead and on +every side were the bare buttes, looking like old men of the +mountains,--so old they had lost all their hair, beard, and teeth. + + + + +VII + +ZEBULON PIKE VISITS HIS OLD HOME + + + _December 28, 1909._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Our Thanksgiving affair was the most enjoyable happening I can remember +for a long time. Zebulon Pike came, but I had as a bait for him two fat +letters from home. As soon as I came back from his place I wrote to +Mrs. Carter and trusted to luck for my letter to reach her. I told her +all I could about her brother and how seldom he left his mountain home. +I asked her to write him all she could in one letter, as the trips +between our place and his were so few and far between. So when she +received my letter she wrote all she could think of, and then sent her +letter and mine to Mothie and Phoebe, who are widows living in the +old home. They each took turns writing, so their letters are a complete +record of the years "Zebbie" has been gone. The letters were addressed +to me along with a cordial letter from Mrs. Carter asking me to see +that he got them and to use my judgment in the delivering. I couldn't +go myself, but I wanted to read the letters to him and to write the +answers; so I selected one piece of news I felt would bring him to hear +the rest without his knowing how much there was for him. + +Well, the boys brought him, and a more delighted little man I am sure +never lived. I read the letters over and over, and answers were hurried +off. He was dreadfully homesick, but couldn't figure on how he could +leave the "critters," or how he could trust himself on a train. Mr. +Stewart became interested, and he is a very resourceful man, so an old +Frenchman was found who had no home and wanted a place to stay so he +could trap. He was installed at Zebulon Pike's with full instructions +as to each "critter's" peculiarities and needs. Then one of the boys, +who was going home for Christmas to Memphis, was induced to wait for +Mr. Parker and to see him safe to Little Rock. His money was banked for +him, and Mr. Stewart saw that he was properly clothed and made +comfortable for the trip. Then he sent a telegram to Judge Carter, who +met Zebulon Pike at Little Rock, and they had a family reunion in Yell +County. I have had some charming letters from there, but that only +proves what I have always said, that I am the luckiest woman in finding +really lovely people and having really happy experiences. Good things +are constantly happening to me. I wish I could tell you about my happy +Christmas, but one of my New Year's resolutions was to stop loading you +down with two-thousand-word letters. + +From something you wrote I think I must have written boastingly to you +at some time. I have certainly not intended to, and you must please +forgive me and remember how ignorant I am and how hard it is for me to +express myself properly. I felt after I had written to Mr. Parker's +people that I had taken a liberty, but luckily it was not thought of in +that way by them. If you only knew how far short I fall of my own hopes +you would know I could _never_ boast. Why, it keeps me busy making over +mistakes just like some one using old clothes. I get myself all ready +to enjoy a success and find that I have to fit a failure. But one +consolation is that I generally have plenty of material to cut +generously, and many of my failures have proved to be real blessings. + +I do hope this New Year may bring to you the desire of your heart and +all that those who love you best most wish for you. + +With lots and lots of love from baby and myself. + + Your ex-washlady, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +VIII + +A HAPPY CHRISTMAS + + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +My happy Christmas resulted from the ex-sheriff of this county being +snowbound here. It seems that persons who come from a lower altitude to +this country frequently become bewildered, especially if in poor +health, leave the train at any stop and wander off into the hills, +sometimes dying before they are found. The ex-sheriff cited a case, +that of a young German who was returning from the Philippines, where he +had been discharged after the war. He was the only child of his widowed +mother, who has a ranch a few miles from here. No one knew he was +coming home. One day the cook belonging to the camp of a construction +gang went hunting and came back running, wild with horror. He had found +the body of a man. The coroner and the sheriff were notified, and next +morning went out for the body, but the wolves had almost destroyed it. +High up in a willow, under which the poor man had lain down to die, +they saw a small bundle tied in a red bandanna and fast to a branch. +They found a letter addressed to whoever should find it, saying that +the body was that of Benny Louderer and giving them directions how to +spare his poor old mother the awful knowledge of how he died. Also +there was a letter to his mother asking her not to grieve for him and +to keep their days faithfully. "Their days," I afterward learned, were +anniversaries which they had always kept, to which was added "Benny's +day." + +Poor boy! When he realized that death was near his every thought was +for the mother. Well, they followed his wishes, and the casket +containing the bare, gnawed bones was sealed and never opened. And to +this day poor Mrs. Louderer thinks her boy died of some fever while yet +aboard the transport. The manner of his death has been kept so secret +that I am the only one who has heard it. + +I was so sorry for the poor mother that I resolved to visit her the +first opportunity I had. I am at liberty to go where I please when +there is no one to cook for. So, when the men left, a few days later, I +took Jerrine and rode over to the Louderer ranch. I had never seen Mrs. +Louderer and it happened to be "Benny's day" that I blundered in upon. +I found her to be a dear old German woman living all alone, the people +who do the work on the ranch living in another house two miles away. +She had been weeping for hours when I got there, but in accordance with +her custom on the many anniversaries, she had a real feast prepared, +although no one had been bidden. + +She says that God always sends her guests, but that was the first time +she had had a little girl. She had a little daughter once herself, +little Gretchen, but all that was left was a sweet memory and a +pitifully small mound on the ranch, quite near the house, where Benny +and Gretchen are at rest beside "der fader, Herr Louderer." + +She is such a dear old lady! She made us so welcome and she is so +entertaining. All the remainder of the day we listened to stories of +her children, looked at her pictures, and Jerrine had a lovely time +with a wonderful wooden doll that they had brought with them from +Germany. Mrs. Louderer forgot to weep in recalling her childhood days +and showing us her treasures. And then our feast,--for it was verily a +feast. We had goose and it was _so_ delicious. I couldn't tell you half +the good things any more than I could have eaten some of all of them. + +We sat talking until far into the night, and she asked me how I was +going to spend Christmas. I told her, "Probably in being homesick." She +said that would never do and suggested that we spend it together. She +said it was one of their special days and that the only happiness left +her was in making some one else happy; so she had thought of cooking +some nice things and going to as many sheep camps as she could, taking +with her the good things to the poor exiles, the sheep-herders. I liked +the plan and was glad to agree, but I never dreamed I should have so +lovely a time. When the queer old wooden clock announced two we went to +bed. + +I left quite early the next morning with my head full of Christmas +plans. You may not know, but cattle-men and sheep-men cordially hate +each other. Mr. Stewart is a cattle-man, and so I didn't mention my +Christmas plans to him. I saved all the butter I could spare for the +sheep-herders; they never have any. That and some jars of gooseberry +jelly was all I could give them. I cooked plenty for the people here, +and two days before Christmas I had a chance to go down to Mrs. +Louderer's in a buggy, so we went. We found her up to her ears in +cooking, and such sights and smells I could never describe. She was so +glad I came early, for she needed help. I never worked so hard in my +life or had a pleasanter time. + +Mrs. Louderer had sent a man out several days before to find out how +many camps there were and where they were located. There were twelve +camps and that means twenty-four men. We roasted six geese, boiled +three small hams and three hens. We had besides several meat-loaves and +links of sausage. We had twelve large loaves of the _best_ rye bread; a +small tub of doughnuts; twelve coffee-cakes, more to be called +fruit-cakes, and also a quantity of little cakes with seeds, nuts, and +fruit in them,--so pretty to look at and _so_ good to taste. These had +a thick coat of icing, some brown, some pink, some white. I had +thirteen pounds of butter and six pint jars of jelly, so we melted the +jelly and poured it into twelve glasses. + +The plan was, to start real early Christmas Eve morning, make our +circuit of camps, and wind up the day at Frau O'Shaughnessy's to spend +the night. Yes, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is Irish,--as Irish as the pigs in +Dublin. Before it was day the man came to feed and to get our horses +ready. We were up betimes and had breakfast. The last speck was wiped +from the shining stove, the kitchen floor was scrubbed, and the last +small thing put in order. The man had four horses harnessed and hitched +to the sled, on which was placed a wagon-box filled with straw, hot +rocks, and blankets. Our twelve apostles--that is what we called our +twelve boxes--were lifted in and tied firmly into place. Then we +clambered in and away we went. Mrs. Louderer drove, and Tam O'Shanter +and Paul Revere were snails compared to us. We didn't follow any road +either, but went sweeping along across country. No one else in the +world could have done it unless they were drunk. We went careening +along hill-sides without even slacking the trot. Occasionally we struck +a particularly stubborn bunch of sagebrush and even the sled-runners +would jump up into the air. We didn't stop to light, but hit the earth +several feet in advance of where we left it. Luck was with us, though. +I hardly expected to get through with my head unbroken, but not even a +glass was cracked. + +It would have done your heart good to see the sheep-men. They were all +delighted, and when you consider that they live solely on canned corn +and tomatoes, beans, salt pork, and coffee, you can fancy what they +thought of their treat. They have mutton when it is fit to eat, but +that is certainly not in winter. One man at each camp does the cooking +and the other herds. It doesn't make any difference if the cook never +cooked before, and most of them never did. At one camp, where we +stopped for dinner, they had a most interesting collection of fossils. +After delivering our last "apostle," we turned our faces toward Frau +O'Shaughnessy's, and got there just in time for supper. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is a widow, too, and has quite an interesting story. +She is a dumpy little woman whose small nose seems to be smelling the +stars, it is so tip-tilted. She has the merriest blue eyes and the +quickest wit. It is really worth a severe bumping just to be welcomed +by her. It was so warm and cozy in her low little cabin. She had her +table set for supper, but she laid plates for us and put before us a +beautifully roasted chicken. Thrifty Mrs. Louderer thought it should +have been saved until next day, so she said to Frau O'Shaughnessy, "We +hate to eat your hen, best you save her till tomorrow." But Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy answered, "Oh, 't is no mather, 't is an ould hin she was +annyway." So we enjoyed the "ould hin," which was brown, juicy, and +tender. + +When we had finished supper and were drinking our "tay," Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy told our fortunes with the tea-leaves. She told mine +first and said I would die an old maid. I said it was rather late for +that, but she cheerfully replied, "Oh, well, better late than niver." +She predicted for Mrs. Louderer that she should shortly catch a beau. +"'T is the next man you see that will come coortin' you." Before we +left the table some one knocked and a young man, a sheep-herder, +entered. He belonged to a camp a few miles away and is out from Boston +in search of health. He had been into town and his horse was lamed so +he could not make it into camp, and he wanted to stay overnight. He was +a stranger to us all, but Mrs. O'Shaughnessy made him at home and fixed +such a tempting supper for him that I am sure he was glad of the chance +to stay. He was very decidedly English, and powerfully proud of it. He +asked Mrs. O'Shaughnessy if she was Irish and she said, "No, ye +haythen, it's Chinese Oi am. Can't yez tell it be me Cockney accint?" +Mr. Boutwell looked very much surprised. I don't know which was the +funnier, the way he looked or what she said. + +We had a late breakfast Christmas morning, but before we were through +Mr. Stewart came. We had planned to spend the day with Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, but he didn't approve of our going into the sheep +district, so when he found where we had gone he came after us. Mrs. +Louderer and he are old acquaintances and he bosses her around like he +tries to boss me. Before we left, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's married daughter +came, so we knew she would not be lonely. + +It was almost one o'clock when we got home, but all hands helped and I +had plenty cooked anyway, so we soon had a good dinner on the table. +Mr. Stewart had prepared a Christmas box for Jerrine and me. He doesn't +approve of white waists in the winter. I had worn one at the wedding +and he felt personally aggrieved. For me in the box were two dresses, +that is, the material to make them. One is a brown and red checked, and +the other green with a white fleck in, both outing flannel. For Jerrine +there was a pair of shoes and stockings, both stockings full of candy +and nuts. He is very bluff in manner, but he is really the kindest +person. + +Mrs. Louderer stayed until New Year's day. My Christmas was really a +very happy one. + + Your friend, + ELINORE RUPERT. + +... An interesting day on this ranch is the day the cattle are named. +If Mr. Stewart had children he would as soon think of leaving them +unnamed as to let a "beastie" go without a name. + +On the day they vaccinated he came into the kitchen and told me he +would need me to help him name the "critters." So he and I "assembled" +in a safe place and took turns naming the calves. As fast as a calf was +vaccinated it was run out of the chute and he or I called out a name +for it and it was booked that way. + +The first two he named were the "Duke of Monmouth" and the "Duke of +Montrose." I called my first "Oliver Cromwell" and "John Fox." The poor +"mon" had to have revenge, so the next ugly, scrawny little beast he +called the "Poop of Roome." And it was a heifer calf, too. + +This morning I had the startling news that the "Poop" had eaten too +much alfalfa and was all "swellit oop," and, moreover, he had "stealit +it." I don't know which is the more astonishing, that the Pope has +stolen alfalfa, or that he has eaten it. + +We have a swell lot of names, but I am not sure I could tell you which +is "Bloody Mary," or which is "Elizabeth," or, indeed, which is which +of any of them. + + E.R. + + + +IX + +A CONFESSION + + + _April 5, 1910._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I find upon re-reading your letter that I did not answer it at all when +I wrote you. You must think me very indifferent, but I really don't +mean to be. + +My house joins on to Mr. Stewart's house. It was built that way so that +I could "hold down" my land and job at the same time. I see the wisdom +of it now, though at first I did not want it that way. My boundary +lines run within two feet of Mr. Stewart's house, so it was quite easy +to build on. + +I think the Pattersons' ranch is about twenty-five miles from us. I am +glad to tell you they are doing splendidly. Gale is just as thrifty as +she can be and Bobby is steady and making money fast. Their baby is +the dearest little thing. I have heard that Sedalia is to marry a +Mormon bishop, but I doubt it. She puts on very disgusting airs about +"our Bobby," and she patronizes Gale most shamefully; but Gale, bless +her unconscious heart, is so happy in her husband and son that she +doesn't know Sedalia is insulting. + +My dear old grandmother whom I loved so much has gone home to God. I +used to write long letters to her. I should like a few addresses of old +persons who are lonely as she was, who would like letters such as I +write. You know I can't be brief. I have tried and cannot. If you know +of any persons who would not tire of my long accounts and would care to +have them, you will be doing me a favor to let me know. + +I have not treated you quite frankly about something you had a right to +know about. I am ashamed and I regret very much that I have not told +you. I so dread the possibility of losing your friendship that I will +_never_ tell you unless you promise me beforehand to forgive me. I +know that is unfair, but it is the only way I can see out of a +difficulty that my foolish reticence has led me into. Few people, +perhaps, consider me reticent, but in some cases I am afraid I am even +deceitful. Won't you make it easy to "'fess" so I may be happy again? + + Truly your friend, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + _June 16, 1910._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +Your card just to hand. I wrote you some time ago telling you I had a +confession to make and have had no letter since, so thought perhaps you +were scared I had done something too bad to forgive. I am suffering +just now from eye-strain and can't see to write long at a time, but I +reckon I had better confess and get it done with. + +The thing I have done is to marry Mr. Stewart. It was such an +inconsistent thing to do that I was ashamed to tell you. And, too, I +was afraid you would think I didn't need your friendship and might +desert me. Another of my friends thinks that way. + +I hope my eyes will be better soon and then I will write you a long +letter. + +Your old friend with a new name, + + ELINORE STEWART. + + + + +X + +THE STORY OF CORA BELLE + + + _August 15, 1910._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... Grandma Edmonson's birthday is the 30th of May, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy suggested that we give her a party. I had never seen +Grandma, but because of something that happened in her family years ago +which a few narrow-heads whom it didn't concern in the least cannot +forgive or forget, I had heard much of her. The family consists of +Grandma, Grandpa, and little Cora Belle, who is the sweetest little bud +that ever bloomed upon the twigs of folly. + +The Edmonsons had only one child, a daughter, who was to have married a +man whom her parents objected to solely because he was a sheep-man, +while their sympathies were with the cattle-men, although they owned +only a small bunch. To gain their consent the young man closed out his +interest in sheep, at a loss, filed on a splendid piece of land near +them, and built a little home for the girl he loved. Before they could +get to town to be married Grandpa was stricken with rheumatism. Grandma +was already almost past going on with it, so they postponed the +marriage, and as that winter was particularly severe, the young man +took charge of the Edmonson stock and kept them from starving. As soon +as he was able he went for the license. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and a neighbor were hunting some cattle that had +wandered away and found the poor fellow shot in the back. He was not +yet dead and told them it was urgently necessary for them to hurry him +to the Edmonsons' and to get some one to perform the marriage ceremony +as quickly as possible, for he could not live long. They told him such +haste meant quicker death because he would bleed more; but he +insisted, so they got a wagon and hurried all they could. But they +could not outrun death. When he knew he could not live to reach home, +he asked them to witness all he said. Everything he possessed he left +to the girl he was to have married, and said he was the father of the +little child that was to come. He begged them to befriend the poor girl +he had to leave in such a condition, and to take the marriage license +as evidence that he had tried to do right. The wagon was stopped so the +jolting would not make death any harder, and there in the shadow of the +great twin buttes he died. + +They took the body to the little home he had made, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy went to the Edmonsons' to do what she could there. Poor +Cora Jane didn't know how terrible a thing wounded pride is. She told +her parents her misdeeds. They couldn't see that they were in any way +to blame. They seemed to care nothing for her terrible sorrow nor for +her weakened condition. All they could think of was that the child +they had almost worshiped had disgraced them; so they told her to go. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy took her to the home that had been prepared for her, +where the poor body lay. Some way they got through those dark days, and +then began the waiting for the little one to come. Poor Cora Jane said +she would die then, and that she wanted to die, but she wanted the baby +to know it was loved,--she wanted to leave something that should speak +of that love when the child should come to understanding. So Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy said they would make all its little clothes with every +care, and they should tell of the love. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is the +daintiest needleworker I have ever seen; she was taught by the nuns at +St. Catherine's in the "ould country." She was all patience with poor, +unskilled Cora Jane, and the little outfit that was finally finished +was dainty enough for a fairy. Little Cora Belle is so proud of it. + +At last the time came and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went after the parents. +Long before, they had repented and were only too glad to go. The poor +mother lived one day and night after the baby came. She laid the tiny +thing in her mother's arms and told them to call her Cora Belle. She +told them she gave them a pure little daughter in place of the sinful +one they had lost. + +That was almost twelve years ago, and the Edmonsons have lived in the +new house all this time. The deed to the place was made out to Cora +Belle, and her grandfather is her guardian.... + +If you traveled due north from my home, after about nine hours' ride +you would come into an open space in the butte lands, and away between +two buttes you would see the glimmer of blue water. As you drew nearer +you would be able to see the fringe of willows around the lake, and +presently a low, red-roofed house with corrals and stables. You would +see long lines of "buck" fence, a flock of sheep near by, and cattle +scattered about feeding. This is Cora Belle's home. On the long, low +porch you would see two old folks rocking. The man is small, and has +rheumatism in his legs and feet so badly that he can barely hobble. The +old lady is large and fat, and is also afflicted with rheumatism, but +has it in her arms and shoulders. They are both cheerful and hopeful, +and you would get a cordial welcome.... + +When you saw Cora Belle you would see a stout, square-built little +figure with long flaxen braids, a pair of beautiful brown eyes and the +longest and whitest lashes you ever saw, a straight nose, a short upper +lip, a broad, full forehead,--the whole face, neither pretty nor ugly, +plentifully sown with the brownest freckles. She is very truly the head +of the family, doing all the housework and looking after the stock, +winter and summer, entirely by herself. Three years ago she took things +into her own hands, and since that time has managed altogether. Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, however, tells her what to do. + +The sheep, forty in number, are the result of her individual efforts. +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy told her there was more money in raising lambs than +in raising chickens, so she quit the chickens as a business and went to +some of the big sheep-men and got permission to take the "dogie" lambs, +which they are glad to give away. She had plenty of cows, so she milked +cows and fed lambs all day long all last year. This year she has forty +head of nice sheep worth four dollars each, and she doesn't have to +feed them the year round as she would chickens, and the wolves are no +worse to kill sheep than they are to kill chickens. When shearing-time +came she went to a sheep-man and told him she would help cook for his +men one week if he would have her sheep sheared with his. She said her +work was worth three dollars, that is what one man would get a day +shearing, and he could easily shear her sheep in one day. That is how +she got her sheep sheared. The man had her wool hauled to town with +his, sold it for her, and it brought sixty dollars. She took her money +to Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. She wanted some supplies ordered before she went +home, because, as she gravely said, "the rheumatiz would get all the +money she had left when she got home,"--meaning that her grandparents +would spend what remained for medicine. + +The poor old grandparents read all the time of wonderful cures that +different dopes accomplish, and they spend every nickel they can get +their hands on for nostrums. They try everything they read of, and have +to buy it by the case,--horrid patent stuff! They have rolls of +testimonials and believe every word, so they keep on trying and hoping. +When there is any money they each order whatever medicine they want to +try. If Mrs. Edmonson's doesn't seem to help her, Grandpa takes it and +she takes his,--that is their idea of economy. They would spend hours +telling you about their different remedies and would offer you spoonful +after spoonful of vile-looking liquid, and be mildly grieved when you +refused to take it. Grandma's hands are so bent and twisted that she +can't sew, so dear old Grandpa tries to do it. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy told me that she helped out when she could. Three +years ago she made them all a complete outfit, but the "rheumatiz" has +been getting all the spare money since then, so there has been nothing +to sew. A peddler sold them a piece of gingham which they made up for +Cora Belle. It was broad pink and white stripes, and they wanted some +style to "Cory's" clothes, so they cut a gored skirt. But they had no +pattern and made the gores by folding a width of the goods biasly and +cutting it that way. It was put together with no regard to matching the +stripes, and a bias seam came in the center behind, but they put no +stay in the seam and the result was the most outrageous affair +imaginable. + +Well, we had a large room almost empty and Mr. Stewart liked the idea +of a party, so Mrs. Louderer, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, and myself planned +for the event. It was to be a sewing-bee, a few good neighbors invited, +and all to sew for Grandma.... So Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went to Grandma's +and got all the material she had to make up. I had saved some +sugar-bags and some flour-bags. I knew Cora Belle needed underwear, so +I made her some little petticoats of the larger bags and some drawers +of the smaller. I had a small piece of white lawn that I had no use +for, and of that I made a dear little sunbonnet with a narrow edging of +lace around, and also made a gingham bonnet for her. Two days before +the time, came Mrs. Louderer, laden with bundles, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, also laden. We had all been thinking of Cora Belle. Mr. +Stewart had sent by mail for her a pair of sandals for everyday wear +and a nice pair of shoes, also some stockings. Mrs. Louderer brought +cloth for three dresses of heavy Dutch calico, and gingham for three +aprons. She made them herself and she sews so carefully. She had bought +patterns and the little dresses were stylishly made, as well as well +made. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy brought a piece of crossbar with a tiny +forget-me-not polka dot, and also had goods and embroidery for a suit +of underwear. My own poor efforts were already completed when the rest +came, so I was free to help them. + +Late in the afternoon of the 29th a funny something showed up. Fancy a +squeaky, rickety old wagon without a vestige of paint. The tires had +come off and had been "set" at home; that is done by heating the tires +red-hot and having the rims of the wheels covered with several layers +of burlap, or other old rags, well wet; then the red-hot tire is put on +and water hurriedly poured on to shrink the iron and to keep the burlap +from blazing. Well, whoever had set Cora Belle's tires had forgotten to +cut away the surplus burlap, so all the ragtags were merrily waving in +the breeze. + +Cora Belle's team would bring a smile to the soberest face alive. Sheba +is a tall, lanky old mare. Once she was bay in color, but the years +have added gray hair until now she is roan. Being so long-legged she +strides along at an amazing pace which her mate, Balaam, a little +donkey, finds it hard to keep up with. Balaam, like Sheba, is full of +years. Once his glossy brown coat was the pride of some Mexican's +heart, but time has added to his color also, and now he is blue. His +eyes are sunken and dim, his ears no longer stand up in true donkey +style, but droop dejectedly. He has to trot his best to keep up with +Sheba's slowest stride. About every three miles he balks, but little +Cora Belle doesn't call it balking, she says Balaam has stopped to +rest, and they sit and wait till he is ready to trot along again. That +is the kind of layout which drew up before our door that evening. Cora +Belle was driving and she wore her wonderful pink dress which hung +down in a peak behind, fully six inches longer than anywhere else. The +poor child had no shoes. The winter had tried the last pair to their +utmost endurance and the "rheumatiz" had long since got the last +dollar, so she came with her chubby little sunburned legs bare. Her +poor little scarred feet were clean, her toe-nails full of nicks almost +into the quick, broken against rocks when she had been herding her +sheep. In the back of the wagon, flat on the bottom, sat Grandma and +Grandpa, such bundles of coats and blankets I can't describe. After a +great deal of trouble we got them unloaded and into the house. Then +Mrs. Louderer entertained them while Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I prepared +supper and got a bath ready for Cora Belle. We had a T-bone steak, +mashed potatoes, hominy, hot biscuits and butter, and stewed prunes. +Their long ride had made them hungry and I know they enjoyed their +meal. + +After supper Cora Belle and I washed the dishes while Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy laid out the little clothes. Cora Belle's clothes were to +be a surprise. The postmistress here also keeps a small store and has +ribbon, and when she heard of our plans from Mr. Stewart she sent up a +couple of pairs of hair-ribbon for Cora Belle. Soon Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +called us, and Cora Belle and I went into the bedroom where she was. I +wish you could have seen that child! Poor little neglected thing, she +began to cry. She said, "They ain't for me, I know they ain't. Why, it +ain't my birthday, it's Granny's." Nevertheless, she had her arms full +of them and was clutching them so tightly with her work-worn little +hands that we couldn't get them. She sobbed so deeply that Grandma +heard her and became alarmed. She hobbled to the door and pounded with +her poor twisted hands, calling all the while, "Cory, Cory Belle, what +ails you?" She got so excited that I opened the door, but Cora Belle +told her to go away. She said, "They ain't for you, Granny, and they +ain't for me either." ... + +People here observe Decoration Day faithfully, and Cora Belle had +brought half a wagon-load of iris, which grows wild here. Next morning +we were all up early, but Cora Belle's flowers had wilted and she had +to gather more, but we all hurried and helped. She said as she was +going to see her mother she wanted to wear her prettiest dress, so Gale +and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy helped her to get ready. The cemetery is only +about two miles away, so we were all down quite early. We were obliged +to hurry because others were coming to help sew. Cora Belle went at +once to the graves where her parents lie side by side, and began +talking to her mother just as though she saw her. "You didn't know me, +did you, Mother, with my pretty new things? But I am your little girl, +Mamma. I am your little Cora Belle." After she had talked and had +turned every way like a proud little bird, she went to work. And, oh, +how fast she worked! Both graves were first completely covered with +pine boughs. It looked like sod, so closely were the little twigs laid. +Next she broke the stems off the iris and scattered the blossoms over, +and the effect was very beautiful. Then we hurried home and everybody +got busy. The men took Grandpa off to another part of the ranch where +they were fanning oats to plant, and kept him all day. That was good +for him because then he could be with the men all day and he so seldom +has a chance to be with men. Several ladies came and they all made +themselves at home and worked like beavers, and we all had a fine +time.... + +Sedalia was present and almost caused a riot. She says she likes +unusual words because they lend distinction to conversation. Well, they +do--sometimes. There was another lady present whose children are very +gifted musically, but who have the bad name of taking what they want +without asking. The mother can neither read nor write, and she is very +sensitive about the bad name her children have. While we were all busy +some one made a remark about how smart these children were. Sedalia +thought that a good time to get in a big word, so she said, "Yes, I +have always said Lula was a progeny." Mrs. Hall didn't know what she +meant and thought that she was casting reflections on her child's +honesty, so with her face scarlet and her eyes blazing she said, +"Sedalia Lane, I won't allow you nor nobody else to say my child is a +progeny. You can take that back or I will slap you peaked." Sedalia +took it back in a hurry, so I guess little Lula Hall is not a progeny. + +Every one left about four except Gale, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, Mrs. +Louderer, and the Edmonsons. They had farthest to go, so they stayed +over night again. We worked until ten o'clock that night over Grandma's +clothes, but everything was thoroughly finished. Every button was on, +every thread-end knotted and clipped, and some tired workers lay down +to rest, as did a very happy child and a very thankful old lady. + +Every one got away by ten o'clock the next morning. The last I saw of +little Cora Belle was when they had reached the top of a long slope and +Balaam had "stopped to rest." The breeze from the south was playfully +fluttering the rags on the wheels. Presently I heard a long "hee-haw, +hee-haw," and I knew Balaam had rested and had started. + +I have been a very busy woman since I began this letter to you several +days ago. A dear little child has joined the angels. I dressed him and +helped to make his casket. There is no minister in this whole country +and I could not bear the little broken lily-bud to be just carted away +and buried, so I arranged the funeral and conducted the services. I +know I am unworthy and in no way fitted for such a mission, but I did +my poor best, and if no one else is comforted, I am. I know the message +of God's love and care has been told once, anyway, to people who have +learned to believe more strongly in hell than in heaven. + +Dear friend, I do hope that this New Year will bring you and yours +fuller joys than you have ever known. If I had all the good gifts in my +hands you should certainly be blessed. + + Your sincere friend, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XI + +ZEBBIE'S STORY + + + _September 1, 1910._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +It was just a few days after the birthday party and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +was with me again. We were down at the barn looking at some new pigs, +when we heard the big corral gates swing shut, so we hastened out to +see who it could be so late in the day. + +It was Zebbie. He had come on the stage to Burnt Fork and the driver +had brought him on here.... There was so much to tell, and he whispered +he had something to tell me privately, but that he was too tired then; +so after supper I hustled him off to bed.... + +Next morning ... the men went off to their work and Zebbie and I were +left to tell secrets. When he was sure we were alone he took from his +trunk a long, flat box. Inside was the most wonderful shirt I have +ever seen; it looked like a cross between a nightshirt and a +shirt-waist. It was of homespun linen. The bosom was ruffled and +tucked, all done by hand,--such tiny stitches, such patience and skill. +Then he handed me an old daguerreotype. I unfastened the little golden +hook and inside was a face good to see and to remember. It was dim, yet +clear in outline, just as if she were looking out from the mellow +twilight of long ago. The sweet, elusive smile,--I couldn't tell where +it was, whether it was the mouth or the beautiful eyes that were +smiling. All that was visible of her dress was the Dutch collar, just +like what is being worn now. It was pinned with an ugly old brooch +which Zebbie said was a "breast-pin" he had given her. Under the glass +on the other side was a strand of faded hair and a slip of paper. The +writing on the paper was so faded it was scarcely readable, but it +said: "Pauline Gorley, age 22, 1860." + +Next he showed me a note written by Pauline, simply worded, but it held +a world of meaning for Zebbie. It said, "I spun and wove this cloth at +Adeline's, enough for me a dress and you a shirt, which I made. It is +for the wedding, else to be buried in. Yours, Pauline." The shirt, the +picture, and the note had waited for him all these years in Mothie's +care. And now I will tell you the story. + +Long, long ago some one did something to some one else and started a +feud. Unfortunately the Gorleys were on one side and the Parkers on the +other. That it all happened before either Zebbie or Pauline was born +made no difference. A Gorley must hate a Parker always, as also a +Parker must hate a Gorley. Pauline was the only girl, and she had a +regiment of big brothers who gloried in the warfare and wanted only the +slightest pretext to shoot a Parker. So they grew up, and Zebbie often +met Pauline at the quiltings and other gatherings at the homes of +non-partisans. He remembers her so perfectly and describes her so +plainly that I can picture her easily. She had brown eyes and hair. She +used to ride about on her sorrel palfrey with her "nigger" boy Cæsar on +behind to open and shut plantation gates. She wore a pink calico +sunbonnet, and Zebbie says "she was just like the pink hollyhocks that +grew by mother's window." Isn't that a sweet picture? + +Her mother and father were both dead, and she and her brothers lived on +their plantation. Zebbie had never dared speak to her until one day he +had driven over with his mother and sisters to a dinner given on a +neighboring plantation. He was standing outside near the wall, when +some one dropped a spray of apple blossoms down upon him from an upper +window. He looked up and Pauline was leaning out smiling at him. After +that he made it a point to frequent places where he might expect her, +and things went so well that presently Cæsar was left at home lest he +should tell the brothers. She was a loyal little soul and would not +desert, although he urged her to, even promising to go away, "plumb +away, clean to Scott County if she would go." She told him that her +brothers would go even as far as that to kill him, so that they must +wait and hope. Finally Zebbie got tired of waiting, and one day he +boldly rode up to the Gorley home and formally asked for Pauline's +hand. The bullet he got for his presumption kept him from going to the +war with his father and brother when they marched away. + +Some time later George Gorley was shot and killed from ambush, and +although Zebbie had not yet left his bed the Gorleys believed he did +it, and one night Pauline came through a heavy rainstorm, with only +Cæsar, to warn Zebbie and to beg him, for her sake, to get away as fast +as he could that night. She pleaded that she could not live if he were +killed and could never marry him if he killed her brothers, so she +persuaded him to go while they were all innocent. + +Well, he did as she wished and they never saw each other again. He +never went home again until last Thanksgiving, and dear little Pauline +had been dead for years. She herself had taken her little gifts for +Zebbie to Mothie to keep for him. Some years later she died and was +buried in the dress she mentioned. It was woven at Adeline Carter's, +one of the bitterest enemies of the Gorleys, but the sacrifice of her +pride did her no good because she was long at rest before Zebbie knew. +He had been greatly grieved because no stone marked her grave, only a +tangle of rose-briers. So he bought a stone, and in the night before +Decoration Day he and two of Uncle Buck's grandsons went to the Gorley +burying-ground and raised it to the memory of sweet Pauline. Some of +the Gorleys still live there, so he came home at once, fearing if they +should find out who placed the stone above their sister they would take +vengeance on his poor, frail body. + +After he had finished telling me his story, I felt just as I used to +when Grandmother opened the "big chist" to air her wedding clothes and +the dress each of her babies wore when baptized. It seemed almost like +smelling the lavender and rose-leaves, and it was with reverent fingers +that I folded the shirt, the work of love, yellow with age, and laid it +in the box.... + +Well, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy returned, and early one morning we started +with a wagon and a bulging mess-box for Zebbie's home. We were going a +new and longer route in order to take the wagon. Dandelions spread a +carpet of gold. Larkspur grew waist-high with its long spikes of blue. +The service-bushes and the wild cherries were a mass of white beauty. +Meadowlarks and robins and bluebirds twittered and sang from every +branch, it almost seemed. A sky of tenderest blue bent over us and +fleecy little clouds drifted lazily across.... Soon we came to the +pineries, where we traveled up deep gorges and caņons. The sun shot +arrows of gold through the pines down upon us and we gathered our arms +full of columbines. The little black squirrels barked and chattered +saucily as we passed along, and we were all children together. We +forgot all about feuds and partings, death and hard times. All we +remembered was that God is good and the world is wide and beautiful. We +plodded along all day. Next morning there was a blue haze that Zebbie +said meant there would be a high wind, so we hurried to reach his home +that evening. + +The sun was hanging like a great red ball in the smoky haze when we +entered the long caņon in which is Zebbie's cabin. Already it was dusky +in the caņons below, but not a breath of air stirred. A more delighted +man than Zebbie I never saw when we finally drove up to his low, +comfortable cabin. Smoke was slowly rising from the chimney, and +Gavotte, the man in charge, rushed out and the hounds set up a joyful +barking. Gavotte is a Frenchman, and he was all smiles and +gesticulations as he said, "Welcome, welcome! To-day I am rejoice you +have come. Yesterday I am despair if you have come because I am scrub, +but to-day, behold, I am delight." + +I have heard of clean people, but Gavotte is the cleanest man I ever +saw. The cabin floor was so white I hated to step upon it. The windows +shone, and at each there was a calico curtain, blue-and-white check, +unironed but newly washed. In one window was an old brown pitcher, +cracked and nicked, filled with thistles. I never thought them pretty +before, but the pearly pink and the silvery green were so pretty and +looked so clean that they had a new beauty. Above the fireplace was a +great black eagle which Gavotte had killed, the wings outspread and a +bunch of arrows in the claws. In one corner near the fire was a +washstand, and behind it hung the fishing-tackle. Above one door was a +gun-rack, on which lay the rifle and shotgun, and over the other door +was a pair of deer-antlers. In the center of the room stood the square +home-made table, every inch scrubbed. In the side room, which is the +bedroom, was a wide bunk made of pine plank that had also been +scrubbed, then filled with fresh, sweet pine boughs, and over them was +spread a piece of canvas that had once been a wagon sheet, but Gavotte +had washed it and boiled and pounded it until it was clean and sweet. +That served for a sheet. + +Zebbie was beside himself with joy. The hounds sprang upon him and +expressed their joy unmistakably. He went at once to the corrals to see +the "critters," and every one of them was safely penned for the night. +"Old Sime," an old ram (goodness knows _how_ old!), promptly butted him +over, but he just beamed with pleasure. "Sime knows me, dinged if he +don't!" was his happy exclamation. We went into the cabin and left him +fondling the "critters." + +Gavotte did himself proud getting supper. We had trout and the most +delicious biscuit. Each of us had a crisp, tender head of lettuce with +a spoonful of potato salad in the center. We had preserves made from +canned peaches, and the firmest yellow butter. Soon it was quite dark +and we had a tiny brass lamp which gave but a feeble light, but it was +quite cool so we had a blazing fire which made it light enough. + +When supper was over, Zebbie called us out and asked us if we could +hear anything. We could hear the most peculiar, long-drawn, sighing +wail that steadily grew louder and nearer. I was really frightened, but +he said it was the forerunner of the windstorm that would soon strike +us. He said it was wind coming down Crag Caņon, and in just a few +minutes it struck us like a cold wave and rushed, sighing, on down the +caņon. We could hear it after it had passed us, and it was perfectly +still around the cabin. Soon we heard the deep roaring of the coming +storm, and Zebbie called the hounds in and secured the door. The sparks +began to fly up the chimney. Jerrine lay on a bearskin before the +fire, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I sat on the old blue "settle" at one +side. Gavotte lay on the other side of the fire on the floor, his hands +under his head. Zebbie got out his beloved old fiddle, tuned up, and +began playing. Outside the storm was raging, growing worse all the +time. Zebbie played and played. The worse the tumult, the harder the +storm, the harder he played. I remember I was holding my breath, +expecting the house to be blown away every moment, and Zebbie was +playing what he called "Bonaparte's Retreat." It all seemed to flash +before me--I could see those poor, suffering soldiers staggering along +in the snow, sacrifices to one man's unholy ambition. I verily believe +we were all bewitched. I shouldn't have been surprised to have seen +witches and gnomes come tumbling down the chimney or flying in at the +door, riding on the crest of the storm. I glanced at Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy. She sat with her chin in her hand, gazing with unseeing +eyes into the fire. Zebbie seemed possessed; he couldn't tire. + +It seemed like hours had passed and the tumult had not diminished. I +felt like shrieking, but I gathered Jerrine up into my arms and carried +her in to bed. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy came with us. She touched my elbow +and said, "Child, don't look toward the window, the banshees are out +to-night." We knelt together beside the bed and said our beads; then, +without undressing save pulling off our shoes, we crawled under our +blankets and lay on the sweet, clean pine. We were both perfectly worn +out, but we could not sleep. There seemed to be hundreds of different +noises of the storm, for there are so many caņons, so many crooks and +turns, and the great forest too. The wind was shrieking, howling, and +roaring all at once. A deep boom announced the fall of some giant of +the forest. I finally dozed off even in that terrible din, but Zebbie +was not so frenzied as he had been. He was playing "Annie Laurie," and +that song has always been a favorite of mine. The storm began gradually +to die away and "Annie Laurie" sounded so beautiful. I was thinking of +Pauline and, I know, to Zebbie, Annie Laurie and Pauline Gorley are one +and the same. + +I knew no more until I heard Zebbie call out, "Ho, you sleepy-heads, +it's day." Mrs. O'Shaughnessy turned over and said she was still +sleepy. My former visit had taught me what beauty the early morning +would spread before me, so I dressed hastily and went outdoors. Zebbie +called me to go for a little walk. The amber light of the new day was +chasing the violet and amethyst shadows down the caņons. It was all +more beautiful than I can tell you. On one side the caņon-walls were +almost straight up. It looked as if we might step off into a very world +of mountains. Soon Old Baldy wore a crown of gleaming gold. The sun was +up. We walked on and soon came to a brook. We were washing our faces +in its icy waters when we heard twigs breaking, so we stood perfectly +still. From out the undergrowth of birch and willows came a deer with +two fawns. They stopped to drink, and nibbled the bushes. But soon they +scented strangers, and, looking about with their beautiful, startled +eyes, they saw us and away they went like the wind. We saw many great +trees uptorn by the storm. High up on the cliffs Zebbie showed me where +the eagles built every year.... We turned homeward and sat down upon +the trunk of a fallen pine to rest and take another look at the +magnificent view. Zebbie was silent, but presently he threw a handful +of pebbles down the caņon wall. "I am not sorry Pauline is dead. I have +never shed a tear. I know you think that is odd, but I have never +wanted to mourn. I am glad that it is as it is. I am happy and at peace +because I know she is mine. The little breeze is Pauline's own voice; +she had a little caressing way just like the gentlest breeze when it +stirs your hair. There is something in everything that brings back +Pauline: the beauty of the morning, the song of a bird or the flash of +its wings. The flowers look like she did. So I have not lost her, she +is mine more than ever. I have always felt so, but was never quite sure +until I went back and saw where they laid her. I know people think I am +crazy, but I don't care for that. I shall not hate to die. When you get +to be as old as I am, child, everything will have a new meaning to +you." + +At last we slowly walked back to the cabin, and at breakfast Zebbie +told of the damage the storm had done. He was so common-place that no +one ever would have guessed his strange fancy.... + +I shall never forget Zebbie as I last saw him. It was the morning we +started home. After we left the bench that Zebbie lives on, our road +wound down into a deeper caņon. Zebbie had followed us to where a turn +in the caņon should hide us from view. I looked back and saw him +standing on the cliffs, high above us, the early morning sun turning +his snowy hair to gold, the breeze-fingers of Pauline tossing the +scanty locks. I shall always remember him so, a living monument to a +dead past. + + ELINORE STEWART. + + + + +XII + +A CONTENTED COUPLE + + + _October 6, 1911._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... I once "heared" Sedalia Lane telling some of her experiences, and +she said she "surreptitiously stole along." One day, when I thought the +coast was clear, I was surreptitiously examining the contents of the +tool-chest with a view toward securing to myself such hammers, saws, +and what else I might need in doing some carpentry work I had planned. +The tool-chest is kept in the granary; both it and the granary are +usually kept locked. Now the "gude mon" has an idea that a "wooman" +needs no tools, and the use and misuse of his tools have led to numbers +of inter-household wars. I was gloating over my opportunity, and also +making the best of it, when a medley of burring Scotch voices brought +me to a quick realization that discretion is the better part of valor. +So I went into seclusion behind a tall oat-bin. It seemed that two +neighbors whom I had never seen were preparing to go to town, and had +come to get some tools and to see if the Stewart would lend them each a +team. Now Mr. Stewart must be very righteous, because he certainly +regardeth his beast, although he doesn't always love his neighbor as +himself. He was willing, however, for friends Tam Campbell and Archie +McEttrick to use his teams, but he himself would take a lighter rig and +go along, so as to see that his horses were properly cared for, and to +help out in case of need. + +They made their plans, set the day, and went their ways. As soon as I +could, I made myself scarce about the granary and very busy about the +house, and, like Josiah Allen, I was in a very "happyfied" state of +mind. There is nothing Mr. Stewart likes better than to catch me +unprepared for something. I had been wanting to go to town, and he had +said I might go with him next time he went, if I was ready when he was. +I knew I would not hear one word about the proposed trip, but that only +added to the fun. I had plenty of time to make all preparations; so the +day before they were to start found me with all in readiness. It was +quite early in the spring and the evenings were quite chilly. We had +just finished supper, when we heard a great rumbling, and I knew +neighbors Campbell and McEttrick had arrived on their way to town; so I +began to prepare supper for them. I hadn't expected a woman, and was +surprised when I saw the largest, most ungainly person I have ever met +come shambling toward me. + +She was Aggie McEttrick. She is tall and raw-boned, she walks with her +toes turned out, she has a most peculiar lurching gait like a camel's. +She has skin the color of a new saddle, and the oddest straggly +straw-colored hair. She never wears corsets and never makes her waists +long enough, so there is always a streak of gray undershirt visible +about her waist. Her skirts are never long enough either, and she knits +her own stockings. Those inclined can always get a good glimpse of +blue-and-white striped hose. She said, "I guess you are the Missus." +And that was every word she said until I had supper on the table. The +men were busy with their teams, and she sat with her feet in my oven, +eyeing my every movement. I told her we had just had our supper, but +she waited until I had theirs ready before she announced that neither +she nor Archie ate hot biscuits or steak, that they didn't take tea for +supper, preferred coffee, and that neither of them could eat peaches or +honey. So all of my supper was ruled off except the butter and cream. +She went down to their wagons and brought up what she wanted, so Tam +Campbell was the only one who ate my honey and biscuit. + +Tam is just a Scot with an amazingly close fist, and he is very +absent-minded. I had met Annie, his wife, and their six children. She +told me of his absent-mindedness. Her remedy for his trouble when it +came to household needs was to repeat the article two or three times in +the list. People out like we are buy a year's supply at a time. So a +list of needed things is made up and sent into town. Tam always managed +to forget a great many things. + +Well, bedtime came. I offered to show them to their room, but Aggie +said, "We'll nae sleep in your bed. We'll jest bide in the kitchen." I +could not persuade her to change her mind. Tam slept at the barn in +order to see after the "beasties," should they need attention during +the night. As I was preparing for bed, Aggie thrust her head into my +room and announced that she would be up at three o'clock. I am not an +early bird, so I thought I would let Aggie get her own breakfast, and I +told her she would find everything in the pantry. As long as I was +awake I could hear Archie and Aggie talking, but I could not imagine +what about. I didn't know their habits so well as I came to later. Next +morning the rumbling of their wagons awakened me, but I turned over and +slept until after six. + +There are always so many things to do before leaving that it was nine +o'clock before we got started. We had only gotten about two miles, when +Mr. Stewart remembered he had not locked the granary, so back we +trotted. We nooned only a few miles from home. We knew we could not +catch the wagons before camping-time unless we drove very hard, so Mr. +Stewart said we would go by the Edmonsons' and spend the night there. I +enjoy even the memory of that drive through the short spring +afternoon,--the warm red sand of the desert; the Wind River Mountains +wrapped in the blue veil of distance; the sparse gray-green sage, ugly +in itself, but making complete a beautiful picture; the occasional +glimpse we had of shy, beautiful wild creatures. So much happiness can +be crowded into so short a time. I was glad, though, when Cora Belle's +home became a part of our beautiful picture. It is situated among great +red buttes, and there is a blue lake back of the house. Around the lake +is a fringe of willows. Their house is a low, rambling affair, with a +long, low porch and a red clay roof. Before the house is a cotton-wood +tree, its gnarled, storm-twisted branches making it seem to have the +"rheumatiz." There is a hop-vine at one end of the porch. It had not +come out when we were there, but the dead vine clung hopelessly to its +supports. + +Little Cora Belle just bubbled with delight, and her grandparents were +scarcely better than she. Spring house-cleaning was just finished, and +they have company so seldom that they made us feel that we were doing +them a favor by stopping. Poor old "Pa" hobbled out to help put the +team away, and when they came back, Cora Belle asked me out to help +prepare supper, so I left Mr. Stewart with "Granny" and "Pa" to listen +to their recitals and to taste their many medicines. Cora Belle is +really an excellent housekeeper. Her cooking would surprise many +people. Her bread was delicious, and I am sure I never tasted anything +better than the roasted leg of lamb she gave us for supper. I am +ashamed to tell you how much I ate of her carrot jam. From where I sat +I had a splendid view of the sunset across the lake. Speaking of things +singly, Wyoming has nothing beautiful to offer. Taken altogether, it is +grandly beautiful, and at sunrise and sunset the "heavens declare His +glory." + +Cora Belle is so animated and so straightforward, so entirely clean in +all her thoughts and actions, that she commands love and respect at one +and the same time. After supper her grandfather asked her to sing and +play for us. Goodness only knows where they got the funny little old +organ that Cora Belle thinks so much of. It has spots all over it of +medicine that has been spilled at different times, and it has, as Cora +Belle said, lost its voice in spots; but that doesn't set back Cora +Belle at all, she plays away just as if it was all right. Some of the +keys keep up a mournful whining and groaning, entirely outside of the +tune. Cora Belle says they play themselves. After several "pieces" had +been endured, "Pa" said, "Play my piece, Cory Belle"; so we had "Bingen +on the Rhine" played and sung from A to izzard. Dear old "Pa," his +pain-twisted old face just beamed with pride. I doubt if heaven will +have for him any sweeter music than his "baby's" voice. Granny's +squeaky, trembly old voice trailed in after Cora Belle's, always a word +or two behind. "Tell my friends and companions when they meet and +_scrouge_ around"; that is the way they sang it, but no one would have +cared for that, if they had noticed with what happy eagerness the two +sang together. The grandparents would like to have sat up all night +singing and telling of things that happened in bygone days, but poor +tired little Cora Belle began to nod, so we retired. As we were +preparing for bed it suddenly occurred to Mr. Stewart that I had not +been surprised when going to town was mentioned, so he said, "Wooman, +how did it happen that you were ready when I was to gae to the toone?" +"Oh," I said, "I knew you were going." "Who tell it ye?" "A little +bird." "'T was some fool wooman, mayhap." I didn't feel it necessary to +enlighten him, and I think he is still wondering how I knew. + +Next morning we were off early, but we didn't come up with the wagons +until almost camping-time. The great heavily-loaded wagons were +creaking along over the heavy sands. The McEttricks were behind, +Aggie's big frame swaying and lurching with every jolt of the wagon. +They never travel without their German socks. They are great thick +things to wear on the outside of their shoes. As we came up behind +them, we could see Aggie's big socks dangling and bobbing beside +Archie's from where they were tied on the back part of the wagon. We +could hear them talking and see them gesticulating. When we came +nearer, we found they were quarreling, and they kept at it as long as I +was awake that night. After the men had disposed of their loads, they +and Mr. Stewart were going out of town to where a new coal-mine was +being opened. I intended to go on the train to Rock Springs to do some +shopping. Aggie said she was going also. I suggested that we get a room +together, as we would have to wait several hours for the train, but she +was suspicious of my motives. She is greatly afraid of being "done," so +she told me to get my own room and pay for it. We got into town about +three o'clock in the afternoon, and the train left at midnight. + +I had gone to my room, and Jerrine and myself were enjoying a good rest +after our fatiguing drive, when my door was thrown open and a very +angry Aggie strode in. They asked us fifty cents each for our rooms. +Aggie paid hers under protest and afterward got to wondering how long +she was entitled to its use. She had gone back to the clerk about it, +and he had told her for that night only. She argued that she should +have her room for a quarter, as she would only use it until midnight. +When that failed, she asked for her money back, but the clerk was out +of patience and refused her that. Aggie was angry all through. She +vowed she was being robbed. After she had berated me soundly for +submitting so tamely, she flounced back to her own room, declaring she +would get even with the robbers. I had to hurry like everything that +night to get myself and Jerrine ready for the train, so I could spare +no time for Aggie. She was not at the depot, and Jerrine and I had to +go on to Rock Springs without her. It is only a couple of hours from +Green River to Rock Springs, so I had a good nap and a late breakfast. +I did my shopping and was back at Green River at two that afternoon. +The first person I saw was Aggie. She sat in the depot, glowering at +everybody. She had a basket of eggs and a pail of butter, which she had +been trying to sell. She was waiting for the night train, the only one +she could get to Rock Springs. I asked her had she overslept. "No, I +didna," she replied. Then, she proceeded to tell me that, as she had +paid for a whole night's use of a room, she had stayed to get its use. +That it had made her plans miscarry didn't seem to count. + +After all our business was attended to, we started for home. The wagons +were half a day ahead of us. When we came in sight, we could see Aggie +fanning the air with her long arms, and we knew they were quarreling. I +remarked that I could not understand how persons who hated each other +so could live together. Clyde told me I had much to learn, and said +that really he knew of no other couple who were actually so devoted. He +said to prove it I should ask Aggie into the buggy with me and he would +get in with Archie, and afterwards we would compare notes. He drove up +alongside of them, and Aggie seemed glad to make the exchange. As we +had the buggy, we drove ahead of the wagons. It seems that Archie and +Aggie are each jealous of the other. Archie is as ugly a little monkey +as it would be possible to imagine. She bemeaned him until at last I +asked her why she didn't leave him, and added that I would not stand +such crankiness for one moment. Then she poured out the vials of her +wrath upon my head, only I don't think they were vials but barrels. + +About sundown we made it to where we intended to camp and found that +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had established a sheep-camp there, and was out with +her herd herself, having only Manny, a Mexican boy she had brought up +herself, for a herder. She welcomed us cordially and began supper for +our entire bunch. Soon the wagons came, and all was confusion for a few +minutes getting the horses put away for the night. Aggie went to her +wagon as soon as it stopped and made secure her butter and eggs +against a possible raid by Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. Having asked too high a +price for them, she had failed to sell them and was taking them back. +After supper we were sitting around the fire, Tam going over his +account and lamenting that because of his absent-mindedness he had +bought a whole hundred pounds of sugar more than he had intended, Aggie +and Archie silent for once, pouting I suspect. Clyde smiled across the +camp-fire at me and said, "Gin ye had sic a lass as I hae, ye might +blither." "Gin ye had sic a mon as mine--" I began, but Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy said, "Gin ye had sic a mon as I hae." Then we all three +laughed, for we had each heard the same thing, and we knew the +McEttricks wouldn't fight each other. They suspected us of laughing at +them, for Archie said to Aggie, "Aggie, lass, is it sport they are +making of our love?" "'T is daft they be, Archie, lad; we'll nae mind +their blither." She arose and shambled across to Archie and hunkered +her big self down beside him. We went to bed and left them peaceable +for once. + +I am really ashamed of the way I have treated you, but I know you will +forgive me. I am not strong yet, and my eyes are still bothering me, +but I hope to be all right soon now, and I promise you a better letter +next time. Jerrine is very proud of her necklace. I think they are so +nice for children. I can remember how proud I was of mine when I was a +child. Please give your brother our thanks, and tell him his little +gift made my little girl very happy. + +I am afraid this letter will seem rather jumbled. I still want the +address of your friend in Salem or any other. I shall find time to +write, and I am not going to let my baby prevent me from having many +enjoyable outings. We call our boy Henry Clyde for his father. He is a +dear little thing, but he is a lusty yeller for baby's rights. + + With much love, + JERRINE AND HER MAMMA. + + + + +XIII + +PROVING UP + + + _October 14, 1911._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I think you must be expecting an answer to your letter by now, so I +will try to answer as many of your questions as I remember. Your letter +has been mislaid. We have been very much rushed all this week. We had +the thresher crew two days. I was busy cooking for them two days before +they came, and have been busy ever since cleaning up after them. Clyde +has taken the thresher on up the valley to thresh for the neighbors, +and all the men have gone along, so the children and I are alone. No, I +shall not lose my land, although it will be over two years before I can +get a deed to it. The five years in which I am required to "prove up" +will have passed by then. I couldn't have held my homestead if Clyde +had also been proving up, but he had accomplished that years ago and +has his deed, so I am allowed my homestead. Also I have not yet used my +desert right, so I am still entitled to one hundred and sixty acres +more. I shall file on that much some day when I have sufficient money +of my own earning. The law requires a cash payment of twenty-five cents +per acre at the filing, and one dollar more per acre when final proof +is made. I should not have married if Clyde had not promised I should +meet all my land difficulties unaided. I wanted the fun and the +experience. For that reason I want to earn every cent that goes into my +own land and improvements myself. Sometimes I almost have a brain-storm +wondering how I am going to do it, but I know I shall succeed; other +women have succeeded. I know of several who are now where they can +laugh at past trials. Do you know?--I am a firm believer in laughter. I +am real superstitious about it. I think if Bad Luck came along, he +would take to his heels if some one laughed right loudly. + +I think Jerrine must be born for the law. She always threshes out +questions that arise, to her own satisfaction, if to no one else's. She +prayed for a long time for her brother; also she prayed for some +puppies. The puppies came, but we didn't let her know they were here +until they were able to walk. One morning she saw them following their +mother, so she danced for joy. When her little brother came she was +plainly disappointed. "Mamma," she said, "did God really make the +baby?" "Yes, dear." "Then He hasn't treated us fairly, and I should +like to know why. The puppies could walk when He finished them; the +calves can, too. The pigs can, and the colt, and even the chickens. +What is the use of giving us a half-finished baby? He has no hair, and +no teeth; he can't walk or talk, nor do anything else but squall and +sleep." + +After many days she got the question settled. She began right where +she left off. "I know, Mamma, why God gave us such a half-finished +baby; so he could learn our ways, and no one else's, since he must live +with us, and so we could learn to love him. Every time I stand beside +his buggy he laughs and then I love him, but I don't love Stella nor +Marvin because they laugh. So that is why." Perhaps that is the reason. + +Zebbie's kinsfolk have come and taken him back to Yell County. I should +not be surprised if he never returned. The Lanes and the Pattersons +leave shortly for Idaho, where "our Bobbie" has made some large +investments. + +I hope to hear from you soon and that you are enjoying every minute. +With much love, + + Your friend, + ELINORE STEWART. + + + + +XIV + +THE NEW HOUSE + + + _December 1, 1911._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I feel just like visiting to-night, so I am going to "play like" you +have come. It is so good to have you to chat with. Please be seated in +this low rocker; it is a present to me from the Pattersons and I am +very proud of it. I am just back from the Patterson ranch, and they +have a dear little boy who came the 20th of November and they call him +Robert Lane. + +I am sure this room must look familiar to you, for there is so much in +it that was once yours. I have two rooms, each fifteen by fifteen, but +this one on the south is my "really" room and in it are my treasures. +My house faces east and is built up against a side-hill, or should I +say hillside? Anyway, they had to excavate quite a lot. I had them +dump the dirt right before the house and terrace it smoothly. I have +sown my terrace to California poppies, and around my porch, which is +six feet wide and thirty long, I have planted wild cucumbers. + +Every log in my house is as straight as a pine can grow. Each room has +a window and a door on the east side, and the south room has two +windows on the south with space between for my heater, which is one of +those with a grate front so I can see the fire burn. It is almost as +good as a fireplace. The logs are unhewed outside because I like the +rough finish, but inside the walls are perfectly square and smooth. The +cracks in the walls are snugly filled with "daubing" and then the walls +are covered with heavy gray building-paper, which makes the room very +warm, and I really like the appearance. I had two rolls of wall-paper +with a bold rose pattern. By being very careful I was able to cut out +enough of the roses, which are divided in their choice of color as to +whether they should be red, yellow, or pink, to make a border about +eighteen inches from the ceiling. They brighten up the wall and the +gray paper is fine to hang pictures upon. Those you have sent us make +our room very attractive. The woodwork is stained a walnut brown, oil +finish, and the floor is stained and oiled just like it. In the corners +by the stove and before the windows we take our comfort. + +From some broken bamboo fishing-rods I made frames for two screens. +These I painted black with some paint that was left from the buggy, and +Gavotte fixed the screens so they will stay balanced, and put in +casters for me. I had a piece of blue curtain calico and with +brass-headed tacks I put it on the frame of Jerrine's screen, then I +mixed some paste and let her decorate it to suit herself on the side +that should be next her corner. She used the cards you sent her. Some +of the people have a suspiciously tottering appearance, perhaps not so +very artistic, but they all mean something to a little girl whose +small fingers worked patiently to attain satisfactory results. She has +a set of shelves on which her treasures of china are arranged. On the +floor is a rug made of two goatskins dyed black, a present from +Gavotte, who heard her admiring Zebbie's bearskin. She has a tiny red +rocking-chair which she has outgrown, but her rather dilapidated family +of dolls use it for an automobile. For a seat for herself she has a +small hassock that you gave me, and behind the blue screen is a world +apart. + +My screen is made just like Jerrine's except that the cover is cream +material with sprays of wild roses over it. In my corner I have a cot +made up like a couch. One of my pillows is covered with some checked +gingham that "Dawsie" cross-stitched for me. I have a cabinet bookcase +made from an old walnut bedstead that was a relic of the Mountain +Meadow Massacre. Gavotte made it for me. In it I have my few books, +some odds and ends of china, all gifts, and a few fossil curios. For a +floor-covering I have a braided rug of blue and white, made from old +sheets and Jerrine's old dresses. In the center of my room is a square +table made of pine and stained brown. Over it is a table-cover that you +gave me. Against the wall near my bed is my "dresser." It is a box with +shelves and is covered with the same material as my screen. Above it I +have a mirror, but it makes ugly faces at me every time I look into it. +Upon the wall near by is a match-holder that you gave me. It is the +heads of two fisher-folk. The man has lost his nose, but the old lady +still thrusts out her tongue. The material on my screen and "dresser" I +bought for curtains, then decided to use some white crossbar I had. But +I wish I had not, for every time I look at them I think of poor little +Mary Ann Parker. + +I am going to make you a cup of tea and wonder if you will see anything +familiar about the teapot. You should, I think, for it is another of +your many gifts to me. Now I feel that you have a fairly good idea of +what my house looks like, on the inside anyway. The magazines and +Jerrine's cards and Mother Goose book came long ago, and Jerrine and I +were both made happy. I wish I could do nice things for you, but all I +can do is to love you. + + Your sincere friend, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +XV + +THE "STOCKING-LEG" DINNER + + + _February, 1912._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... This time I want to tell you about a "stocking-leg" dinner which I +attended not long ago. It doesn't sound very respectable, but it was +one of the happiest events I ever remember. + +Mrs. Louderer was here visiting us, and one afternoon we were all in +the kitchen when Gavotte came skimming along on the first pair of +snowshoes I ever saw. We have had lots of snow this winter, and many of +the hollows and gullies are packed full. Gavotte had no difficulty in +coming, and he had come for the mail and to invite us to a feast of "ze +hose." I could not think what kind of a dinner it could be, and I did +not believe that Mr. Stewart would go, but after Gavotte had explained +how much easier it was now than at any other time because the +hard-packed snow made it possible to go with bobsleds, I knew he would +go. I can't say I really wanted to go, but Mrs. Louderer took it for +granted that it would be delightful, so she and Mr. Stewart did the +planning. Next morning Gavotte met Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and invited her. +Then, taking the mail, he went on ahead to blaze a trail we should +follow with the sleds. We were to start two days later. They planned we +could easily make the trip in a day, as, with the gulches filled with +snow, short cuts were possible, and we could travel at a good pace, as +we would have a strong team. To me it seemed dangerous, but +dinner-parties have not been so plenty that I could miss one. So, when +the day came on which we were to start, we were up betimes and had a +mess-box packed and Mr. Stewart had a big pile of rocks hot. We all +wore our warmest clothes, and the rest carried out hot rocks and +blankets while I put the kitchen in such order that the men left to +feed the stock would have no trouble in getting their meals. Mr. +Stewart carried out the mess-box, and presently we were off. We had a +wagon-box on bobsleds, and the box was filled with hay and hot rocks +with blankets on top and more to cover us. Mr. Stewart had two big bags +of grain in front, feed for the horses, and he sat on them. + +It was a beautiful day and we jogged along merrily. We had lots of fun, +and as we went a new way, there was much that was new to Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy and myself, and it was all new to the rest. Gavotte had +told us where we should noon, and we reached the place shortly after +twelve. Mr. Stewart went to lift out the mess-box,--but he had +forgotten to put it in! Oh, dear! We were a disappointed lot. I don't +think I was ever so hungry, but there was nothing for it but to grin +and bear it. It did me some good, though, to remember how a man misses +his dinner. The horses had to be fed, so we walked about while they +were eating. We went up a caņon that had high cliffs on one side, and +came to a place where, high up on the rock wall, in great black +letters, was this legend: "Dick fell off of this here clift and died." +I should think there would be no question that any one who fell from +that place on to the boulders below _would_ die. + +Soon we started again, and if not quite so jolly as we were before, at +least we looked forward to our supper with a keen relish and the horses +were urged faster than they otherwise would have been. The beautiful +snow is rather depressing, however, when there is snow everywhere. The +afternoon passed swiftly and the horses were becoming jaded. At four +o'clock it was almost dark. We had been going up a deep caņon and came +upon an appalling sight. There had been a snow-slide and the caņon was +half-filled with snow, rock, and broken trees. The whole way was +blocked, and what to do we didn't know, for the horses could hardly be +gotten along and we could not pass the snow-slide. We were twenty-five +miles from home, night was almost upon us, and we were almost starved. +But we were afraid to stay in that caņon lest more snow should slide +and bury us, so sadly we turned back to find as comfortable a place as +we could to spend the night. The prospects were very discouraging, and +I am afraid we were all near tears, when suddenly there came upon the +cold air a clear blast from a horn. Mrs. Louderer cried, "Ach, der +reveille!" Once I heard a lecturer tell of climbing the Matterhorn and +the calls we heard brought his story to mind. No music could have been +so beautiful. It soon became apparent that we were being signaled; so +we drove in the direction of the sound and found ourselves going up a +wide caņon. We had passed the mouth of it shortly before we had come to +the slide. Even the tired horses took new courage, and every few +moments a sweet, clear call put new heart into us. Soon we saw a light. +We had to drive very slowly and in places barely crept. The bugler +changed his notes and we knew he was wondering if we were coming, so +Mr. Stewart helloed. At once we had an answer, and after that we were +steadily guided by the horn. Many times we could not see the light, but +we drove in the right direction because we could hear the horn. + +At last, when it was quite dark and the horses could go no farther, we +drew up before the fire that had been our beacon light. It was a +bonfire built out upon a point of rock at the end of the caņon. Back +from it among the pines was a 'dobe house. A dried-up mummy of a man +advanced from the fire to meet us, explaining that he had seen us +through his field-glasses and, knowing about the snow-slide, had +ventured to attract us to his poor place. Carlota Juanita was within, +prepared for the _seņoras_, if they would but walk in. If they would! +More dead than alive, we scrambled out, cold-stiffened and hungry. +Carlota Juanita threw open the low, wide door and we stumbled into +comfort. She hastened to help us off with our wraps, piled more wood on +the open fire, and busied herself to make us welcome and comfortable. +Poor Carlota Juanita! Perhaps you think she was some slender, +limpid-eyed, olive-cheeked beauty. She was fat and forty, but not fair. +She had the biggest wad of hair that I ever saw, and her face was so +fat that her eyes looked beady. She wore an old heelless pair of +slippers or sandals that would hardly stay on, and at every step they +made the most exasperating sliding noise, but she was all kindness and +made us feel very welcome. The floor was of dirt, and they had the +largest fireplace I have ever seen, with the widest, cleanest hearth, +which was where they did their cooking. All their furniture was +home-made, and on a low bench near the door were three water-jars +which, I am sure, were handmade. Away back in a corner they had a small +altar, on which was a little statue of Mary and the Child. Before it, +suspended by a wire from the rafters, was a cow's horn in which a piece +of punk was burning, just as the incense is kept burning in churches. +Supper was already prepared and was simmering and smoking on the +hearth. As soon as the men came in, Carlota Juanita put it on the +table, which was bare of cloth. I can't say that I really like Mexican +bread, but they certainly know how to cook meat. They had a most +wonderful pot-roast with potatoes and corn dumplings that were +delicious. The roast had been slashed in places and small bits of +garlic, pepper, bacon, and, I think, parsley, inserted. After it and +the potatoes and the dumplings were done, Carlota had poured in a can +of tomatoes. You may not think that was good, but I can assure you it +was and that we did ample justice to it. After we had eaten until we +were hardly able to swallow, Carlota Juanita served a queer Mexican +pie. It was made of dried buffalo-berries, stewed and made very sweet. +A layer of batter had been poured into a deep baking-dish, then the +berries, and then more batter. Then it was baked and served hot with +plenty of hard sauce; and it was powerful good, too. She had very +peculiar coffee with goat's milk in it. I took mine without the milk, +but I couldn't make up my mind that I liked the coffee. We sat around +the fire drinking it, when Manuel Pedro Felipe told us it was some he +had brought from Mexico. I didn't know they raised it there, but he +told us many interesting things about it. He and Carlota Juanita both +spoke fairly good English. They had lived for many years in their +present home and had some sheep, a few goats, a cow or two, a few pigs, +and chickens and turkeys. They had a small patch of land that Carlota +Juanita tilled and on which was raised the squaw corn that hung in +bunches from the rafters. Down where we live we can't get sweet corn to +mature, but here, so much higher up, they have a sheltered little nook +where they are able to raise many things. Upon a long shelf above the +fire was an ugly old stone image, the bottom broken off and some +plaster applied to make it set level. The ugly thing they had brought +with them from some old ruined temple in Mexico. We were all so very +tired that soon Carlota Juanita brought out an armful of the thickest, +brightest rugs and spread them over the floor for us to sleep upon. The +men retired to a lean-to room, where they slept, but not before Manuel +Pedro Felipe and Carlota had knelt before their altar for their +devotions. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and myself and Jerrine, knowing the +rosary, surprised them by kneeling with them. It is good to meet with +kindred faith away off in the mountains. It seems there could not +possibly be a mistake when people so far away from creeds and doctrines +hold to the faith of their childhood and find the practice a pleasure +after so many years. The men bade us good-night, and we lost no time in +settling ourselves to rest. Luckily we had plenty of blankets. + +Away in the night I was awakened by a noise that frightened me. All was +still, but instantly there flashed through my mind tales of murdered +travelers, and I was almost paralyzed with fear when again I heard that +stealthy, sliding noise, just like Carlota Juanita's old slippers. The +fire had burned down, but just then the moon came from behind a cloud +and shone through the window upon Carlota Juanita, who was asleep with +her mouth open. I could also see a pine bough which was scraping +against the wall outside, which was perhaps making the noise. I turned +over and saw the punk burning, which cast a dim light over the serene +face of the Blessed Virgin, so all fear vanished and I slept as long as +they would let me in the morning. After a breakfast of _tortillas_, +cheese, and rancid butter, and some more of the coffee, we started +again for the stocking-leg dinner. Carlota Juanita stood in the door, +waving to us as long as we could see her, and Manuel P.F. sat with Mr. +Stewart to guide us around the snow-slide. Under one arm he carried the +horn with which he had called us to him. It came from some long-horned +cow in Mexico, was beautifully polished, and had a fancy rim of silver. +I should like to own it, but I could not make it produce a sound. When +we were safe on our way our guide left us, and our spirits ran high +again. The horses were feeling good also, so it was a merry, laughing +party that drew up before Zebbie's two hours later. + +Long before I had lent Gavotte a set of the Leather-Stocking Tales, +which he had read aloud to Zebbie. Together they had planned a +Leather-Stocking dinner, at which should be served as many of the +viands mentioned in the Tales as possible. We stayed two days and it +was one long feast. We had venison served in half a dozen different +ways. We had antelope; we had porcupine, or hedgehog, as Pathfinder +called it; and also we had beaver-tail, which he found toothsome, but +which I did _not_. We had grouse and sage hen. They broke the ice and +snared a lot of trout. In their cellar they had a barrel of trout +prepared exactly like mackerel, and they were more delicious than +mackerel because they were finer-grained. I had been a little +disappointed in Zebbie after his return from home. It seemed to me that +Pauline had spoiled him. I guess I was jealous. This time he was the +same little old Zebbie I had first seen. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy +our visit, and I am sure we each had the time of our lives. We made it +home without mishap the same day we started, all of us sure life held +something new and enjoyable after all. + +If nothing happens there are some more good times in store for me this +summer. Gavotte once worked under Professor Marsden when he was out +here getting fossils for the Smithsonian Institution, and he is very +interesting to listen to. He has invited us to go with him out to the +Bad-Land hills in the summer to search for fossils. The hills are only +a few miles from here and I look forward to a splendid time. + + + + +XVI + +THE HORSE-THIEVES + + + [No date.] + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... I am so afraid that you will get an overdose of culture from your +visit to the Hub and am sending you an antidote of our sage, sand, and +sunshine. + +Mrs. Louderer had come over to see our boy. Together we had prepared +supper and were waiting for Clyde, who had gone to the post-office. +Soon he came, and after the usual friendly wrangling between him and +Mrs. Louderer we had supper. Then they began their inevitable game of +cribbage, while I sat near the fire with Baby on my lap. Clyde was +telling us of a raid on a ranch about seventy-five miles away, in which +the thieves had driven off thirty head of fine horses. There were only +two of the thieves, and the sheriff with a large posse was pursuing +them and forcing every man they came across into the chase, and a +regular man-hunt was on. It was interesting only because one of the +thieves was a noted outlaw then out on parole and known to be +desperate. We were in no way alarmed; the trouble was all in the next +county, and somehow that always seems so far away. We knew if the men +ever came together there would be a pitched battle, with bloodshed and +death, but there seemed little chance that the sheriff would ever +overtake the men. + +I remember I was feeling sorry for the poor fellows with a price on +their heads,--the little pink man on my lap had softened my heart +wonderfully. Jerrine was enjoying the pictures in a paper illustrating +early days on the range, wild scenes of roping and branding. I had +remarked that I didn't believe there were any more such times, when Mrs +Louderer replied, "Dot yust shows how much it iss you do not know. You +shall come to mine house and when away you come it shall be wiser as +when you left." I had kept at home very closely all summer, and a +little trip seemed the most desirable thing I could think of, +particularly as the baby would be in no way endangered. But long ago I +learned that the quickest way to get what I want is not to want it, +outwardly, at least. So I assumed an indifference that was not very +real. The result was that next morning every one was in a hurry to get +me started,--Clyde greasing the little old wagon that looks like a twin +to Cora Belle's, and Mrs. Louderer, who thinks no baby can be properly +brought up without goose-grease, busy greasing the baby "so as he shall +not some cold take yet." Mrs. Louderer had ridden over, so her saddle +was laid in the wagon and her pony, Bismarck, was hitched in with Chub, +the laziest horse in all Wyoming. I knew Clyde could manage very well +while I should be gone, and there wasn't a worry to interfere with the +pleasure of my outing. + +We jogged along right merrily, Mrs. Louderer devoting her entire +attention to trying to make Chub pull even with Bismarck, Jerrine and +myself enjoying the ever-changing views. I wish I could lay it all +before you. Summer was departing with reluctant feet, unafraid of +Winter's messengers, the chill winds. That day was especially +beautiful. The gleaming snow peaks and heavy forest south and at our +back; west, north, and east, long, broken lines of the distant +mountains with their blue haze. Pilot Butte to the north, one hundred +miles away, stood out clear and distinct as though we could drive there +in an hour or two. The dull, neutral-colored "Bad Land" hills nearer us +are interesting only because we know they are full of the fossil +remains of strange creatures long since extinct. + +For a distance our way lay up Henry's Fork valley; prosperous little +ranches dotted the view, ripening grain rustled pleasantly in the warm +morning sunshine, and closely cut alfalfa fields made bright spots of +emerald against the dun landscape. The quaking aspens were just +beginning to turn yellow; everywhere purple asters were a blaze of +glory except where the rabbit-bush grew in clumps, waving its feathery +plumes of gold. Over it all the sky was so deeply blue, with little, +airy, white clouds drifting lazily along. Every breeze brought scents +of cedar, pine, and sage. At this point the road wound along the base +of cedar hills; some magpies were holding a noisy caucus among the +trees, a pair of bluebirds twittered excitedly upon a fence, and high +overhead a great black eagle soared. All was so peaceful that +horse-thieves and desperate men seemed too remote to think about. + +Presently we crossed the creek and headed our course due north toward +the desert and the buttes. I saw that we were not going right to reach +Mrs. Louderer's ranch, so I asked where we were supposed to be going. +"We iss going to the mouth of Dry Creek by, where it goes Black's Fork +into. Dere mine punchers holdts five huntert steers. We shall de camp +visit and you shall come back wiser as when you went." + +Well, we both came away wiser. I had thought we were going only to the +Louderer ranch, so I put up no lunch, and there was nothing for the +horses either. But it was too beautiful a time to let such things annoy +us. Anyway, we expected to reach camp just after noon, so a little +delay about dinner didn't seem so bad. We had entered the desert by +noon; the warm, red sands fell away from the wheels with soft, hissing +sounds. Occasionally a little horned toad sped panting along before us, +suddenly darting aside to watch with bright, cunning eyes as we passed. +Some one had placed a buffalo's skull beside a big bunch of sage and on +the sage a splendid pair of elk's antlers. We saw many such scattered +over the sands, grim reminders of a past forever gone. + +About three o'clock we reached our destination, but no camp was there. +We were more disappointed than I can tell you, but Mrs. Louderer merely +went down to the river, a few yards away, and cut an armful of willow +sticks wherewith to coax Chub to a little brisker pace, and then we +took the trail of the departed mess-wagon. Shortly, we topped a low +range of hills, and beyond, in a cuplike valley, was the herd of sleek +beauties feeding contentedly on the lush green grass. I suppose it +sounds odd to hear desert and river in the same breath, but within a +few feet of the river the desert begins, where nothing grows but sage +and greasewood. In oasis-like spots will be found plenty of grass where +the soil is nearer the surface and where sub-irrigation keeps the roots +watered. In one of these spots the herd was being held. When the grass +became short they would be moved to another such place. + +It required, altogether, fifteen men to take care of the herd, because +many of the cattle had been bought in different places, some in Utah, +and these were always trying to run away and work back toward home, so +they required constant herding. Soon we caught the glimmer of white +canvas, and knew it was the cover of the mess-wagon, so we headed that +way. + +The camp was quite near the river so as to be handy to water and to +have the willows for wood. Not a soul was at camp. The fire was out, +and even the ashes had blown away. The mess-box was locked and Mrs. +Louderer's loud calls brought only echoes from the high rock walls +across the river. However, there was nothing to do but to make the best +of it, so we tethered the horses and went down to the river to relieve +ourselves of the dust that seemed determined to unite with the dust +that we were made of. Mrs. Louderer declared she was "so mat as nodings +and would fire dot Herman so soon as she could see him alreaty." + +Presently we saw the most grotesque figure approaching camp. It was +Herman, the fat cook, on Hunks, a gaunt, ugly old horse, whose days of +usefulness under the saddle were past and who had degenerated into a +workhorse. The disgrace of it seemed to be driving him into a decline, +but he stumbled along bravely under his heavy load. A string of a dozen +sage chickens swung on one side, and across the saddle in front of +Herman lay a young antelope. A volley of German abuse was hurled at +poor Herman, wound up in as plain American as Mrs. Louderer could +speak: "And who iss going to pay de game warden de fine of dot antelope +what you haf shot? And how iss it that we haf come de camp by und so +starved as we iss hungry, and no cook und no food? Iss dat for why you +iss paid?" + +Herman was some Dutch himself, however. "How iss it," he demanded, "dat +you haf not so much sense as you haf tongue? How haf you lived so long +as always in de West und don't know enough to hunt a bean-hole when you +reach your own camp. Hey?" + +Mrs. Louderer was very properly subdued and I delighted when he removed +the stones from where the fire had been, exposing a pit from which, +with a pair of pot-hooks, he lifted pots and ovens of the most +delicious meat, beans, and potatoes. From the mess-box he brought bread +and apricot pie. From a near-by spring he brought us a bright, new pail +full of clear, sparkling water, but Mrs. Louderer insisted upon tea and +in a short time he had it ready for us. The tarpaulin was spread on the +ground for us to eat from, and soon we were showing an astonished cook +just how much food two women and a child could get away with. I ate a +good deal of ashes with my roast beef and we all ate more or less sand, +but fastidiousness about food is a good thing to get rid of when you +come West to camp. + +When the regular supper-time arrived the punchers began to gather in, +and the "boss," who had been to town about some business, came in and +brought back the news of the man-hunt. The punchers sat about the +fire, eating hungrily from their tin plates and eagerly listening to +the recital. Two of the boys were tenderfeet: one from Tennessee called +"Daisy Belle," because he whistled that tune so much and because he had +nose-bleed so much,--couldn't even ride a broncho but his nose would +bleed for hours afterwards; and the other, "N'Yawk," so called from his +native State. N'Yawk was a great boaster; said he wasn't afraid of no +durned outlaw,--said his father had waded in bloody gore up to his neck +and that he was a chip off the old block,--rather hoped the chase would +come our way so he could try his marksmanship. + +The air began to grow chill and the sky was becoming overcast. +Preparations for the night busied everybody. Fresh ponies were being +saddled for the night relief, the hard-ridden, tired ones that had been +used that day being turned loose to graze. Some poles were set up and a +tarpaulin arranged for Mrs. Louderer and me to sleep under. Mrs. +Louderer and Jerrine lay down on some blankets and I unrolled some +more, which I was glad to notice were clean, for Baby and myself. I +can't remember ever being more tired and sleepy, but I couldn't go to +sleep. I could hear the boss giving orders in quick, decisive tones. I +could hear the punchers discussing the raid, finally each of them +telling exploits of his favorite heroes of outlawry. I could hear +Herman, busy among his pots and pans. Then he mounted the tongue of the +mess-wagon and called out, "We haf for breakfast cackle-berries, first +vot iss come iss served, und those vot iss sleep late gets nodings." + +I had never before heard of cackle-berries and asked sleepy Mrs. +Louderer what they were. "Vait until morning and you shall see," was +all the information that I received. + +Soon a gentle, drizzling rain began, and the punchers hurriedly made +their beds, as they did so twitting N'Yawk about making his between +our tent and the fire. "You're dead right, pard," I heard one of them +say, "to make your bed there, fer if them outlaws comes this way +they'll think you air one of the women and they won't shoot you. Just +us _men_ air in danger." + +"Confound your fool tongues, how they goin' to know there's any women +here? I tell you, fellers, my old man waded in bloody gore up to his +neck and I'm just like him." + +They kept up this friendly parleying until I dozed off to sleep, but I +couldn't stay asleep. I don't think I was afraid, but I certainly was +nervous. The river was making a sad, moaning sound; the rain fell +gently, like tears. All nature seemed to be mourning about something, +happened or going to happen. Down by the river an owl hooted dismally. +Half a mile away the night-herders were riding round and round the +herd. One of them was singing,--faint but distinct came his song: "Bury +me not on the lone prairie." Over and over again he sang it. After a +short interval of silence he began again. This time it was, "I'm +thinking of my dear old mother, ten thousand miles away." + +Two punchers stirred uneasily and began talking. "Blast that Tex," I +heard one of them say, "he certainly has it bad to-night. What the +deuce makes him sing so much? I feel like bawling like a kid; I wish +he'd shut up." "He's homesick; I guess we all are too, but they ain't +no use staying awake and letting it soak in. Shake the water off the +tarp, you air lettin' water catch on your side an' it's running into my +ear." + +That is the last I heard for a long time. I must have slept. I remember +that the baby stirred and I spoke to him. It seemed to me that +something struck against the guy-rope that held our tarpaulin taut, but +I wasn't sure. I was in that dozy state, half asleep, when nothing is +quite clear. It seemed as though I had been listening to the tramp of +feet for hours and that a whole army must be filing past, when I was +brought suddenly into keen consciousness by a loud voice demanding, +"Hello! Whose outfit is this?" "This is the 7 Up,--Louderer's," the +boss called back; "what's wanted?" "Is that you, Mat? This is Ward's +posse. We been after Meeks and Murdock all night. It's so durned dark +we can't see, but we got to keep going; their horses are about played. +We changed at Hadley's, but we ain't had a bite to eat and we got to +search your camp." "Sure thing," the boss answered, "roll off and take +a look. Hi, there, you Herm, get out of there and fix these fellers +something to eat." + +We were surrounded. I could hear the clanking of spurs and the sound of +the wet, tired horses shaking themselves and rattling the saddles on +every side. "Who's in the wickiup?" I heard the sheriff ask. "Some +women and kids,--Mrs. Louderer and a friend." + +In an incredibly short time Herman had a fire coaxed into a blaze and +Mat Watson and the sheriff went from bed to bed with a lantern. They +searched the mess-wagon, even, although Herman had been sleeping there. +The sheriff unceremoniously flung out the wood and kindling the cook +had stored there. He threw back the flap of our tent and flashed the +lantern about. He could see plainly enough that there were but the four +of us, but I wondered how they saw outside where the rain made it +worse, the lantern was so dirty. "Yes," I heard the sheriff say, "we've +been pushing them hard. They're headed north, evidently intend to hit +the railroad but they'll never make it. Every ford on the river is +guarded except right along here, and there's five parties ranging on +the other side. My party's split,--a bunch has gone on to the bridge. +If they find anything they're to fire a volley. Same with us. I knew +they couldn't cross the river nowhere but at the bridge or here." + +The men had gathered about the fire and were gulping hot coffee and +cold beef and bread. The rain ran off their slickers in little +rivulets. I was sorry the fire was not better, because some of the men +had on only ordinary coats, and the drizzling rain seemed determined +that the fire should not blaze high. + +Before they had finished eating we heard a shot, followed by a regular +medley of dull booms. The men were in their saddles and gone in less +time than it takes to tell it. The firing had ceased save for a few +sharp reports from the revolvers, like a coyote's spiteful snapping. +The pounding of the horse's hoofs grew fainter, and soon all was still. +I kept my ears strained for the slightest sound. The cook and the boss, +the only men up, hurried back to bed. Watson had risen so hurriedly +that he had not been careful about his "tarp" and water had run into +his bed. But that wouldn't disconcert anybody but a tenderfoot. I kept +waiting in tense silence to hear them come back with dead or wounded, +but there was not a sound. The rain had stopped. Mrs. Louderer struck a +match and said it was three o'clock. Soon she was asleep. Through a +rift in the clouds a star peeped out. I could smell the wet sage and +the sand. A little breeze came by, bringing Tex's song once more:-- + + "Oh, it matters not, so I've been told, + How the body lies when the heart grows cold." + +Oh, dear! the world seemed so full of sadness. I kissed my baby's +little downy head and went to sleep. + +It seems that cowboys are rather sleepy-headed in the morning and it is +a part of the cook's job to get them up. The next I knew, Herman had a +tin pan on which he was beating a vigorous tattoo, all the time +hollering, "We haf cackle-berries und antelope steak for breakfast." +The baby was startled by the noise, so I attended to him and then +dressed myself for breakfast. I went down to the little spring to wash +my face. The morning was lowering and gray, but a wind had sprung up +and the clouds were parting. There are times when anticipation is a +great deal better than realization. Never having seen a cackle-berry, +my imagination pictured them as some very luscious wild fruit, and I +was so afraid none would be left that I couldn't wait until the men +should eat and be gone. So I surprised them by joining the very +earliest about the fire. Herman began serving breakfast. I held out my +tin plate and received some of the steak, an egg, and two delicious +biscuits. We had our coffee in big enameled cups, without sugar or +cream, but it was piping hot and _so_ good. I had finished my egg and +steak and so I told Herman I was ready for my cackle-berries. + +"Listen to her now, will you?" he asked. And then indignantly, "How +many cackle-berries does you want? You haf had so many as I haf cooked +for you." "Why, Herman, I haven't had a single berry," I said. Then +such a roar of laughter. Herman gazed at me in astonishment, and Mr. +Watson gently explained to me that eggs and cackle-berries were one +and the same. + +N'Yawk was not yet up, so Herman walked over to his bed, kicked him a +few times, and told him he would scald him if he didn't turn out. It +was quite light by then. N'Yawk joined us in a few minutes. "What the +deuce was you fellers kicking up such a rumpus fer last night?" he +asked. "You blamed blockhead, don't you know?" the boss answered. "Why, +the sheriff searched this camp last night. They had a battle down at +the bridge afterwards and either they are all killed or else no one is +hurt. They would have been here otherwise. Ward took a shot at them +once yesterday, but I guess he didn't hit; the men got away, anyway. +And durn your sleepy head! you just lay there and snored. Well, I'll be +danged!" Words failed him, his wonder and disgust were so great. + +N'Yawk turned to get his breakfast. His light shirt was blood-stained +in the back,--seemed to be soaked. "What's the matter with your shirt, +it's soaked with blood?" some one asked. "Then that durned Daisy Belle +has been crawling in with me, that's all," he said. "Blame his bleeding +snoot. I'll punch it and give it something to bleed for." + +Then Mr. Watson said, "Daisy ain't been in all night. He took Jesse's +place when he went to town after supper." That started an inquiry and +search which speedily showed that some one with a bleeding wound had +gotten in with N'Yawk. It also developed that Mr. Watson's splendid +horse and saddle were gone, the rope that the horse had been picketed +with lying just as it had been cut from his neck. + +Now all was bustle and excitement. It was plainly evident that one of +the outlaws had lain hidden on N'Yawk's bed while the sheriff was +there, and that afterwards he had saddled the horse and made his +escape. His own horse was found in the willows, the saddle cut loose +and the bridle off, but the poor, jaded thing had never moved. By sunup +the search-party returned, all too worn-out with twenty-four hours in +the saddle to continue the hunt. They were even too worn-out to eat, +but flung themselves down for a few hours' rest. The chase was hopeless +anyway, for the search-party had gone north in the night. The wounded +outlaw had doubtless heard the sheriff talking and, the coast being +clear to the southward, had got the fresh horse and was by that time +probably safe in the heavy forests and mountains of Utah. His getting +in with N'Yawk had been a daring ruse, but a successful one. Where his +partner was, no one could guess. But by that time all the camp +excepting Herman and Mrs. Louderer were so panicky that we couldn't +have made a rational suggestion. + +N'Yawk, white around his mouth, approached Mrs. Louderer. "I want to +quit," he said. "Well," she said, calmly sipping her coffee, "you haf +done it." "I'm sick," he stammered. "I know you iss," she said, "I haf +before now seen men get sick when they iss scared to death." "My old +daddy--" he began. "Yes, I know, he waded the creek vone time und you +has had cold feet effer since." + +Poor fellow, I felt sorry for him. I had cold feet myself just then, +and I was powerfully anxious to warm them by my own fire where a pair +of calm blue eyes would reassure me. + +I didn't get to see the branding that was to have taken place on the +range that day. The boss insisted on taking the trail of his valued +horse. He was very angry. He thought there was a traitor among the +posse. Who started the firing at the bridge no one knew, and Watson +said openly that it was done to get the sheriff away from camp. + +My own home looked mighty good to me when we drove up that evening. I +don't want any more wild life on the range,--not for a while, anyway. + + Your ex-Washlady, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XVII + +AT GAVOTTE'S CAMP + + + _November 16, 1912._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +At last I can write you as I want to. I am afraid you think I am going +to wait until the "bairns" are grown up before writing to my friends, +but indeed I shall not. I fully intend to "gather roses while I may." +Since God has given me two blessings, children and friends, I shall +enjoy them both as I go along. + +I must tell you why I have not written as I should have done. All +summer long my eyes were so strained and painful that I had to let all +reading and writing go. And I have suffered terribly with my back. But +now I am able to be about again, do most of my own work, and my eyes +are much better. So now I shall not treat you so badly again. If you +could only know how kind every one is to me, you would know that even +ill health has its compensations out here. Dear Mrs. Louderer, with her +goose-grease, her bread, and her delicious "kuchens." Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, with her cheery ways, her tireless friendship, and +willing, capable hands. Gavotte even, with his tidbits of game and +fish. Dear little Cora Belle came often to see me, sometimes bringing +me a little of Grandpa's latest cure, which I received on faith, for, +of course, I could not really swallow any of it. Zebbie's nephew, +Parker Carter, came out, spent the summer with him, and they have now +gone back to Yell County, leaving Gavotte in charge again. + +Gavotte had a most interesting and prosperous summer. He was +commissioned by a wealthy Easterner to procure some fossils. I had had +such a confined summer that Clyde took me out to Gavotte's camp as soon +as I was able to sit up and be driven. We found him away over in the +bad lands camped in a fine little grove. He is a charming man to visit +at any time, and we found him in a particularly happy mood. He had just +begun to quarry a gigantic find; he had piles of specimens; he had +packed and shipped some rare specimens of fossil plants, but his "beeg +find" came later and he was jubilant. To dig fossils successfully +requires great care and knowledge, but it is a work in which Gavotte +excels. He is a splendid cook. I almost believe he could make a Johnny +Reb like codfish, and that night we had a delicious supper and all the +time listening to a learned discourse about prehistoric things. I +enjoyed the meal and I enjoyed the talk, but I could not sleep +peacefully for being chased in my dreams by pterodactyls, dinosaurs, +and iguanodons, besides a great many horrible creatures whose names I +have forgotten. Of course, when the ground begins to freeze and snow +comes, fossil-mining is done for until summer comes, so Gavotte tends +the critters and traps this winter. I shall not get to go to the +mountains this winter. The babies are too small, but there is always +some happy and interesting thing happening, and I shall have two +pleasures each time, my own enjoyment, and getting to tell you of +them. + + + + +XVIII + +THE HOMESTEADER'S MARRIAGE AND A LITTLE FUNERAL + + + _December 2, 1912._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Every time I get a new letter from you I get a new inspiration, and I +am always glad to hear from you. + +I have often wished I might tell you all about my Clyde, but have not +because of two things. One is I could not even begin without telling +you what a good man he is, and I didn't want you to think I could do +nothing but brag. The other reason is the haste I married in. I am +ashamed of that. I am afraid you will think me a Becky Sharp of a +person. But although I married in haste, I have no cause to repent. +That is very fortunate because I have never had one bit of leisure to +repent in. So I am lucky all around. The engagement was powerfully +short because both agreed that the trend of events and ranch work +seemed to require that we be married first and do our "sparking" +afterward. You see, we had to chink in the wedding between times, that +is, between planting the oats and other work that must be done early or +not at all. In Wyoming ranchers can scarcely take time even to be +married in the springtime. That having been settled, the license was +sent for by mail, and as soon as it came Mr. Stewart saddled Chub and +went down to the house of Mr. Pearson, the justice of the peace and a +friend of long standing. I had never met any of the family and +naturally rather dreaded to have them come, but Mr. Stewart was firm in +wanting to be married at home, so he told Mr. Pearson he wanted him and +his family to come up the following Wednesday and serve papers on the +"wooman i' the hoose." They were astonished, of course, but being such +good friends they promised him all the assistance they could render. +They are quite the dearest, most interesting family! I have since +learned to love them as my own. + +Well, there was no time to make wedding clothes, so I had to "do up" +what I did have. Isn't it queer how sometimes, do what you can, work +will keep getting in the way until you can't get anything done? That is +how it was with me those few days before the wedding; so much so that +when Wednesday dawned everything was topsy-turvy and I had a very +strong desire to run away. But I always did hate a "piker," so I stood +pat. Well, I had most of the dinner cooked, but it kept me hustling to +get the house into anything like decent order before the old dog +barked, and I knew my moments of liberty were limited. It was blowing a +perfect hurricane and snowing like midwinter. I had bought a beautiful +pair of shoes to wear on that day, but my vanity had squeezed my feet a +little, so while I was so busy at work I had kept on a worn old pair, +intending to put on the new ones later; but when the Pearsons drove up +all I thought about was getting them into the house where there was +fire, so I forgot all about the old shoes and the apron I wore. + +I had only been here six weeks then, and was a stranger. That is why I +had no one to help me and was so confused and hurried. As soon as the +newcomers were warm, Mr. Stewart told me I had better come over by him +and stand up. It was a large room I had to cross, and how I did it +before all those strange eyes I never knew. All I can remember very +distinctly is hearing Mr. Stewart saying, "I will," and myself chiming +in that I would, too. Happening to glance down, I saw that I had +forgotten to take off my apron or my old shoes, but just then Mr. +Pearson pronounced us man and wife, and as I had dinner to serve right +away I had no time to worry over my odd toilet. Anyway the shoes were +comfortable and the apron white, so I suppose it could have been +worse; and I don't think it has ever made any difference with the +Pearsons, for I number them all among my most esteemed friends. + +It is customary here for newlyweds to give a dance and supper at the +hall, but as I was a stranger I preferred not to, and so it was a long +time before I became acquainted with all my neighbors. I had not +thought I should ever marry again. Jerrine was always such a dear +little pal, and I wanted to just knock about foot-loose and free to see +life as a gypsy sees it. I had planned to see the Cliff-Dwellers' home; +to live right there until I caught the spirit of the surroundings +enough to live over their lives in imagination anyway. I had planned to +see the old missions and to go to Alaska; to hunt in Canada. I even +dreamed of Honolulu. Life stretched out before me one long, happy +jaunt. I aimed to see all the world I could, but to travel unknown +bypaths to do it. But first I wanted to try homesteading. + +But for my having the grippe, I should never have come to Wyoming. Mrs. +Seroise, who was a nurse at the institution for nurses in Denver while +I was housekeeper there, had worked one summer at Saratoga, Wyoming. It +was she who told me of the pine forests. I had never seen a pine until +I came to Colorado; so the idea of a home among the pines fascinated +me. At that time I was hoping to pass the Civil-Service examination, +with no very definite idea as to what I would do, but just to be +improving my time and opportunity. I never went to a public school a +day in my life. In my childhood days there was no such thing in the +Indian Territory part of Oklahoma where we lived, so I have had to try +hard to keep learning. Before the time came for the examination I was +so discouraged because of the grippe that nothing but the mountains, +the pines, and the clean, fresh air seemed worth while; so it all came +about just as I have written you. + +So you see I was very deceitful. Do you remember, I wrote you of a +little baby boy dying? That was my own little Jamie, our first little +son. For a long time my heart was crushed. He was such a sweet, +beautiful boy. I wanted him so much. He died of erysipelas. I held him +in my arms till the last agony was over. Then I dressed the beautiful +little body for the grave. Clyde is a carpenter; so I wanted him to +make the little coffin. He did it every bit, and I lined and padded it, +trimmed and covered it. Not that we couldn't afford to buy one or that +our neighbors were not all that was kind and willing; but because it +was a sad pleasure to do everything for our little first-born +ourselves. + +As there had been no physician to help, so there was no minister to +comfort, and I could not bear to let our baby leave the world without +leaving any message to a community that sadly needed it. His little +message to us had been love, so I selected a chapter from John and we +had a funeral service, at which all our neighbors for thirty miles +around were present. So you see, our union is sealed by love and +welded by a great sorrow. + +Little Jamie was the first little Stewart. God has given me two more +precious little sons. The old sorrow is not so keen now. I can bear to +tell you about it, but I never could before. When you think of me, you +must think of me as one who is truly happy. It is true, I want a great +many things I haven't got, but I don't want them enough to be +discontented and not enjoy the many blessings that are mine. I have my +home among the blue mountains, my healthy, well-formed children, my +clean, honest husband, my kind, gentle milk cows, my garden which I +make myself. I have loads and loads of flowers which I tend myself. +There are lots of chickens, turkeys, and pigs which are my own special +care. I have some slow old gentle horses and an old wagon. I can load +up the kiddies and go where I please any time. I have the best, kindest +neighbors and I have my dear absent friends. Do you wonder I am so +happy? When I think of it all, I wonder how I can crowd all my joy into +one short life. I don't want you to think for one moment that you are +bothering me when I write you. It is a real pleasure to do so. You're +always so good to let me tell you everything. I am only afraid of +trying your patience too far. Even in this long letter I can't tell you +all I want to; so I shall write you again soon. Jerrine will write too. +Just now she has very sore fingers. She has been picking gooseberries, +and they have been pretty severe on her brown little paws. + +With much love to you, I am + + "Honest and truly" yours, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XIX + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE + + + _January 6, 1913._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +I have put off writing you and thanking you for your thought for us +until now so that I could tell you of our very happy Christmas and our +deer hunt all at once. + +To begin with, Mr. Stewart and Junior have gone to Boulder to spend the +winter. Clyde wanted his mother to have a chance to enjoy our boy, so, +as he had to go, he took Junior with him. Then those of my dear +neighbors nearest my heart decided to prevent a lonely Christmas for +me, so on December 21st came Mrs. Louderer, laden with an immense plum +pudding and a big "_wurst_," and a little later came Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +on her frisky pony, Chief, her scarlet sweater making a bright bit of +color against our snow-wrapped horizon. Her face and ways are just as +bright and cheery as can be. When she saw Mrs. Louderer's pudding and +sausage she said she had brought nothing because she had come to get +something to eat herself, "and," she continued, "it is a private +opinion of mine that my neighbors are so glad to see me that they are +glad to feed me." Now wouldn't that little speech have made her welcome +anywhere? + +Well, we were hilariously planning what Mrs. O'Shaughnessy called a +"widdy" Christmas and getting supper, when a great stamping-off of snow +proclaimed a newcomer. It was Gavotte, and we were powerfully glad to +see him because the hired man was going to a dance and we knew Gavotte +would contrive some unusual amusement. He had heard that Clyde was +going to have a deer-drive, and didn't know that he had gone, so he had +come down to join the hunt just for the fun, and was very much +disappointed to find there was going to be no hunt. After supper, +however, his good humor returned and he told us story after story of +big hunts he had had in Canada. He worked up his own enthusiasm as well +as ours, and at last proposed that we have a drive of our own for a +Christmas "joy." He said he would take a station and do the shooting if +one of us would do the driving. So right now I reckon I had better tell +you how it is done. + +There are many little parks in the mountains where the deer can feed, +although now most places are so deep in snow that they can't walk in +it. For that reason they have trails to water and to the different +feeding-grounds, and they can't get through the snow except along these +paths. You see how easy it would be for a man hidden on the trail to +get one of the beautiful creatures if some one coming from another +direction startled them so that they came along that particular path. + +So they made their plans. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy elected herself driver. +Two miles away is a huge mountain called Phillipeco, and deer were +said to be plentiful up there. At one time there had been a sawmill on +the mountain, and there were a number of deserted cabins in which we +could make ourselves comfortable. So it was planned that we go up the +next morning, stay all night, have the hunt the following morning, and +then come home with our game. + +Well, we were all astir early the next morning and soon grain, bedding, +and chuck-box were in the wagon. Then Mrs. Louderer, the _kinder_, and +myself piled in; Mrs. O'Shaughnessy bestrode Chief, Gavotte stalked on +ahead to pick our way, and we were off. + +It was a long, tedious climb, and I wished over and over that I had +stayed at home; but it was altogether on Baby's account. I was so +afraid that he would suffer, but he kept warm as toast. The day was +beautiful, and the views many times repaid us for any hardship we had +suffered. It was three o'clock before we reached the old mill camp. +Soon we had a roaring fire, and Gavotte made the horses comfortable in +one of the cabins. They were bedded in soft, dry sawdust, and were +quite as well off as if they had been in their own stalls. Then some +rough planks were laid on blocks, and we had our first meal since +breakfast. We called it supper, and we had potatoes roasted in the +embers, Mrs. Louderer's _wurst_, which she had been calmly carrying +around on her arm like a hoop and which was delicious with the bread +that Gavotte toasted on long sticks; we had steaming coffee, and we +were all happy; even Baby clapped his hands and crowed at the unusual +sight of an open fire. After supper Gavotte took a little stroll and +returned with a couple of grouse for our breakfast. After dark we sat +around the fire eating peanuts and listening to Gavotte and Mrs. +Louderer telling stories of their different great forests. But soon +Gavotte took his big sleeping-bag and retired to another cabin, warning +us that we must be up early. Our improvised beds were the most +comfortable things; I love the flicker of an open fire, the smell of +the pines, the pure, sweet air, and I went to sleep thinking how blest +I was to be able to enjoy the things I love most. + +It seemed only a short time until some one knocked on our door and we +were all wide awake in a minute. The fire had burned down and only a +soft, indistinct glow from the embers lighted the room, while through a +hole in the roof I could see a star glimmering frostily. It was Gavotte +at the door and he called through a crack saying he had been hearing +queer noises for an hour and he was going to investigate. He had called +us so that we need not be alarmed should we hear the noise and not find +him. We scrambled into our clothes quickly and ran outdoors to listen. + +I can never describe to you the weird beauty of a moonlight night among +the pines when the snow is sparkling and gleaming, the deep silence +unbroken even by the snapping of a twig. We stood shivering and +straining our ears and were about to go back to bed when we heard +faintly a long-drawn wail as if all the suffering and sorrow on earth +were bound up in that one sound. We couldn't tell which way it came +from; it seemed to vibrate through the air and chill our hearts. I had +heard that panthers cried that way, but Gavotte said it was not a +panther. He said the engine and saws had been moved from where we were +to another spring across the caņon a mile away, where timber for sawing +was more plentiful, but he supposed every one had left the mill when +the water froze so they couldn't saw. He added that some one must have +remained and was, perhaps, in need of help, and if we were not afraid +he would leave us and go see what was wrong. + +We went in, made up the fire, and sat in silence, wondering what we +should see or hear next. Once or twice that agonized cry came shivering +through the cold moonlight. After an age, we heard Gavotte crunching +through the snow, whistling cheerily to reassure us. He had crossed the +caņon to the new mill camp, where he had found two women, loggers' +wives, and some children. One of the women, he said, was "so ver' +seek," 't was she who was wailing so, and it was the kind of "seek" +where we could be of every help and comfort. + +Mrs. Louderer stayed and took care of the children while Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy and I followed after Gavotte, panting and stumbling, +through the snow. Gavotte said he suspected they were short of +"needfuls," so he had filled his pockets with coffee and sugar, took in +a bottle some of the milk I brought for Baby, and his own flask of +whiskey, without which he never travels. + +At last, after what seemed to me hours of scrambling through the snow, +through deepest gloom where pines were thickest, and out again into +patches of white moonlight, we reached the ugly clearing where the new +camp stood. Gavotte escorted us to the door and then returned to our +camp. Entering, we saw the poor, little soon-to-be mother huddled on +her poor bed, while an older woman stood near warning her that the oil +would soon be all gone and they would be in darkness. She told us that +the sick one had been in pain all the day before and much of the night, +and that she herself was worn completely out. So Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +sent her to bed and we took charge. + +Secretly, I felt it all to be a big nuisance to be dragged out from my +warm, comfortable bed to traipse through the snow at that time of the +night. But the moment poor little Molly spoke I was glad I was living, +because she was a poor little Southern girl whose husband is a Mormon. +He had been sent on a mission to Alabama, and the poor girl had fallen +in love with his handsome face and knew nothing of Mormonism, so she +had run away with him. She thought it would be so grand to live in the +glorious West with so splendid a man as she believed her husband to +be. But now she believed she was going to die and she was glad of it +because she could not return to her "folks," and she said she knew her +husband was dead because he and the other woman's husband, both of whom +had intended to stay there all winter and cut logs, had gone two weeks +before to get their summer's wages and buy supplies. Neither man had +come back and there was not a horse or any other way to get out of the +mountains to hunt them, so they believed the men to be frozen somewhere +on the road. Rather a dismal prospect, wasn't it? Molly was just +longing for some little familiar thing, so I was glad I have not yet +gotten rid of my Southern way of talking. No Westerner can ever +understand a Southerner's need of sympathy, and, however kind their +hearts, they are unable to give it. Only a Southerner can understand +how dear are our peculiar words and phrases, and poor little Molly took +new courage when she found I knew what she meant when she said she was +just "honin'" after a friendly voice. + +Well, soon we had the water hot and had filled some bottles and placed +them around our patient, and after a couple of hours the tiny little +stranger came into the world. It had been necessary to have a great +fire in order to have light, so as soon as we got Baby dressed I opened +the door a little to cool the room and Molly saw the morning star +twinkling merrily. "Oh," she said, "that is what I will call my little +girlie,--Star, dear little Star." + +It is strange, isn't it? how our spirits will revive after some great +ordeal. Molly had been sure she was going to die and saw nothing to +live for; now that she had had a cup of hot milk and held her red +little baby close, she was just as happy and hopeful as if she had +never left her best friends and home to follow the uncertain fortunes +of young Will Crosby. So she and I talked of ash-hoppers, smoke-houses, +cotton-patches, goobers, poke-greens, and shoats, until she fell +asleep. + +Soon day was abroad, and so we went outdoors for a fresh breath. The +other woman came out just then to ask after Molly. She invited us into +her cabin, and, oh, the little Mormons were everywhere; poor, half-clad +little things! Some sour-dough biscuit and a can of condensed milk was +everything they had to eat. The mother explained to us that their "men" +had gone to get things for them, but had not come back, so she guessed +they had got drunk and were likely in jail. She told it in a very +unconcerned manner. Poor thing! Years of such experience had taught her +that blessed are they who expect nothing, for they shall not be +disappointed. She said that if Molly had not been sick she would have +walked down out of the mountains and got help. + +Just then two shots rang out in quick succession, and soon Gavotte came +staggering along with a deer across his shoulders. That he left for +the family. From our camp he had brought some bacon and butter for +Molly, and, poor though it may seem, it was a treat for her. Leaving +the woman to dress the venison with her oldest boy's aid, we put out +across the caņon for our own breakfast. Beside our much-beaten trail +hung the second venison, and when we reached our camp and had our own +delicious breakfast of grouse, bread, butter, and coffee, Gavotte took +Chub and went for our venison. In a short time we were rolling +homeward. Of course it didn't take us nearly so long to get home +because it was downhill and the road was clearly marked, so in a couple +of hours we were home. + +Gavotte knew the two loggers were in Green River and were then at work +storing ice for the railroad, but he had not known that their wives +were left as they were. The men actually had got drunk, lost their +money, and were then trying to replace it. After we debated a bit we +decided we could not enjoy Christmas with those people in want up +there in the cold. Then we got busy. It is sixty miles to town, +although our nearest point to the railroad is but forty, so you see it +was impossible to get to town to get anything. You should have seen us! +Every old garment that had ever been left by men who have worked here +was hauled out, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's deft fingers soon had a pile +of garments cut. We kept the machine humming until far into the night, +as long as we could keep our eyes open. + +All next day we sewed as hard as we could, and Gavotte cooked as hard +as he could. We had intended to have a tree for Jerrine, so we had a +box of candles and a box of Christmas snow. Gavotte asked for all the +bright paper we could find. We had lots of it, and I think you would be +surprised at the possibilities of a little waste paper. He made +gorgeous birds, butterflies, and flowers out of paper that once wrapped +parcels. Then he asked us for some silk thread, but I had none, so he +told us to comb our hair and give him the combings. We did, and with a +drop of mucilage he would fasten a hair to a bird's back and then hold +it up by the hair. At a few feet's distance it looked exactly as though +the bird was flying. I was glad I had a big stone jar full of +_fondant_, because we had a lot of fun shaping and coloring candies. We +offered a prize for the best representation of a "nigger," and we had +two dozen chocolate-covered things that might have been anything from a +monkey to a mouse. Mrs. Louderer cut up her big plum pudding and put it +into a dozen small bags. These Gavotte carefully covered with green +paper. Then we tore up the holly wreath that Aunt Mary sent me, and put +a sprig in the top of each green bag of pudding. I never had so much +fun in my life as I had preparing for that Christmas. + +At ten o'clock, the morning of the 24th, we were again on our way up +the mountain-side. We took shovels so we could clear a road if need +be. We had dinner at the old camp, and then Gavotte hunted us a way out +to the new, and we smuggled our things into Molly's cabin so the +children should have a real surprise. Poor, hopeless little things! +Theirs was, indeed, a dull outlook. + +Gavotte busied himself in preparing one of the empty cabins for us and +in making the horses comfortable. He cut some pine boughs to do that +with, and so they paid no attention when he cut a small tree. In the +mean time we had cleared everything from Molly's cabin but her bed; we +wanted her to see the fun. The children were sent to the spring to +water the horses and they were all allowed to ride, so that took them +out of the way while Gavotte nailed the tree into a box he had filled +with dirt to hold it steady. + +There were four women of us, and Gavotte, so it was only the work of a +few moments to get the tree ready, and it was the most beautiful one I +ever saw. Your largest bell, dear Mrs. Coney, dangled from the topmost +branch. Gavotte had attached a long, stout wire to your Santa Claus, so +he was able to make him dance frantically without seeming to do so. The +hairs that held the birds and butterflies could not be seen, and the +effect was beautiful. We had a bucket of apples rubbed bright, and +these we fastened to the tree just as they grew on their own branches. +The puddings looked pretty, too, and we had done up the parcels that +held the clothes as attractively as we could. We saved the candy and +the peanuts to put in their little stockings. + +As soon as it was dark we lighted the candles and then their mother +called the children. Oh, if you could have seen them! It was the very +first Christmas tree they had ever seen and they didn't know what to +do. The very first present Gavotte handed out was a pair of trousers +for eight-years-old Brig, but he just stood and stared at the tree +until his brother next in size, with an eye to the main chance, got +behind him and pushed him forward, all the time exclaiming, "Go on, +can't you! They ain't doin' nothin' to you, they's just doin' somethin' +for you." Still Brig would not put out his hand. He just shook his +tousled sandy head and said he wanted a bird. So the fun kept up for an +hour. Santa had for Molly a package of oatmeal, a pound of butter, a +Mason jar of cream, and a dozen eggs, so that she could have suitable +food to eat until something could be done. + +After the presents had all been distributed we put the phonograph on a +box and had a dandy concert. We played "There were Shepherds," "Ave +Maria," and "Sweet Christmas Bells." Only we older people cared for +those, so then we had "Arrah Wanna," "Silver Bells," "Rainbow," "Red +Wing," and such songs. How delighted they were! Our concert lasted two +hours, and by that time the little fellows were so sleepy that the +excitement no longer affected them and they were put to bed, but they +hung up their stockings first, and even Molly hung hers up too. We +filled them with peanuts and candy, putting the lion's share of +"niggers" into Molly's stocking. + +Next morning the happiness broke out in new spots. The children were +all clean and warm, though I am afraid I can't brag on the fit of all +the clothes. But the pride of the wearers did away with the necessity +of a fit. The mother was radiantly thankful for a warm petticoat; that +it was made of a blanket too small for a bed didn't bother her, and the +stripes were around the bottom anyway. Molly openly rejoiced in her new +gown, and that it was made of ugly gray outing flannel she didn't know +nor care. Baby Star Crosby looked perfectly sweet in her little new +clothes, and her little gown had blue sleeves and they thought a white +skirt only added to its beauty. And so it was about everything. We all +got so much out of so little. I will never again allow even the +smallest thing to go to waste. We were every one just as happy as we +could be, almost as delighted as Molly was over her "niggers," and +there was very little given that had not been thrown away or was not +just odds and ends. + +There was never anything more true than that it is more blessed to give +than to receive. We certainly had a delicious dinner too, and we let +Molly have all she wanted that we dared allow her to eat. The roast +venison was so good that we were tempted to let her taste it, but we +thought better of that. As soon as dinner was over we packed our +belongings and betook ourselves homeward. + +It was just dusk when we reached home. Away off on a bare hill a wolf +barked. A big owl hooted lonesomely among the pines, and soon a pack of +yelping coyotes went scampering across the frozen waste. + +It was not the Christmas I had in mind when I sent the card, but it was +a _dandy_ one, just the same. + +With best wishes for you for a happy, _happy_ New Year, + + Sincerely your friend, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XX + +THE JOYS OF HOMESTEADING + + + _January 23, 1913._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I am afraid all my friends think I am very forgetful and that you think +I am ungrateful as well, but I am going to plead not guilty. Right +after Christmas Mr. Stewart came down with _la grippe_ and was so +miserable that it kept me busy trying to relieve him. Out here where we +can get no physician we have to dope ourselves, so that I had to be +housekeeper, nurse, doctor, and general overseer. That explains my long +silence. + +And now I want to thank you for your kind thought in prolonging our +Christmas. The magazines were much appreciated. They relieved some +weary night-watches, and the box did Jerrine more good than the +medicine I was having to give her for _la grippe_. She was content to +stay in bed and enjoy the contents of her box. + +When I read of the hard times among the Denver poor, I feel like urging +them every one to get out and file on land. I am very enthusiastic +about women homesteading. It really requires less strength and labor to +raise plenty to satisfy a large family than it does to go out to wash, +with the added satisfaction of knowing that their job will not be lost +to them if they care to keep it. Even if improving the place does go +slowly, it is that much done to stay done. Whatever is raised is the +homesteader's own, and there is no house-rent to pay. This year Jerrine +cut and dropped enough potatoes to raise a ton of fine potatoes. She +wanted to try, so we let her, and you will remember that she is but six +years old. We had a man to break the ground and cover the potatoes for +her and the man irrigated them once. That was all that was done until +digging time, when they were ploughed out and Jerrine picked them up. +Any woman strong enough to go out by the day could have done every bit +of the work and put in two or three times that much, and it would have +been so much more pleasant than to work so hard in the city and then be +on starvation rations in the winter. + +To me, homesteading is the solution of all poverty's problems, but I +realize that temperament has much to do with success in any +undertaking, and persons afraid of coyotes and work and loneliness had +better let ranching alone. At the same time, any woman who can stand +her own company, can see the beauty of the sunset, loves growing +things, and is willing to put in as much time at careful labor as she +does over the washtub, will certainly succeed; will have independence, +plenty to eat all the time, and a home of her own in the end. + +Experimenting need cost the homesteader no more than the work, because +by applying to the Department of Agriculture at Washington he can get +enough of any seed and as many kinds as he wants to make a thorough +trial, and it doesn't even cost postage. Also one can always get +bulletins from there and from the Experiment Station of one's own State +concerning any problem or as many problems as may come up. I would not, +for anything, allow Mr. Stewart to do anything toward improving my +place, for I want the fun and the experience myself. And I want to be +able to speak from experience when I tell others what they can do. +Theories are very beautiful, but facts are what must be had, and what I +intend to give some time. + +Here I am boring you to death with things that cannot interest you! +You'd think I wanted you to homestead, wouldn't you? But I am only +thinking of the troops of tired, worried women, sometimes even cold and +hungry, scared to death of losing their places to work, who could have +plenty to eat, who could have good fires by gathering the wood, and +comfortable homes of their own, if they but had the courage and +determination to get them. + +I must stop right now before you get so tired you will not answer. With +much love to you from Jerrine and myself, I am + + Yours affectionately, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XXI + +A LETTER OF JERRINE'S + + + _February 26, 1913._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I think you will excuse my mama for not writing to thank you for black +Beauty when I tell you why. I wanted to thank you myself, and I wanted +to hear it read first so I could very trully thank. Mama always said +horses do not talk, but now she knows they do since she read the Dear +little book. I have known it along time. My own pony told me the story +is very true. Many times I have see men treat horses very badly, but +our Clyde dont, and wont let a workman stay if He hurts stock. I am +very glad. + +Mr Edding came past one day with a load of hay. he had too much load to +pull up hill and there was much ice and snow but he think he can make +them go up so he fighted and sweared but they could not get up. Mama +tried to lend him some horse to help but he was angry and was termined +to make his own pull it but at last he had to take off some hay I wish +he may read my Black Beauty. + +Our Clyde is still away. We were going to visit Stella. Mama was +driving, the horses raned away. We goed very fast as the wind. I almost +fall out Mama hanged on to the lines. if she let go we may all be kill. +At last she raned them into a fence. they stop and a man ran to help so +we are well but mama hands and arms are still so sore she cant write +you yet. My brother Calvin is very sweet. God had to give him to us +because he squealed so much he sturbed the angels. We are not angels so +he Dont sturb us. I thank you for my good little book. and I love you +for it too. + + very speakfully, + JERRINE RUPERT. + + + + +XXII + +THE EFFICIENT MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY + + + _May 5, 1913._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Your letter of April 25 certainly was a surprise, but a very welcome +one. We are so rushed with spring work that we don't even go to the +office for the mail, and I owe you letters and thanks. I keep promising +myself the pleasure of writing you and keep putting it off until I can +have more leisure, but that time never gets here. I am so glad when I +can bring a little of this big, clean, beautiful outdoors into your +apartment for you to enjoy, and I can think of nothing that would give +me more happiness than to bring the West and its people to others who +could not otherwise enjoy them. If I could only take them from whatever +is worrying them and give them this bracing mountain air, glimpses of +the scenery, a smell of the pines and the sage,--if I could only make +them feel the free, ready sympathy and hospitality of these frontier +people, I am sure their worries would diminish and my happiness would +be complete. + +Little Star Crosby is growing to be the sweetest little kid. Her mother +tells me that she is going "back yan" when she gets a "little mo' +richer." I am afraid you give me too much credit for being of help to +poor little Molly. It wasn't that I am so helpful, but that "fools rush +in where angels fear to tread." It was Mrs. O'Shaughnessy who was the +real help. She is a woman of great courage and decision and of splendid +sense and judgment. A few days ago a man she had working for her got +his finger-nail mashed off and neglected to care for it. Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy examined it and found that gangrene had set in. She +didn't tell him, but made various preparations and then told him she +had heard that if there was danger of blood-poisoning it would show if +the finger was placed on wood and the patient looked toward the sun. +She said the person who looked at the finger could then see if there +was any poison. So the man placed his finger on the chopping-block and +before he could bat his eye she had chopped off the black, swollen +finger. It was so sudden and unexpected that there seemed to be no +pain. Then Mrs. O'Shaughnessy showed him the green streak already +starting up his arm. The man seemed dazed and she was afraid of shock, +so she gave him a dose of morphine and whiskey. Then with a quick +stroke of a razor she laid open the green streak and immersed the whole +arm in a strong solution of bichloride of mercury for twenty minutes. +She then dressed the wound with absorbent cotton saturated with olive +oil and carbolic acid, bundled her patient into a buggy, and drove +forty-five miles that night to get him to a doctor. The doctor told us +that only her quick action and knowledge of what to do saved the man's +life. + +I was surprised that you have had a letter from Jerrine. I knew she was +writing to you that day, but I was feeling very stiff and sore from the +runaway and had lain down. She kept asking me how to spell words until +I told her I was too tired and wanted to sleep. While I was asleep the +man came for the mail, so she sent her letter. I have your address on +the back of the writing-pad, so she knew she had it right, but I +suspect that was all she had right. She has written you many letters +but I have never allowed her to send them because she misspells, but +that time she stole a march on me. The books you sent her, "Black +Beauty" and "Alice in Wonderland," have given her more pleasure than +anything she has ever had. She just loves them and is saving them, she +says, for her own little girls. She is very confident that the stork +will one day visit her and leave her a "very many" little girls. They +are to be of assorted sizes. She says she can't see why I order all my +babies little and red and squally,--says she thinks God had just as +soon let me have larger ones, especially as I get so many from him. + +One day before long I will get busy and write you of a visit I shall +make to a Mormon bishop's household. Polygamy is still practiced. + + Very truly your friend, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XXIII + +HOW IT HAPPENED + + + _June 12, 1913._ + +Dear Mrs. Coney,-- + +Your letter of the 8th to hand, and in order to catch you before you +leave I'll answer at once and not wait for time. I always think I shall +do better with more time, but with three "bairns," garden, chickens, +cows, and housework I don't seem to find much time for anything. Now +for the first question. My maiden name was Pruitt, so when I am putting +on airs I sign Elinore Pruitt Stewart. I don't think I have ever +written anything that Clyde would object to, so he can still stay on +the pedestal Scotch custom puts him upon and remain "the Stewart." +Indeed, I don't think you are too inquisitive, and I am glad to tell +you how I happened to meet the "gude mon." + +It all happened because I had a stitch in my side. When I was +housekeeper at the Nursery, I also had to attend to the furnace, and, +strange but true, the furnace was built across the large basement from +where the coal was thrown in, so I had to tote the coal over, and my +_modus operandi_ was to fill a tub with coal and then drag it across to +the hungry furnace. Well, one day I felt the catch and got no better +fast. After Dr. F---- punched and prodded, she said, "Why, you have the +grippe." Rev. Father Corrigan had been preparing me to take the +Civil-Service examination, and that afternoon a lesson was due, so I +went over to let him see how little I knew. I was in pain and was so +blue that I could hardly speak without weeping, so I told the Reverend +Father how tired I was of the rattle and bang, of the glare and the +soot, the smells and the hurry. I told him what I longed for was the +sweet, free open, and that I would like to homestead. That was Saturday +evening. He advised me to go straight uptown and put an "ad" in the +paper, so as to get it into the Sunday paper. I did so, and because I +wanted as much rest and quiet as possible I took Jerrine and went +uptown and got a nice quiet room. + +On the following Wednesday I received a letter from Clyde, who was in +Boulder visiting his mother. He was leaving for Wyoming the following +Saturday and wanted an interview, if his proposition suited me. I was +so glad of his offer, but at the same time I couldn't know what kind of +person he was; so, to lessen any risk, I asked him to come to the +Sunshine Mission, where Miss Ryan was going to help me "size him up." +He didn't know that part of it, of course, but he stood inspection +admirably. I was under the impression he had a son, but he hadn't, and +he and his mother were the very last of their race. I am as proud and +happy to-day as I was the day I became his wife. I wish you knew him, +but I suspect I had better not brag too much, lest you think me not +quite sincere. He expected to visit you while he was in Boulder. He +went to the Stock Show, but was with a party, so he planned to go +again. But before he could, the man he left here, and whom I dismissed +for drunkenness, went to Boulder and told him I was alone, so the +foolish thing hurried home to keep me from too hard work. So that is +why he was disappointed. + +Junior can talk quite well, and even Calvin jabbers. The children are +all well, and Jerrine writes a little every day to you. I have been +preparing a set of indoor outings for invalids. Your telling me your +invalid friends enjoyed the letters suggested the idea. I thought to +write of little outings I take might amuse them, but wanted to write +just as I took the little trips, while the impressions were fresh; that +is why I have not sent them before now. Is it too late? Shall I send +them to you? Now this is really not a letter; it is just a reply. I +must say good-night; it is twelve o'clock, and I am so sleepy. + +I do hope you will have a very happy summer, and that you will share +your happiness with me in occasional letters. + + With much love, + ELINORE STEWART. + +In writing I forgot to say that the Reverend Father thought it a good +plan to get a position as housekeeper for some rancher who would advise +me about land and water rights. By keeping house, he pointed out, I +could have a home and a living and at the same time see what kind of a +homestead I could get. + + + + +XXIV + +A LITTLE ROMANCE + + + _October 8, 1913._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +I have had such a happy little peep into another's romance that I think +I should be cheating you if I didn't tell you. Help in this country is +extremely hard to get; so when I received a letter from one Aurelia +Timmons, saying she wanted a job,--three dollars a week and _not_ to be +called "Relie,"--my joy could hardly be described. I could hardly wait +until morning to start for Bridger Bench, where Aurelia held forth. I +was up before the lark next morning. It is more miles to the Bridger +Bench country than the "gude mon" wants his horses driven in a day; so +permission was only given after I promised to curb my impatience and +stay overnight with Mrs. Louderer. Under ordinary circumstances that +would have been a pleasure, but I knew at least a dozen women who would +any of them seize on to Aurelia and wrest her from me, so it was only +after it seemed I would not get to go at all that I promised. + +At length the wagon was greased, some oats put in, a substantial lunch +and the kiddies loaded in, and I started on my way. Perhaps it was the +prospect of getting help that gilded everything with a new beauty. The +great mountains were so majestic, and the day so young that I knew the +night wind was still murmuring among the pines far up on the +mountain-sides. The larks were trying to outdo each other and the +robins were so saucy that I could almost have flicked them with the +willow I was using as a whip. The rabbit-bush made golden patches +everywhere, while purple asters and great pink thistles lent their +charm. Going in that direction, our way lay between a mountain stream +and the foothills. There are many ranches along the stream, and as we +were out so early, we could see the blue smoke curling from each house +we passed. We knew that venison steak, hot biscuit, and odorous coffee +would soon grace their tables. We had not had the venison, for the +"gude mon" holds to the letter of the law which protects deer here, but +we begrudged no one anything; we were having exactly what we wanted. We +jogged along happily, if slowly, for I must explain to you that Chub is +quite the laziest horse in the State, and Bill, his partner, is so old +he stands like a bulldog. He is splay-footed and sway-backed, but he is +a beloved member of our family, so I vented my spite on Chub, and the +willow descended periodically across his black back, I guess as much +from force of habit as anything else. But his hide is thick and his +memory short, so we broke no record that day. + +We drove on through the fresh beauty of the morning, and when the sun +was straight overhead we came to the last good water we could expect +before we reached Mrs. Louderer's; so we stopped for lunch. In Wyoming +quantity has a great deal more to do with satisfaction than does +quality; after half a day's drive you won't care so much what it is +you're going to eat as you will that there is enough of it. That is a +lesson I learned long ago; so our picnic was real. There were no ants +in the pie, but that is accounted for by there being no pie. Our road +had crossed the creek, and we were resting in the shade of a +quaking-asp grove, high up on the sides of the Bad Land hills. For +miles far below lay the valley through which we had come. + +Farther on, the mountains with their dense forests were all wrapped in +the blue haze of the melancholy days. Soon we quitted our enchanted +grove whose quivering, golden leaves kept whispering secrets to us. + +About three o'clock we came down out of the hills on to the bench on +which the Louderer ranch is situated. Perhaps I should explain that +this country is a series of huge terraces, each terrace called a +bench. I had just turned into the lane that leads to the house when a +horseman came cantering toward me. "Hello!" he saluted, as he drew up +beside the wagon. "Goin' up to the house? Better not. Mrs. Louderer is +not at home, and there's no one there but Greasy Pete. He's on a tear; +been drunk two days, I'm tellin' you. He's _full_ of mischief. 'T ain't +safe around old Greasy. I advise you to go some'eres else." "Well," I +asked, "where _can_ I go?" "Danged if I know," he replied, "'lessen it +'s to Kate Higbee's. She lives about six or seven miles west. She ain't +been here long, but I guess you can't miss her place. Just jog along +due west till you get to Red Gulch ravine, then turn north for a couple +of miles. You'll see her cabin up against a cedar ridge. Well, so +'long!" He dug his spurs into his cayuse's side and rode on. + +Tears of vexation so blinded me that I could scarcely see to turn the +team, but ominous sounds and wild yells kept coming from the house, so +I made what haste I could to get away from such an unpleasant +neighborhood. Soon my spirits began to rise. Kate Higbee, I reflected, +was likely to prove to be an interesting person. All Westerners are +likable, with the possible exception of Greasy Pete. I rather looked +forward to my visit. But my guide had failed to mention the buttes; so, +although I jogged as west as I knew how, I found I had to wind around a +butte about ever so often. I crossed a ravine with equal frequency, and +all looked alike. It is not surprising that soon I could not guess +where I was. We could turn back and retrace our tracks, but actual +danger lay there; so it seemed wiser to push on, as there was, perhaps, +no greater danger than discomfort ahead. The sun hung like a big red +ball ready to drop into the hazy distance when we came clear of the +buttes and down on to a broad plateau, on which grass grew plentifully. +That encouraged me because the horses need not suffer, and if I could +make the scanty remnant of our lunch do for the children's supper and +breakfast, we could camp in comfort, for we had blankets. But we must +find water. I stood up in the wagon and, shading my eyes against the +sun's level light, was looking out in the most promising directions +when I noticed that the plateau's farther side was bounded by a cedar +ridge, and, better yet, a smoke was slowly rising, column-like, against +the dun prospect. That, I reasoned, must be my destination. Even the +horses livened their paces, and in a little while we were there. + +But no house greeted our eyes,--just a big camp-fire. A lean old man +sat on a log-end and surveyed us indifferently. On the ground lay a +large canvas-covered pack, apparently unopened. An old saddle lay up +against a cedar-trunk. Two old horses grazed near. I was powerfully +disappointed. You know misery loves company; so I ventured to say, +"Good-evening." He didn't stir, but he grunted, "Hello." I knew then +that he was not a fossil, and hope began to stir in my heart. Soon he +asked, "Are you goin' somewheres or jist travelin'?" I told him I had +started somewhere, but reckoned I must be traveling, as I had not +gotten there. Then he said, "My name is Hiram K. Hull. Whose woman are +you?" I confessed to belonging to the house of Stewart. "Which +Stewart?" he persisted,--"C.R., S.W., or H.C.?" Again I owned up +truthfully. "Well," he continued, "what does he mean by letting you gad +about in such onconsequential style?" + +_Sometimes_ a woman gets too angry to talk. Don't you believe that? No? +Well, they do, I assure you, for I was then. He seemed grown to the +log. As he had made no move to help me, without answering him I +clambered out of the wagon and began to take the horses loose. "Ho!" he +said; "are you goin' to camp here?" "Yes, I am," I snapped. "Have you +any objections?" "Oh, no, none that won't keep," he assured me. It has +always been a theory of mine that when we become sorry for ourselves we +make our misfortunes harder to bear, because we lose courage and can't +think without bias; so I cast about me for something to be glad about, +and the comfort that at least we were safer with a simpleton than near +a drunken Mexican came to me; so I began to view the situation with a +little more tolerance. + +After attending to the horses I began to make the children comfortable. +My unwilling host sat silently on his log, drawing long and hard at his +stubby old pipe. How very little there was left of our lunch! Just for +meanness I asked him to share with us, and, if you'll believe me, he +did. He gravely ate bread-rims and scraps of meat until there was not +one bit left for even the baby's breakfast. Then he drew the back of +his hand across his mouth and remarked, "I should think when you go off +on a ja'nt like this you'd have a well-filled mess-box." Again speech +failed me. + +Among some dwarf willows not far away a spring bubbled. I took the +kiddies there to prepare them for rest. When I returned to the fire, +what a transformation! The pack was unrolled and blankets were spread, +the fire had been drawn aside, disclosing a bean-hole, out of which +Hiram K. was lifting an oven. He took off the lid. Two of the plumpest, +brownest ducks that ever tempted any one were fairly swimming in gravy. +Two loaves of what he called punk, with a box of crackers, lay on a +newspaper. He mimicked me exactly when he asked me to take supper with +him, and I tried hard to imitate him in promptitude when I accepted. +The babies had some of the crackers wet with hot water and a little of +the gravy. We soon had the rest looking scarce. The big white stars +were beginning to twinkle before we were through, but the camp-fire was +bright, and we all felt better-natured. Men are not alone in having a +way to their heart through their stomach. + +I made our bed beneath the wagon, and Hiram K. fixed his canvas +around, so we should be sheltered. I felt so much better and thought so +much better of him that I could laugh and chat gayly. "Now, tell me," +he asked, as he fastened the canvas to a wheel, "didn't you think I was +an old devil at first?" "Yes, I did," I answered. "Well," he said, "I +am; so you guessed right." After I put the children to bed, we sat by +the fire and talked awhile. I told him how I happened to be gadding +about in "such onconsequential" style, and he told me stories of when +the country was new and fit to live in. "Why," he said, in a burst of +enthusiasm, "time was once when you went to bed you were not sure +whether you'd get up alive and with your scalp on or not, the Injins +were that thick. And then there was white men a durned sight worse; +they were likely to plug you full of lead just to see you kick. But +now," he continued mournfully, "a bear or an antelope, maybe an elk, is +about all the excitement we can expect. Them good old days are gone." +I am mighty glad of it; a drunken Pete is bad enough for me. + +I was tired, so soon I went to bed. I could hear him as he cut cedar +boughs for his own fireside bed, and as he rattled around among his +pots and pans. Did you ever eat pork and beans heated in a frying-pan +on a camp-fire for breakfast? Then if you have not, there is one +delight left you. But you must be away out in Wyoming, with the morning +sun just gilding the distant peaks, and your pork and beans must be out +of a can, heated in a disreputable old frying-pan, served with coffee +_boiled_ in a battered old pail and drunk from a tomato-can. You'll +_never_ want iced melons, powdered sugar, and fruit, or sixty-nine +varieties of breakfast food, if once you sit Trilby-wise on Wyoming +sand and eat the kind of breakfast we had that day. + +After breakfast Hiram K. Hull hitched our horses to the wagon, got his +own horses ready, and then said, "'T ain't more 'n half a mile straight +out between them two hills to the stage-road, but I guess I had better +go and show you exactly, or you will be millin' around here all day, +tryin' to find it." In a very few minutes we were on the road, and our +odd host turned to go. "S'long!" he called. "Tell Stewart you seen old +Hikum. Him and me's shared tarps many's the nights. We used to be +punchers together,--old Clyde and me. Tell him old Hikum ain't forgot +him." So saying, he rode away into the golden morning, and we drove +onward, too. + +We stopped for lunch only a few minutes that day, and we reached the +Bridger community about two that afternoon. The much sought Aurelia had +accepted the position of lifetime housekeeper for a sheep-herder who +had no house to keep, so I had to cast about for whatever comfort I +could. The roadhouse is presided over by a very able body of the clan +of Ferguson. I had never met her, but formalities count for very little +in the West. She was in her kitchen, having more trouble, she said, +than a hen whose ducklings were in swimming. I asked her if she could +accommodate the children and myself. "Yes," she said, "I can give you a +bed and grub, but I ain't got no time to ask you nothing. I ain't got +no time to inquire who you are nor where you come from. There's one +room left. You can have that, but you'll have to look out for yourself +and young 'uns." I felt equal to that; so I went out to have the horses +cared for and to unload the kiddies. + +Leaning against the wagon was a man who made annual rounds of all the +homes in our community each summer; his sole object was to see what +kind of flowers we succeeded with. Every woman in our neighborhood +knows Bishey Bennet, but I don't think many would have recognized him +that afternoon. I had never seen him dressed in anything but blue denim +overalls and overshirt to match, but to-day he proudly displayed what +he said was his dove-colored suit. The style must have been one of +years ago, for I cannot remember seeing trousers quite so skimpy. He +wore top-boots, but as a concession to fashion he wore the boot-tops +under the trouser-legs, and as the trousers were about as narrow as a +sheath skirt, they kept slipping up and gave the appearance of being at +least six inches too short. Although Bishey is tall and thin, his coat +was two sizes too small, his shirt was of soft tan material, and he +wore a blue tie. But whatever may have been amiss with his costume was +easily forgotten when one saw his radiant face. He grasped my hand and +wrung it as if it was a chicken's neck. + +"What in the world is the matter with you?" I asked, as I rubbed my +abused paw. "Just you come here and I'll tell you," he answered. There +was no one to hear but the kiddies, but I went around the corner of the +house with him. He put his hand up to his mouth and whispered that +"Miss Em'ly" was coming, would be there on the afternoon stage. I had +never heard of "Miss Em'ly," and said so. "Well, just you go in and +set on the sofy and soon's I see your horses took care of I'll come in +and tell you." I went into my own room, and after I rustled some water +I made myself and the kiddies a little more presentable. Then we went +into the sitting-room and sat on the "sofy." Presently Bishey sauntered +in, trying to look unconcerned and at ease, but he was so fidgety he +couldn't sit down. But he told his story, and a dear one it is. + +It seems that back in New York State he and Miss Em'ly were "young uns" +together. When they were older they planned to marry, but neither +wanted to settle down to the humdrumness that they had always known. +Both dreamed of the golden West; so Bishey had gone to blaze the trail, +and "Miss Em'ly" was to follow. First one duty and then another had +held her, until twenty-five years had slipped by and they had not seen +each other, but now she was coming, that very day. They would be +married that evening, and I at once appointed myself matron of honor +and was plumb glad there was no other candidate. + +I at once took the decorations in hand. Bishey, Jerrine, and myself +went out and gathered armfuls of asters and goldenrod-like +rabbit-brush. From the dump-pile we sorted cans and pails that would +hold water, and we made the sitting-room a perfect bower of purple and +gold beauty. I put on my last clean shirt-waist and the children's last +clean dresses. Then, as there seemed nothing more to do, Bishey +suggested that we walk up the road and meet the stage; but the day had +been warm, and I remembered my own appearance when I had come over that +same road the first time. I knew that journey was trying on any one's +appearance at any time of the year, and after twenty-five years to be +thrust into view covered with alkali dust and with one's hat on awry +would be too much for feminine patience; so I pointed out to Bishey +that he'd better clear out and let Miss Em'ly rest a bit before he +showed up. At last he reluctantly agreed. + +I went out to the kitchen to find what could be expected in the way of +hot water for Miss Em'ly when she should come. I found I could have all +I wanted if I heated it myself. Mrs. Ferguson could not be bothered +about it, because a water company had met there to vote on new canals, +the sheep-men were holding a convention, there was a more than usual +run of transients besides the regular boarders, and supper was ordered +for the whole push. All the help she had was a girl she just knew +didn't have sense enough to pound sand into a rat-hole. Under those +circumstances I was mighty glad to help. I put water on to heat and +then forgot Miss Em'ly, I was enjoying helping so much, until I heard a +door slam and saw the stage drive away toward the barn. + +I hastened to the room I knew was reserved for Miss Em'ly. I rapped on +the door, but it was only opened a tiny crack. I whispered through +that I was a neighbor-friend of Mr. Bennet's, that I had lots of hot +water for her and had come to help her if I might. Then she opened the +door, and I entered. I found a very travel-stained little woman, down +whose dust-covered cheeks tears had left their sign. Her prettiness was +the kind that wins at once and keeps you ever after. She was a strange +mixture of stiff reticence and childish trust. She was in _such_ a +flutter, and she said she was ashamed to own it, but she was so hungry +she could hardly wait. + +After helping her all I could, I ran out to see about the wedding +supper that was to be served before the wedding. I found that no +special supper had been prepared. It seemed to me a shame to thrust +them down among the water company, the convention, the regulars, and +the transients, and I mentally invited myself to the wedding supper and +began to plan how we could have a little privacy. The carpenters were +at work on a long room off the kitchen that was to be used as +storeroom and pantry. They had gone for the day, and their saw-horses +and benches were still in the room. It was only the work of a moment to +sweep the sawdust away. There was only one window, but it was large and +in the west. It took a little time to wash that, but it paid to do it. +When a few asters and sprays of rabbit-brush were placed in a broken +jar on the window-sill, there was a picture worth seeing. Some planks +were laid on the saw-horses, some papers over them, and a clean white +cloth over all. I sorted the dishes myself; the prettiest the house +afforded graced our table. I rubbed the glassware until it shone almost +as bright as Bishey's smile. + +Bishey had come when he could stay away no longer; he and Miss Em'ly +had had their first little talk, so they came out to where I was laying +the table. They were both beaming. Miss Em'ly took hold at once to +help. "Bishey," she commanded, "do you go at once to where my boxes +are open, the one marked 7; bring me a blue jar you'll find in one +corner." He went to do her bidding, and I to see about the kiddies. +When I came back with them, there was a small willow basket in the +center of our improvised table, heaped high with pears, apples, and +grapes all a little the worse for their long journey from New York +State to Wyoming, but still things of beauty and a joy as long as they +lasted to Wyoming eyes and appetites. We had a perfectly roasted leg of +lamb; we had mint sauce, a pyramid of flaky mashed potatoes, a big dish +of new peas, a plate of sponge-cake I will be long in forgetting; and +the blue jar was full of grape marmalade. Our iced tea was exactly +right; the pieces of ice clinked pleasantly against our glasses. We +took our time, and we were all happy. We could all see the beautiful +sunset, its last rays lingering on Miss Em'ly's abundant auburn hair to +make happy the bride the sun shines on. We saw the wonderful +colors--orange, rose, and violet--creep up and fade into darker shades, +until at last mellow dusk filled the room. Then I took the kiddies to +my room to be put to bed while I should wait until time for the +ceremony. + +Soon the babies were sleeping, and Jerrine and I went into the +sitting-room. They were sitting on the "sofy." She was telling him that +the apples had come from the tree they had played under, the pears from +the tree they had set out, the grapes from the vine over the well. She +told him of things packed in her boxes, everything a part of the past +they both knew. He in turn told her of his struggles, his successes, +and some of what he called his failures. She was a most encouraging +little person, and she'd say to him, "You did well, Bishey. I'll say +_that_ for you: you did well!" Then he told her about the flowers he +had planted for her. I understood then why he acted so queerly about my +flowers. It happens that I am partial to old-time favorites, and I grow +as many of them as I can get to succeed in this altitude; so I have +zinnias, marigolds, hollyhocks, and many other dear old flowers that my +mother loved. Many of them had been the favorites of Miss Em'ly's +childhood, but Bishey hadn't remembered the names; so he had visited us +all, and when he found a flower he remembered, he asked the name and +how we grew it, then he tried it, until at last he had about all. Miss +Em'ly wiped the tears from her eyes as she remarked, "Bishey, you did +well; yes, you did _real_ well." I thought to myself how well we could +_all_ do if we were so encouraged. + +At last the white-haired old justice of the peace came, and said the +words that made Emily Wheeler the wife of Abisha Bennet. A powerfully +noisy but truly friendly crowd wished them well. One polite fellow +asked her where she was from. She told him from New York _State_. +"Why," he asked, "do New Yorkers always say _State_?" "Why, because," +she answered,--and her eyes were big with surprise,--"_no_ one would +want to say they were from New York _City_." + +It had been a trying day for us, so soon Jerrine and I slipped out to +our room. Ours was the first room off the sitting-room, and a long +hallway led past our door; a bench sat against the wall, and it seemed +a favorite roosting-place for people with long discussions. First some +fellows were discussing the wedding. One thought Bishey "cracked" +because he had shipped out an old cooking-stove, one of the first +manufactured, all the way from where he came from, instead of buying a +new one nearer home. They recalled instance after instance in which he +had acted queerly, but to me his behavior was no longer a mystery. I +know the stove belonged somewhere in the past and that his every act +connected past and future. After they had talked themselves tired, two +old fellows took possession of the bench and added a long discussion on +how to grow corn to the general din. Even sweet corn cannot be +successfully grown at this altitude, yet those old men argued pro and +con till I know their throats must have ached. In the sitting-room they +all talked at once of ditches, water-contracts, and sheep. I was _so_ +sleepy. I heard a tired clock away off somewhere strike two. Some +sheep-men had the bench and were discussing the relative values of +different dips. I reckon my ego must have gotten tangled with some +one's else about then, for I found myself sitting up in bed foolishly +saying,-- + + "Two old herders, unshaved and hairy, + Whose old tongues are _never_ weary, + Just outside my chamber-door + Prate of sheep dips for _ever_ more." + +Next morning it was Bishey's cheerful voice that started my day. I had +hoped to be up in time to see them off, but I wasn't. I heard him call +out to Mrs. Bishey, "Miss Em'ly, I've got the boxes all loaded. We can +start _home_ in ten minutes." I heard her clear voice reply, "You've +done well, Bishey. I'll be ready by then." I was hurriedly dressing, +hoping yet to see her, when I heard Bishey call out to bluff old +Colonel Winters, who had arrived in the night and had not known of the +wedding, "Hello! Winters, have you met Miss Em'ly? Come over here and +meet her. I'm a married man now. I married Miss Em'ly last night." The +colonel couldn't have known how apt was his reply when he said, "I'm +glad for you, Bishey. You've done well." I peeked between the curtains, +and saw Bishey's wagon piled high with boxes, with Miss Em'ly, +self-possessed and happy, greeting the colonel. Soon I heard the rattle +of wheels, and the dear old happy pair were on their way to the cabin +home they had waited twenty-five years for. Bless the kind old hearts +of them! I'm sure they've both "done well." + + + + +XXV + +AMONG THE MORMONS + + + _November, 1913._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +I have wanted to write you for a long time, but have been so busy. I +have had some visitors and have been on a visit; I think you would like +to hear about it all, so I will tell you. + +I don't think you would have admired my appearance the morning this +adventure began: I was in the midst of fall house-cleaning which +included some papering. I am no expert at the very best, and papering a +wall has difficulties peculiar to itself. I was up on a barrel trying +to get a long, sloppy strip of paper to stick to the ceiling instead of +to me, when in my visitors trooped, and so surprised me that I stepped +off the barrel and into a candy-bucket of paste. At the same time the +paper came off the ceiling and fell over mine and Mrs. Louderer's +head. It was right aggravating, I can tell you, but my visitors were +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and Mrs. Louderer, and no one could stay discouraged +with that pair around. + +After we had scraped as much paste as we could off ourselves they +explained that they had come to take me somewhere. That sounded good to +me, but I could not see how I could get off. However, Mrs. Louderer +said she had come to keep house and to take care of the children while +I should go with Mrs. O'Shaughnessy to E----. We should have two days' +travel by sled and a few hours on a train, then another journey by +sled. I wanted to go powerfully, but the paste-smeared room seemed to +forbid. + +As Mrs. Louderer would stay with the children, Mr. Stewart thought the +trip would be good for me. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy knew I wanted to visit +Bishop D----, a shining light among the Latter-Day Saints, so she +promised we should stay overnight at his house. That settled it; so in +the cold, blue light of the early morning, Mr. Beeler, a new neighbor, +had driven my friends over in Mrs. Louderer's big sled, to which was +hitched a pair of her great horses and his own team. He is a widower +and was going out to the road for supplies, so it seemed a splendid +time to make my long-planned visit to the Bishop. Deep snow came +earlier this year than usual, and the sledding and weather both +promised to be good. It was with many happy anticipations that I +snuggled down among the blankets and bearskins that morning. + +Mr. Beeler is pleasant company, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is so jolly and +bright, and I could leave home without a single misgiving with Mrs. +Louderer in charge. + +The evening sky was blazing crimson and gold, and the mountains behind +us were growing purple when we entered the little settlement where the +Bishop lives. We drove briskly through the scattered, straggling little +village, past the store and the meeting-house, and drew up before the +dwelling of the Bishop. The houses of the village were for the most +part small cabins of two or three rooms, but the Bishop's was more +pretentious. It was a frame building and boasted paint and shutters. A +tithing-office stood near, and back of the house we could see a large +granary and long stacks of hay. A bunch of cattle was destroying one +stack, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy remarked that the tallow from those +cattle should be used when the olive oil gave out at their anointings, +because it was the Bishop's cattle eating consecrated hay. + +We knocked on the door, but got no answer. Mr. Beeler went around to +the back, but no one answered, so we concluded we would have to try +elsewhere for shelter. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy comforted me by remarking, +"Well, there ain't a penny's worth of difference in a Mormon bishop and +any other Mormon, and D---- is not the only polygamist by a long shot." + +We had just turned out of the gate when a lanky, tow-headed boy about +fourteen years of age rode up. We explained our presence there, and the +boy explained to us that the Bishop and Aunt Debbie were away. The next +best house up the road was his "Maw's," he said; so, as Mr. Beeler +expected to stay with a friend of his, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I +determined to see if "Maw" could accommodate us for the night. + +Mr. Beeler offered to help the boy get the cattle out, but he said, +"No, Paw said it would not matter if they got into the hay, but that he +had to knock off some poles on another part of the stockyard so that +some horses could get in to eat." + +"But," I asked, "isn't that consecrated hay?--isn't it tithing?" + +"Yes," he said, "but that won't hurt a bit, only that old John Ladd +always pays his tithe with foxtail hay and it almost ruins Paw's +horses' mouths." + +I asked him if his father's stock was supposed to get the hay. + +"No, I guess not," he said, "but they are always getting in accidental +like." + +We left him to fix the fence so the horses could get in "accidental +like," and drove the short distance to "the next best house." + +We were met at the door by a pleasant-faced little woman who hurried us +to the fire. We told her our plight. "Why, certainly you must stay with +me," she said. "I am glad the Bishop and Deb are away. They keep all +the company, and I so seldom have any one come; you see Debbie has no +children and can do so much better for any one stopping there than I +can, but I like company, too, and I am glad of a chance to keep you. +You two can have Maudie's bed. Maud is my oldest girl and she has gone +to Ogden to visit, so we have plenty of room." + +By now it was quite dark. She lighted a lamp and bustled about, +preparing supper. We sat by the stove and, as Mrs. O'Shaughnessy said, +"noticed." + +Two little boys were getting in wood for the night. They appeared to +be about eight years old; they were twins and were the youngest of the +family. Two girls, about ten and twelve years old, were assisting our +hostess; then the boy Orson, whom we met at the gate, and Maud, the +daughter who was away, made up the family. They seemed a happy, +contented family, if one judged by appearance alone. After supper the +children gathered around the table to prepare next day's lessons. They +were bright little folks, but they mingled a great deal of talk with +their studies and some of what they talked was family history. + +"Mamma," said Kittie, the largest of the little girls, "if Aunt Deb +does buy a new coat and you get her old one, then can I have yours?" + +"I don't know," her mother replied; "I should have to make it over if +you did take it. Maybe we can have a new one." + +"No, we can't have a new one, I know, for Aunt Deb said so, but she is +going to give me her brown dress and you her gray one; she said so the +day I helped her iron. We'll have those to make over." + +For the first time I noticed the discontented lines on our hostess's +face, and it suddenly occurred to me that we were in the house of the +Bishop's second wife. Before I knew I was coming on this journey I +thought of a dozen questions I wanted to ask the Bishop, but I could +never ask that care-worn little woman anything concerning their +peculiar belief. However, I was spared the trouble, for soon the +children retired and the conversation drifted around to Mormonism and +polygamy; and our hostess seemed to want to talk, so I just listened, +for Mrs. O'Shaughnessy rather likes to "argufy"; but she had no +argument that night, only her questions started our hostess's story. + +She had been married to the Bishop not long before the manifesto, and +he had been married several years then to Debbie. But Debbie had no +children, and all the money the Bishop had to start with had been his +first wife's; so when it became necessary for him to discard a wife it +was a pretty hard question for him because a little child was coming to +the second wife and he had nothing to provide for her with except what +his first wife's money paid for. The first wife said she would consent +to him starting the second, if she filed on land and paid her back a +small sum every year until it was all paid back. So he took the poor +"second," after formally renouncing her, and helped her to file on the +land she now lives on. He built her a small cabin, and so she started +her career as a "second." I suppose the "first" thought she would be +rid of the second, who had never really been welcome, although the +Bishop could never have married a "second" without her consent. + +"I would _never_ consent," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. + +"Oh, yes, you would if you had been raised a Mormon," said our hostess. +"You see, we were all of us children of polygamous parents. We have +been used to plural marriages all our lives. We believe that such +experience fits us for our after-life, as we are only preparing for +life beyond while here." + +"Do you expect to go to heaven, and do you think the man who married +you and then discarded you will go to heaven too?" asked Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy. + +"Of course I do," she replied. + +"Then," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, "I am afraid if it had been mysilf I'd +have been after raising a little hell here intirely." + +Our hostess was not offended, and there followed a long recital of +earlier-day hard times that you would scarcely believe any one could +live through. It seems the first wife in such families is boss, and +while they do not live in the same homes, still she can very materially +affect the other's comfort. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy asked her if she had married again. + +She said, "No." + +"Then," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, "whose children are these?" + +"My own," she replied. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was relentless. "Who is their father?" she asked. + +I was right sorry for the poor little woman as she stammered, "I--I +don't know." + +Then she went on, "Of course I _do_ know, and I don't believe you are +spying to try to stir up trouble for my husband. Bishop D---- is their +father, as he is still my husband, although he had to cast me off to +save himself and me. I love him and I see no wrong in him. All the +Gentiles have against him is he is a little too smart for them. 'T was +their foolish law that made him wrong the children and me, and _not_ +his wishes." + +"But," Mrs. O'Shaughnessy said, "it places your children in such a +plight; they can't inherit, they can't even claim his name, they have +no status legally." + +"Oh, but the Bishop will see to that," the little woman answered. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy asked her if she had still to work as hard as she +used to. + +"No, I don't believe I do," she said, "for since Mr. D---- has been +Bishop, things come easier. He built this house with his own money, so +Deb has nothing to do with it." + +I asked her if she thought she was as happy as "second" as she would be +if she was the _only_ wife. + +"Oh, I don't know," she said, "perhaps not. Deb and me don't always +agree. She is jealous of the children and because I am younger, and I +get to feeling bad when I think she is perfectly safe as a wife and has +no cares. She has everything she wants, and I have to take what I can +get, and my children have to wait upon her. But it will all come right +somewhere, sometime," she ended cheerfully, as she wiped her eyes with +her apron. + +I felt so sorry for her and so ashamed to have seen into her sorrow +that I was really glad next morning when I heard Mr. Beeler's cheerful +voice calling, "All aboard!" + +We had just finished breakfast, and few would ever guess that Mrs. +D---- knew a trial; she was so cheerful and so cordial as she bade us +good-bye and urged us to stop with her every time we passed through. + +About noon that day we reached the railroad. The snow had delayed the +train farther north, so for once we were glad to have to wait for a +train, as it gave us time to get a bite to eat and to wash up a bit. It +was not long, however, till we were comfortably seated in the train. I +think a train ride might not be so enjoyable to most, but to us it was +a delight; I even enjoyed looking at the Negro porter, although I +suspect he expected to be called Mister. I found very soon after coming +West that I must not say "Uncle" or "Aunty" as I used to at home. + +It was not long until they called the name of the town at which we +wanted to stop. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had a few acquaintances there, but +we went to a hotel. We were both tired, so as soon as we had supper we +went to bed. The house we stopped at was warmer and more comfortable +than the average hotel in the West, but the partitions were very thin, +so when a couple of "punchers," otherwise cowboys, took the room next +to ours, we could hear every word they said. + +It appears that one was English and the other a tenderfoot. The +tenderfoot was in love with a girl who had filed on a homestead near +the ranch on which he was employed, but who was then a waitress in the +hotel we were at. She had not seemed kind to the tenderfoot and he was +telling his friend about it. The Englishman was trying to instruct him +as to how to proceed. + +"You need to be _very_ circumspect, Johnny, where females are +concerned, but you mustn't be too danged timid either." + +"I don't know what the devil to say to her; I can barely nod my head +when she asks me will I take tea or coffee; and to-night she mixed it +because I nodded yes when she said, 'tea or coffee,' and it was the +dangdest mess I ever tried to get outside of." + +"Well," the friend counseled, "you just get her into a corner some'eres +and say to 'er, 'Dearest 'Attie, I hoffer you my 'and hand my 'eart.'" + +"But I _can't_," wailed Johnny. "I could never get her into a corner +anyway." + +"If you can't, you're not hold enough to marry then. What the 'ell +would you do with a woman in the 'ouse if you couldn't corner 'er? I +tell 'e, women 'ave to 'ave a master, and no man better tackle that job +until 'e can be sure 'e can make 'er walk the chalk-line." + +"But I don't want her to walk any line; I just want her to speak to +me." + +"Dang me if I don't believe you are locoed. Why, she's got 'e throwed +hand 'og-tied now. What d'e want to make it any worse for?" + +They talked for a long time and the Englishman continued to have +trouble with his _h_'s; but at last Johnny was encouraged to "corner +'er" next morning before they left for their ranch. + +We expected to be astir early anyway, and our curiosity impelled us to +see the outcome of the friend's counsel, so we were almost the first in +the dining-room next morning. A rather pretty girl was busy arranging +the tables, and soon a boyish-looking fellow, wearing great bat-wing +chaps, came in and stood warming himself at the stove. + +I knew at once it was Johnny, and I saw "'Attie" blush. The very +indifference with which she treated him argued well for his cause, but +of course he didn't know that. So when she passed by him and her skirt +caught on his big spurs they both stooped at once to unfasten it; their +heads hit together with such a bump that the ice was broken, although +he seemed to think it was her skull. I am sure there ought to be a thaw +after all his apologies. After breakfast Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went out to +see her friend Cormac O'Toole. He was the only person in town we could +hope to get a team from with which to continue our journey. This is a +hard country on horses at best, and at this time of the year +particularly so; few will let their teams go out at any price, but Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy had hopes, and she is so persuasive that I felt no one +could resist her. There was a drummer at breakfast who kept "cussing" +the country. He had tried to get a conveyance and had failed; so the +cold, the snow, the people, and everything else disgusted him. + +Soon Mrs. O'Shaughnessy returned, and as the drummer was trying to get +out to E----, and that was our destination also, she made her way +toward him, intending to invite him to ride with us. She wore over her +best clothes an old coat that had once belonged to some one of her men +friends. It had once been bearskin, but was now more _bare_ skin, so +her appearance was against her; she looked like something with the +mange. So Mr. Drummer did not wait to hear what she was going to say +but at once exclaimed, "No, madam, I cannot let you ride out with me. I +can't get a rig myself in this beastly place." Then he turned to a man +standing near and remarked, "These Western women are so bold they don't +hesitate to _demand_ favors." + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's eyes fairly snapped, but she said nothing. I think +she took a malicious delight in witnessing the drummer's chagrin when a +few moments later our comfortable sleigh and good strong team appeared. + +We were going to drive ourselves, but we had to drive to the depot for +our suit-cases; but when we got there the ticket-office was not open, +so the agent was probably having his beauty sleep. There was a fire in +the big stove, and we joined the bunch of men in the depot. Among them +we noticed a thin, consumptive-looking fellow, evidently a stranger. + +Very soon some men began talking of some transaction in which a Bishop +B---- was concerned. It seemed they didn't admire the Bishop very much; +they kept talking of his peculiarities and transgressions, and +mentioned his treatment of his wives. His "second," they said, was +blind because of cataracts, and, although abundantly able, he left her +in darkness. She had never seen her two last children. Some one spoke +up and said, "I thought polygamy was no longer practiced." Then the man +explained that they no longer contracted plural marriages, but that +many kept _all_ their wives and B---- still had both of his. He went on +to say that although such practice is contrary to law, it was almost +impossible to make a case against them, for the women would not swear +against their husbands. B---- had been arrested once, but his second +swore that she didn't know who her children's father was, and it cost +the sheriff his office the next election. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy spoke to an acquaintance of hers and mentioned where +we were going. In a short while we got our suit-cases and we were off, +but as we drove past the freight depot, the stranger we had noticed +came down the steps and asked us to let him ride out with us. I really +felt afraid of him, but Mrs. O'Shaughnessy thinks herself a match for +any mere man, so she drew up and the man climbed in. He took the lines +and we snuggled down under the robes and listened to the runners, +shrill screeching over the frozen surface. + +We had dinner with a new settler, and about two o'clock that afternoon +we overtook a fellow who was plodding along the road. His name was +B----, he said, and he pointed out to us his broad fields and herds. He +had been overseeing some feeders he had, and his horse had escaped, so +he was walking home, as it was only a couple of miles. He talked a +great deal in that two-mile trip; too much for his own good, it +developed. + +For the first time since B---- climbed into our sleigh, the stranger +spoke. "Can you tell me where Mrs. Belle B---- lives?" he asked. + +"Why, yes," our passenger replied. "She is a member of our little +flock. She is slightly related to me, as you perhaps noticed the name, +and I will show you to her house." + +"Just how is she related to you?" the stranger asked. + +"That," the man replied, "is a matter of protection. I have _given_ her +the protection of my name." + +"Then she is your wife, is she not?" the stranger asked. + +"You must be a stranger in this country," the man evaded. "What is your +name?" + +But the stranger didn't seem to hear, and just then we came opposite +the residence of the Bishop, and the man we had picked up in the road +said, "That is my home, won't you get out and warm? My wife will be +glad to get acquainted with you ladies." + +We declined, as it was only a short distance to the house of the man +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had come to see, so he stayed in the sleigh to show +the stranger to the house of Mrs. Belle B----. I can't say much for it +as a house, and I was glad I didn't have to go in. The stranger and +B---- got out and entered the house, and we drove away. + +Next morning, as we returned through the little village, it was all +excitement. Bishop B---- had been shot the night before, just as he had +left the house of Mrs. Belle B----, for what reason or by whom no one +knew; and if the Bishop knew he had not told, for he either would not +or could not talk. + +They were going to start with him that day to the hospital, but they +had no hopes of his living. + +When we came to Mrs. Belle's house, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy got out of the +sleigh and went into the house. I could hear her soothing voice, and I +was mighty glad the poor, forlorn woman had such a comforter. + + * * * * * + +I was so _very_ glad to get home. How good it all looked to me! "Poop +o' Roome" has a calf, and as we drove up to the corral Clyde was trying +to get it into the stall with the rest. It is "Poop's" first calf, and +she is very proud of it, and objected to its being put away from her, +so she bunted at Clyde, and as he dodged her, the calf ran between his +feet and he sat down suddenly in the snow. I laughed at him, but I am +powerfully glad he is no follower of old Joseph Smith. + +Mrs. Louderer was enjoying herself immensely, she loves children so +much. She and Clyde hired the "Tackler"--so called because he will +tackle _any_ kind of a job, whether he knows anything about it or +not--to paper the room. He thinks he is a great judge of the fitness of +things and of beauty. The paper has a stripe of roses, so Tackler +reversed every other strip so that some of my roses are standing on +their heads. Roses don't all grow one way, he claims, and so his method +"makes 'em look more nachul like." + +A little thing like wall-paper put on upside down don't bother me; but +what _would_ I do if I were a "second"? + + Your loving friend, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XXVI + +SUCCESS + + + _November, 1913._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +This is Sunday and I suppose I ought not to be writing, but I must +write to you and I may not have another chance soon. Both your letters +have reached me, and now that our questions are settled we can proceed +to proceed. + +Now, this is the letter I have been wanting to write you for a long +time, but could not because until now I had not actually proven all I +wanted to prove. Perhaps it will not interest you, but if you see a +woman who wants to homestead and is a little afraid she will starve, +you can tell her what I am telling you. + +I never did like to theorize, and so this year I set out to prove that +a woman could ranch if she wanted to. We like to grow potatoes on new +ground, that is, newly cleared land on which no crop has been grown. +Few weeds grow on new land, so it makes less work. So I selected my +potato-patch, and the man ploughed it, although I could have done that +if Clyde would have let me. I cut the potatoes, Jerrine helped, and we +dropped them in the rows. The man covered them, and that ends the man's +part. By that time the garden ground was ready, so I planted the +garden. I had almost an acre in vegetables. I irrigated and I +cultivated it myself. + +We had all the vegetables we could possibly use, and now Jerrine and I +have put in our cellar full, and this is what we have: one large bin of +potatoes (more than two tons), half a ton of carrots, a large bin of +beets, one of turnips, one of onions, one of parsnips, and on the other +side of the cellar we have more than one hundred heads of cabbage. I +have experimented and found a kind of squash that can be raised here, +and that the ripe ones keep well and make good pies; also that the +young tender ones make splendid pickles, quite equal to cucumbers. I +was glad to stumble on to that, because pickles are hard to manufacture +when you have nothing to work with. Now I have plenty. They told me +when I came that I could not even raise common beans, but I tried and +succeeded. And also I raised lots of green tomatoes, and, as we like +them preserved, I made them all up that way. Experimenting along +another line, I found that I could make catchup, as delicious as that +of tomatoes, of gooseberries. I made it exactly the same as I do the +tomatoes and I am delighted. Gooseberries were very fine and very +plentiful this year, so I put up a great many. I milked ten cows twice +a day all summer; have sold enough butter to pay for a year's supply of +flour and gasoline. We use a gasoline lamp. I have raised enough +chickens to completely renew my flock, and all we wanted to eat, and +have some fryers to go into the winter with. I have enough turkeys for +all of our birthdays and holidays. + +I raised a great many flowers and I worked several days in the field. +In all I have told about I have had no help but Jerrine. Clyde's mother +spends each summer with us, and she helped me with the cooking and the +babies. Many of my neighbors did better than I did, although I know +many town people would doubt my doing so much, but I did it. I have +tried every kind of work this ranch affords, and I can do any of it. Of +course I _am_ extra strong, but those who try know that strength and +knowledge come with doing. I just love to experiment, to work, and to +prove out things, so that ranch life and "roughing it" just suit me. + + +THE END + + + * * * * * + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of a Woman Homesteader +by Elinore Pruitt Stewart + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER *** + +***** This file should be named 16623-8.txt or 16623-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/2/16623/ + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Letters of a Woman Homesteader + +Author: Elinore Pruitt Stewart + +Release Date: August 30, 2005 [EBook #16623] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER *** + + + + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_i" id="Page_i"></a> +<a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii"></a> + + +<h1><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii"></a>LETTERS<br /> +OF A WOMAN<br /> +HOMESTEADER</h1> +<br /> +<h3>BY</h3> +<br /> +<h2><i>Elinore Pruitt Stewart</i></h2> +<br /> + +<div class="img" style="width: 50%;"> +<img border="0" src="images/frontimage.png" width="55%" alt="front page image" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<h5>BOSTON AND NEW YORK<br /> +HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY<br /> +The Riverside Press Cambridge</h5> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + +<h5><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv"></a>1913 AND 1914, BY THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY CO.<br /> +1914, BY ELINORE PRUITT STEWART<br /> +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED<br /> +<i>Published May 1914</i></h5> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + +<a name="Page_v" id="Page_v"></a> +<h3>PUBLISHERS' NOTE</h3> +<br /> + + +<p>The writer of the following letters is a young woman who lost her +husband in a railroad accident and went to Denver to seek support for +herself and her two-year-old daughter, Jerrine. Turning her hand to the +nearest work, she went out by the day as house-cleaner and laundress. +Later, seeking to better herself, she accepted employment as a +housekeeper for a well-to-do Scotch cattle-man, Mr. Stewart, who had +taken up a quarter-section in Wyoming. The letters, written through +several years to a former employer in Denver, tell the story of her new +life in the new country. They are genuine letters, and are printed as +written, except for occasional omissions and the alteration of some of +the names.</p> + +<p class="sc">4 Park St.</p> + +<a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi"></a> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="toc" id="toc"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii"></a>CONTENTS</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" width="75%" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<td width="10%" class="tdr"><a href="#I">I.</a></td> +<td width="80%" class="tdlsc">The Arrival at Burnt Fork</td> +<td width="10%" class="tdr">3</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#II">II.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">Filing a Claim</td> +<td class="tdr">7</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#III">III.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">A Busy, Happy Summer</td> +<td class="tdr">15</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#IV">IV.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">A Charming Adventure and Zebulon Pike</td> +<td class="tdr">23</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#V">V.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">Sedalia and Regalia</td> +<td class="tdr">45</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#VI">VI.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">A Thanksgiving-Day Wedding</td> +<td class="tdr">54</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#VII">VII.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">Zebulon Pike visits his Old Home</td> +<td class="tdr">60</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#VIII">VIII.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">A Happy Christmas</td> +<td class="tdr">64</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#IX">IX.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">A Confession</td> +<td class="tdr">77</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#X">X.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">The Story of Cora Belle</td> +<td class="tdr">81</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XI">XI.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">Zebbie's Story</td> +<td class="tdr">100</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XII">XII.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">A Contented Couple</td> +<td class="tdr">117</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XIII">XIII.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">Proving Up</td> +<td class="tdr">133</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XIV">XIV.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">The New House</td> +<td class="tdr">137</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XV">XV.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">The "Stocking-Leg" Dinner</td> +<td class="tdr">143</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XVI">XVI.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">The Horse-Thieves</td> +<td class="tdr">157</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XVII">XVII.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">At Gavotte's Camp</td> +<td class="tdr">180</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XVIII">XVIII.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">The Homesteader's Marriage and a Little Funeral</td> +<td class="tdr">184</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XIX">XIX.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">The Adventure of the Christmas Tree</td> +<td class="tdr">193</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XX">XX.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">The Joys of Homesteading</td> +<td class="tdr">213</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XXI">XXI.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc"> A Letter of Jerrine's</td> +<td class="tdr">218</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XXII">XXII.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">The Efficient Mrs. O'Shaughnessy</td> +<td class="tdr">220</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XXIII">XXIII.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">How it Happened</td> +<td class="tdr">225</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XXIV">XXIV.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">A Little Romance</td> +<td class="tdr">230</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XXV">XXV.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">Among the Mormons</td> +<td class="tdr">256</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#XXVI">XXVI.</a></td> +<td class="tdlsc">Success</td> +<td class="tdr">279</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a> +<a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="I" id="I"></a><hr /> +<br /> +<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a> +<h2>LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER</h2> + +<h3>I<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE ARRIVAL AT BURNT FORK</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<span class="sc">Burnt Fork, Wyoming,</span><br /> +<i>April 18, 1909.</i> <br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>Are you thinking I am lost, like the Babes in the Wood? Well, I am not +and I'm sure the robins would have the time of their lives getting +leaves to cover me out here. I am 'way up close to the Forest Reserve +of Utah, within half a mile of the line, sixty miles from the railroad. +I was twenty-four hours on the train and two days on the stage, and oh, +those two days! The snow was just beginning to melt and the mud was +about the worst I ever heard of.</p> + +<p>The first stage we tackled was just about <a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a>as rickety as it could very +well be and I had to sit with the driver, who was a Mormon and so +handsome that I was not a bit offended when he insisted on making love +all the way, especially after he told me that he was a widower Mormon. +But, of course, as I had no chaperone I looked very fierce (not that +that was very difficult with the wind and mud as allies) and told him +my actual opinion of Mormons in general and particular.</p> + +<p>Meantime my new employer, Mr. Stewart, sat upon a stack of baggage and +was dreadfully concerned about something he calls his "Tookie," but I +am unable to tell you what that is. The road, being so muddy, was full +of ruts and the stage acted as if it had the hiccoughs and made us all +talk as though we were affected in the same way. Once Mr. Stewart asked +me if I did not think it a "gey duir trip." I told him he could call it +gay if he wanted to, but it didn't seem very hilarious to me. Every +time the stage struck a rock or a rut Mr. Stewart would "hoot," <a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a>until +I began to wish we would come to a hollow tree or a hole in the ground +so he could go in with the rest of the owls.</p> + +<p>At last we "arriv," and everything is just lovely for me. I have a +very, very comfortable situation and Mr. Stewart is absolutely no +trouble, for as soon as he has his meals he retires to his room and +plays on his bagpipe, only he calls it his "bugpeep." It is "The +Campbells are Coming," without variations, at intervals all day long +and from seven till eleven at night. Sometimes I wish they would make +haste and get here.</p> + +<p>There is a saddle horse especially for me and a little shotgun with +which I am to kill sage chickens. We are between two trout streams, so +you can think of me as being happy when the snow is through melting and +the water gets clear. We have the finest flock of Plymouth Rocks and +get so many nice eggs. It sure seems fine to have all the cream I want +after my town experiences. Jerrine is making good use of all the good +<a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a>things we are having. She rides the pony to water every day.</p> + +<p>I have not filed on my land yet because the snow is fifteen feet deep +on it, and I think I would rather see what I am getting, so will wait +until summer. They have just three seasons here, winter and July and +August. We are to plant our garden the last of May. When it is so I can +get around I will see about land and find out all I can and tell you.</p> + +<p>I think this letter is about to reach thirty-secondly, so I will send +you my sincerest love and quit tiring you. Please write me when you +have time.</p> + +<div> +<p>Sincerely yours,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="II" id="II"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a> +<h3>II<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>FILING A CLAIM</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>May 24, 1909.</i> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear, dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>Well, I have filed on my land and am now a bloated landowner. I waited +a long time to even <i>see</i> land in the reserve, and the snow is yet too +deep, so I thought that as they have but three months of summer and +spring together and as I wanted the land for a ranch anyway, perhaps I +had better stay in the valley. So I have filed adjoining Mr. Stewart +and I am well pleased. I have a grove of twelve swamp pines on my +place, and I am going to build my house there. I thought it would be +very romantic to live on the peaks amid the whispering pines, but I +reckon it would be powerfully uncomfortable also, and I guess my twelve +can whisper enough for me; and a dandy thing is, I have all the nice +snow-water I want; a small <a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a>stream runs right through the center of my +land and I am quite near wood.</p> + +<p>A neighbor and his daughter were going to Green River, the county-seat, +and said I might go along, so I did, as I could file there as well as +at the land office; and oh, that trip! I had more fun to the square +inch than Mark Twain or Samantha Allen <i>ever</i> provoked. It took us a +whole week to go and come. We camped out, of course, for in the whole +sixty miles there was but one house, and going in that direction there +is not a tree to be seen, nothing but sage, sand, and sheep. About noon +the first day out we came near a sheep-wagon, and stalking along ahead +of us was a lanky fellow, a herder, going home for dinner. Suddenly it +seemed to me I should starve if I had to wait until we got where we had +planned to stop for dinner, so I called out to the man, "Little +Bo-Peep, have you anything to eat? If you have, we'd like to find it." +And he answered, "As soon as I am able it shall be on the table, if +you'll but <a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a>trouble to get behind it." Shades of Shakespeare! Songs of +David, the Shepherd Poet! What do you think of us? Well, we got behind +it, and a more delicious "it" I never tasted. Such coffee! And out of +<i>such</i> a pot! I promised Bo-Peep that I would send him a crook with +pink ribbons on it, but I suspect he thinks I am a crook without the +ribbons.</p> + +<p>The sagebrush is so short in some places that it is not large enough to +make a fire, so we had to drive until quite late before we camped that +night. After driving all day over what seemed a level desert of sand, +we came about sundown to a beautiful cañon, down which we had to drive +for a couple of miles before we could cross. In the cañon the shadows +had already fallen, but when we looked up we could see the last shafts +of sunlight on the tops of the great bare buttes. Suddenly a great wolf +started from somewhere and galloped along the edge of the cañon, +outlined black and clear by the setting sun. His curiosity overcame him +at last, <a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a>so he sat down and waited to see what manner of beast we +were. I reckon he was disappointed for he howled most dismally. I +thought of Jack London's "The Wolf."</p> + +<p>After we quitted the cañon I saw the most beautiful sight. It seemed as +if we were driving through a golden haze. The violet shadows were +creeping up between the hills, while away back of us the snow-capped +peaks were catching the sun's last rays. On every side of us stretched +the poor, hopeless desert, the sage, grim and determined to live in +spite of starvation, and the great, bare, desolate buttes. The +beautiful colors turned to amber and rose, and then to the general +tone, dull gray. Then we stopped to camp, and such a scurrying around +to gather brush for the fire and to get supper! Everything tasted so +good! Jerrine ate like a man. Then we raised the wagon tongue and +spread the wagon sheet over it and made a bedroom for us women. We made +our beds on the warm, soft sand and went to bed.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>It was too beautiful a night to sleep, so I put my head out to look and +to think. I saw the moon come up and hang for a while over the mountain +as if it were discouraged with the prospect, and the big white stars +flirted shamelessly with the hills. I saw a coyote come trotting along +and I felt sorry for him, having to hunt food in so barren a place, but +when presently I heard the whirr of wings I felt sorry for the sage +chickens he had disturbed. At length a cloud came up and I went to +sleep, and next morning was covered several inches with snow. It didn't +hurt us a bit, but while I was struggling with stubborn corsets and +shoes I communed with myself, after the manner of prodigals, and said: +"How much better that I were down in Denver, even at Mrs. Coney's, +digging with a skewer into the corners seeking dirt which <i>might</i> be +there, yea, even eating codfish, than that I should perish on this +desert—of imagination." So I turned the current of my imagination and +fancied that I was at home <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>before the fireplace, and that the backlog +was about to roll down. My fancy was in such good working trim that +before I knew it I kicked the wagon wheel, and I certainly got as warm +as the most "sot" Scientist that ever read Mrs. Eddy could possibly +wish.</p> + +<p>After two more such days I "arrived." When I went up to the office +where I was to file, the door was open and the most taciturn old man +sat before a desk. I hesitated at the door, but he never let on. I +coughed, yet no sign but a deeper scowl. I stepped in and modestly +kicked over a chair. He whirled around like I had shot him. "Well?" he +interrogated. I said, "I am powerful glad of it. I was afraid you were +sick, you looked in such pain." He looked at me a minute, then grinned +and said he thought I was a book-agent. Fancy me, a fat, comfortable +widow, trying to sell books!</p> + +<p>Well, I filed and came home. If you will believe me, the Scot was glad +to see me and didn't herald the Campbells for two hours <a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>after I got +home. I'll tell you, it is mighty seldom any one's so much appreciated.</p> + +<p>No, we have no rural delivery. It is two miles to the office, but I go +whenever I like. It is really the jolliest kind of fun to gallop down. +We are sixty miles from the railroad, but when we want anything we send +by the mail-carrier for it, only there is nothing to get.</p> + +<p>I know this is an inexcusably long letter, but it is snowing so hard +and you know how I like to talk. I am sure Jerrine will enjoy the cards +and we will be glad to get them. Many things that are a comfort to us +out here came from dear Mrs. ——. Baby has the rabbit you gave her last +Easter a year ago. In Denver I was afraid my baby would grow up devoid +of imagination. Like all the kindergartners, she depended upon others +to amuse her. I was very sorry about it, for my castles in Spain have +been real homes to me. But there is no fear. She has a block of wood +she found in the blacksmith shop which she calls <a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>her "dear baby." A +spoke out of a wagon wheel is "little Margaret," and a barrel-stave is +"bad little Johnny."</p> + +<p>Well, I must quit writing before you vote me a nuisance. With lots of +love to you,</p> + +<div> +<p>Your sincere friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="III" id="III"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a> +<h3>III<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>A BUSY, HAPPY SUMMER</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>September 11, 1909.</i> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>This has been for me the busiest, happiest summer I can remember. I +have worked very hard, but it has been work that I really enjoy. Help +of any kind is very hard to get here, and Mr. Stewart had been too +confident of getting men, so that haying caught him with too few men to +put up the hay. He had no man to run the mower and he couldn't run both +the mower and the stacker, so you can fancy what a place he was in.</p> + +<p>I don't know that I ever told you, but my parents died within a year of +each other and left six of us to shift for ourselves. Our people +offered to take one here and there among them until we should all have +a place, but we refused to be raised on the halves and so <a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>arranged to +stay at Grandmother's and keep together. Well, we had no money to hire +men to do our work, so had to learn to do it ourselves. Consequently I +learned to do many things which girls more fortunately situated don't +even know have to be done. Among the things I learned to do was the way +to run a mowing-machine. It cost me many bitter tears because I got +sunburned, and my hands were hard, rough, and stained with machine oil, +and I used to wonder how any Prince Charming could overlook all that in +any girl he came to. For all I had ever read of the Prince had to do +with his "reverently kissing her lily-white hand," or doing some other +fool trick with a hand as white as a snowflake. Well, when my Prince +showed up he didn't lose much time in letting me know that "Barkis was +willing," and I wrapped my hands in my old checked apron and took him +up before he could catch his breath. Then there was no more mowing, and +I almost forgot that I knew how until Mr. Stewart got <a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>into such a +panic. If he put a man to mow, it kept them all idle at the stacker, +and he just couldn't get enough men. I was afraid to tell him I could +mow for fear he would forbid me to do so. But one morning, when he was +chasing a last hope of help, I went down to the barn, took out the +horses, and went to mowing. I had enough cut before he got back to show +him I knew how, and as he came back manless he was delighted as well as +surprised. I was glad because I really like to mow, and besides that, I +am adding feathers to my cap in a surprising way. When you see me again +you will think I am wearing a feather duster, but it is only that I +have been said to have almost as much sense as a "mon," and that is an +honor I never aspired to, even in my wildest dreams.</p> + +<p>I have done most of my cooking at night, have milked seven cows every +day, and have done all the hay-cutting, so you see I have been working. +But I have found time to put up thirty pints of jelly and the same +amount <a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>of jam for myself. I used wild fruits, gooseberries, currants, +raspberries, and cherries. I have almost two gallons of the cherry +butter, and I think it is delicious. I wish I could get some of it to +you, I am sure you would like it.</p> + +<p>We began haying July 5 and finished September 8. After working so hard +and so steadily I decided on a day off, so yesterday I saddled the +pony, took a few things I needed, and Jerrine and I fared forth. Baby +can ride behind quite well. We got away by sunup and a glorious day we +had. We followed a stream higher up into the mountains and the air was +so keen and clear at first we had on our coats. There was a tang of +sage and of pine in the air, and our horse was midside deep in +rabbit-brush, a shrub just covered with flowers that look and smell +like goldenrod. The blue distance promised many alluring adventures, so +we went along singing and simply gulping in summer. Occasionally a +bunch of sage chickens would fly up out of the sagebrush, or a jack +rabbit <a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>would leap out. Once we saw a bunch of antelope gallop over a +hill, but we were out just to be out, and game didn't tempt us. I +started, though, to have just as good a time as possible, so I had a +fish-hook in my knapsack.</p> + +<p>Presently, about noon, we came to a little dell where the grass was as +soft and as green as a lawn. The creek kept right up against the hills +on one side and there were groves of quaking asp and cottonwoods that +made shade, and service-bushes and birches that shut off the ugly hills +on the other side. We dismounted and prepared to noon. We caught a few +grasshoppers and I cut a birch pole for a rod. The trout are so +beautiful now, their sides are so silvery, with dashes of old rose and +orange, their speckles are so black, while their backs look as if they +had been sprinkled with gold-dust. They bite so well that it doesn't +require any especial skill or tackle to catch plenty for a meal in a +few minutes.</p> + +<p>In a little while I went back to where I had <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>left my pony browsing, +with eight beauties. We made a fire first, then I dressed my trout +while it was burning down to a nice bed of coals. I had brought a +frying-pan and a bottle of lard, salt, and buttered bread. We gathered +a few service-berries, our trout were soon browned, and with water, +clear, and as cold as ice, we had a feast. The quaking aspens are +beginning to turn yellow, but no leaves have fallen. Their shadows +dimpled and twinkled over the grass like happy children. The sound of +the dashing, roaring water kept inviting me to cast for trout, but I +didn't want to carry them so far, so we rested until the sun was +getting low and then started for home, with the song of the locusts in +our ears warning us that the melancholy days are almost here. We would +come up over the top of a hill into the glory of a beautiful sunset +with its gorgeous colors, then down into the little valley already +purpling with mysterious twilight. So on, until, just at dark, we rode +into our corral and a <a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>mighty tired, sleepy little girl was powerfully +glad to get home.</p> + +<p>After I had mailed my other letter I was afraid that you would think me +plumb bold about the little Bo-Peep, and was a heap sorrier than you +can think. If you only knew the hardships these poor men endure. They +go two together and sometimes it is months before they see another +soul, and rarely ever a woman. I wouldn't act so free in town, but +these men see people so seldom that they are awkward and embarrassed. I +like to put them at ease, and it is to be done only by being kind of +hail-fellow-well-met with them. So far not one has ever misunderstood +me and I have been treated with every courtesy and kindness, so I am +powerfully glad you understand. They really enjoy doing these little +things like fixing our dinner, and if my poor company can add to any +one's pleasure I am too glad.</p> + +<div> +<p>Sincerely yours,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p> +</div> + +<br /> + +<p><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>Mr. Stewart is going to put up my house for me in pay for my extra +work.</p> + +<p>I am ashamed of my long letters to you, but I am such a murderer of +language that I have to use it all to tell anything.</p> + +<p>Please don't entirely forget me. Your letters mean so much to me and I +will try to answer more promptly.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="IV" id="IV"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a> +<h3>IV<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND ZEBULON PIKE</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>September 28, 1909.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>Your second card just reached me and I am plumb glad because, although +I answered your other, I was wishing I could write you, for I have had +the most charming adventure.</p> + +<p>It is the custom here for as many women as care to to go in a party +over into Utah to Ashland (which is over a hundred miles away) after +fruit. They usually go in September, and it takes a week to make the +trip. They take wagons and camp out and of course have a good time, +but, the greater part of the way, there isn't even the semblance of a +road and it is merely a semblance anywhere. They came over to invite me +to join them. I was of two minds—I wanted to go, but it seemed a +little risky and a big chance for discomfort, <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>since we would have to +cross the Uinta Mountains, and a snowstorm likely any time. But I +didn't like to refuse outright, so we left it to Mr. Stewart. His +"Ye're nae gang" sounded powerful final, so the ladies departed in awed +silence and I assumed a martyr-like air and acted like a very much +abused woman, although he did only what I wanted him to do. At last, in +sheer desperation he told me the "bairn canna stand the treep," and +that was why he was so determined. I knew why, of course, but I +continued to look abused lest he gets it into his head that he can boss +me. After he had been reduced to the proper plane of humility and had +explained and begged my pardon and had told me to consult only my own +pleasure about going and coming and using his horses, only not to +"expoose" the bairn, why, I forgave him and we were friends once more.</p> + +<p>Next day all the men left for the roundup, to be gone a week. I knew I +never could stand myself a whole week. In a little while <a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>the ladies +came past on their way to Ashland. They were all laughing and were so +happy that I really began to wish I was one of the number, but they +went their way and I kept wanting to go <i>somewhere</i>. I got reckless and +determined to do something real bad. So I went down to the barn and +saddled Robin Adair, placed a pack on "Jeems McGregor," then Jerrine +and I left for a camping-out expedition.</p> + +<p>It was nine o'clock when we started and we rode hard until about four, +when I turned Robin loose, saddle and all, for I knew he would go home +and some one would see him and put him into the pasture. We had gotten +to where we couldn't ride anyway, so I put Jerrine on the pack and led +"Jeems" for about two hours longer; then, as I had come to a good place +to camp, we stopped.</p> + +<p>While we had at least two good hours of daylight, it gets so cold here +in the evening that fire is very necessary. We had been climbing higher +into the mountains all day <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>and had reached a level tableland where the +grass was luxuriant and there was plenty of wood and water. I unpacked +"Jeems" and staked him out, built a roaring fire, and made our bed in +an angle of a sheer wall of rock where we would be protected against +the wind. Then I put some potatoes into the embers, as Baby and I are +both fond of roasted potatoes. I started to a little spring to get +water for my coffee when I saw a couple of jack rabbits playing, so I +went back for my little shotgun. I shot one of the rabbits, so I felt +very like Leather-stocking because I had killed but one when I might +have gotten two. It was fat and young, and it was but the work of a +moment to dress it and hang it up on a tree. Then I fried some slices +of bacon, made myself a cup of coffee, and Jerrine and I sat on the +ground and ate. Everything smelled and tasted so good! This air is so +tonic that one gets delightfully hungry. Afterward we watered and +restaked "Jeems," I rolled some logs on to the fire, <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>and then we sat +and enjoyed the prospect.</p> + +<p>The moon was so new that its light was very dim, but the stars were +bright. Presently a long, quivering wail arose and was answered from a +dozen hills. It seemed just the sound one ought to hear in such a +place. When the howls ceased for a moment we could hear the subdued +roar of the creek and the crooning of the wind in the pines. So we +rather enjoyed the coyote chorus and were not afraid, because they +don't attack people. Presently we crept under our Navajos and, being +tired, were soon asleep.</p> + +<p>I was awakened by a pebble striking my cheek. Something prowling on the +bluff above us had dislodged it and it struck me. By my Waterbury it +was four o'clock, so I arose and spitted my rabbit. The logs had left a +big bed of coals, but some ends were still burning and had burned in +such a manner that the heat would go both under and over my rabbit. So +I put plenty of bacon <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>grease over him and hung him up to roast. Then I +went back to bed. I didn't want to start early because the air is too +keen for comfort early in the morning.</p> + +<p>The sun was just gilding the hilltops when we arose. Everything, even +the barrenness, was beautiful. We have had frosts, and the quaking +aspens were a trembling field of gold as far up the stream as we could +see. We were 'way up above them and could look far across the valley. +We could see the silvery gold of the willows, the russet and bronze of +the currants, and patches of cheerful green showed where the pines +were. The splendor was relieved by a background of sober gray-green +hills, but even on them gay streaks and patches of yellow showed where +rabbit-brush grew. We washed our faces at the spring,—the grasses that +grew around the edge and dipped into the water were loaded with +ice,—our rabbit was done to a turn, so I made some delicious coffee, +Jerrine got herself a can of water, and we breakfasted. <a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>Shortly +afterwards we started again. We didn't know where we were going, but we +were on our way.</p> + +<p>That day was more toilsome than the last, but a very happy one. The +meadowlarks kept singing like they were glad to see us. But we were +still climbing and soon got beyond the larks and sage chickens and up +into the timber, where there are lots of grouse. We stopped to noon by +a little lake, where I got two small squirrels and a string of trout. +We had some trout for dinner and salted the rest with the squirrels in +an empty can for future use. I was anxious to get a grouse and kept +close watch, but was never quick enough. Our progress was now slower +and more difficult, because in places we could scarcely get through the +forest. Fallen trees were everywhere and we had to avoid the branches, +which was powerful hard to do. Besides, it was quite dusky among the +trees long before night, but it was all so grand and awe-inspiring. +Occasionally there was an opening <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>through which we could see the snowy +peaks, seemingly just beyond us, toward which we were headed. But when +you get among such grandeur you get to feel how little you are and how +foolish is human endeavor, except that which reunites us with the +mighty force called God. I was plumb uncomfortable, because all my own +efforts have always been just to make the best of everything and to +take things as they come.</p> + +<p>At last we came to an open side of the mountain where the trees were +scattered. We were facing south and east, and the mountain we were on +sheered away in a dangerous slant. Beyond us still greater wooded +mountains blocked the way, and in the cañon between night had already +fallen. I began to get scary. I could only think of bears and +catamounts, so, as it was five o'clock, we decided to camp. The trees +were immense. The lower branches came clear to the ground and grew so +dense that any tree afforded a splendid shelter from the weather, but I +was <a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>nervous and wanted one that would protect us against any possible +attack. At last we found one growing in a crevice of what seemed to be +a sheer wall of rock. Nothing could reach us on two sides, and in front +two large trees had fallen so that I could make a log heap which would +give us warmth and make us safe. So with rising spirits I unpacked and +prepared for the night. I soon had a roaring fire up against the logs +and, cutting away a few branches, let the heat into as snug a bedroom +as any one could wish. The pine needles made as soft a carpet as the +wealthiest could afford. Springs abound in the mountains, so water was +plenty. I staked "Jeems" quite near so that the firelight would +frighten away any wild thing that tried to harm him. Grass was very +plentiful, so when he was made "comfy" I made our bed and fried our +trout. The branches had torn off the bag in which I had my bread, so it +was lost in the forest, but who needs bread when they have good, <a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>mealy +potatoes? In a short time we were eating like Lent was just over. We +lost all the glory of the sunset except what we got by reflection, +being on the side of the mountain we were, with the dense woods +between. Big sullen clouds kept drifting over and a wind got lost in +the trees that kept them rocking and groaning in a horrid way. But we +were just as cozy as we could be and rest was as good as anything.</p> + +<p>I wish you could once sleep on the kind of bed we enjoyed that night. +It was both soft and firm, with the clean, spicy smell of the pine. The +heat from our big fire came in and we were warm as toast. It was so +good to stretch out and rest. I kept thinking how superior I was since +I dared to take such an outing when so many poor women down in Denver +were bent on making their twenty cents per hour in order that they +could spare a quarter to go to the "show." I went to sleep with a +powerfully self-satisfied feeling, but I awoke to realize that pride +goeth before a fall.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>I could hardly remember where I was when I awoke, and I could almost +hear the silence. Not a tree moaned, not a branch seemed to stir. I +arose and my head came in violent contact with a snag that was not +there when I went to bed. I thought either I must have grown taller or +the tree shorter during the night. As soon as I peered out, the mystery +was explained.</p> + +<p>Such a snowstorm I never saw! The snow had pressed the branches down +lower, hence my bumped head. Our fire was burning merrily and the heat +kept the snow from in front. I scrambled out and poked up the fire; +then, as it was only five o'clock, I went back to bed. And then I began +to think how many kinds of idiot I was. Here I was thirty or forty +miles from home, in the mountains where no one goes in the winter and +where I knew the snow got to be ten or fifteen feet deep. But I could +never see the good of moping, so I got up and got breakfast while Baby +put her shoes on. We had our squirrels and <a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>more baked potatoes and I +had delicious black coffee.</p> + +<p>After I had eaten I felt more hopeful. I knew Mr. Stewart would hunt +for me if he knew I was lost. It was true, he wouldn't know which way +to start, but I determined to rig up "Jeems" and turn him loose, for I +knew he would go home and that he would leave a trail so that I could +be found. I hated to do so, for I knew I should always have to be +powerfully humble afterwards. Anyway it was still snowing, great, heavy +flakes; they looked as large as dollars. I didn't want to start "Jeems" +until the snow stopped because I wanted him to leave a clear trail. I +had sixteen loads for my gun and I reasoned that I could likely kill +enough food to last twice that many days by being careful what I shot +at. It just kept snowing, so at last I decided to take a little hunt +and provide for the day. I left Jerrine happy with the towel rolled +into a baby, and went along the brow of the mountain for almost <a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>a +mile, but the snow fell so thickly that I couldn't see far. Then I +happened to look down into the cañon that lay east of us and saw smoke. +I looked toward it a long time, but could make out nothing but smoke, +but presently I heard a dog bark and I knew I was near a camp of some +kind. I resolved to join them, so went back to break my own camp.</p> + +<p>At last everything was ready and Jerrine and I both mounted. Of all the +times! If you think there is much comfort, or even security, in riding +a pack-horse in a snowstorm over mountains where there is no road, you +are plumb wrong. Every once in a while a tree would unload its snow +down our backs. "Jeems" kept stumbling and threatening to break our +necks. At last we got down the mountain-side, where new danger +confronted us,—we might lose sight of the smoke or ride into a bog. +But at last, after what seemed hours, we came into a "clearing" with a +small log house and, what is rare in <a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>Wyoming, a fireplace. Three or +four hounds set up their deep baying, and I knew by the chimney and the +hounds that it was the home of a Southerner. A little old man came +bustling out, chewing his tobacco so fast, and almost frantic about his +suspenders, which it seemed he couldn't get adjusted.</p> + +<p>As I rode up, he said, "Whither, friend?" I said "Hither." Then he +asked, "Air you spying around for one of them dinged game wardens arter +that deer I killed yisteddy?" I told him I had never even seen a game +warden and that I didn't know he had killed a deer. "Wall," he said, +"air you spying around arter that gold mine I diskivered over on the +west side of Baldy?" But after a while I convinced him that I was no +more nor less than a foolish woman lost in the snow. Then he said, +"Light, stranger, and look at your saddle." So I "lit" and looked, and +then I asked him what part of the South he was from. He answered, "Yell +County, by gum! The best place in the United States, <a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>or in the world, +either." That was my introduction to Zebulon Pike Parker.</p> + +<p>Only two "Johnny Rebs" could have enjoyed each other's company as +Zebulon Pike and myself did. He was so small and so old, but so +cheerful and so sprightly, and a real Southerner! He had a big, open +fireplace with backlogs and andirons. How I enjoyed it all! How we +feasted on some of the deer killed "yisteddy," and real corn-pone baked +in a skillet down on the hearth. He was so full of happy recollections +and had a few that were not so happy! He is, in some way, a kinsman of +Pike of Pike's Peak fame, and he came west "jist arter the wah" on some +expedition and "jist stayed." He told me about his home life back in +Yell County, and I feel that I know all the "young uns."</p> + +<p>There was George Henry, his only brother; and there were Phœbe and +"Mothie," whose real name is Martha; and poor little Mary Ann, whose +death was described so feelingly <a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>that no one could keep back the +tears. Lastly there was little Mandy, the baby and his favorite, but +who, I am afraid, was a selfish little beast since she had to have her +prunellas when all the rest of the "young uns" had to wear shoes that +old Uncle Buck made out of rawhide. But then "her eyes were blue as +morning-glories and her hair was jist like corn-silk, so yaller and +fluffy." Bless his simple, honest heart! His own eyes are blue and +kind, and his poor, thin little shoulders are so round that they almost +meet in front. How he loved to talk of his boyhood days! I can almost +see his father and George Henry as they marched away to the "wah" +together, and the poor little mother's despair as she waited day after +day for some word, that never came.</p> + +<p>Poor little Mary Ann was drowned in the bayou, where she was trying to +get water-lilies. She had wanted a white dress all her life and so, +when she was dead, they took down the white cross-bar curtains and +<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>Mother made the little shroud by the light of a tallow dip. But, being +made by hand, it took all the next day, too, so that they buried her by +moonlight down back of the orchard under the big elm where the children +had always had their swing. And they lined and covered her grave with +big, fragrant water-lilies. As they lowered the poor little home-made +coffin into the grave the mockingbirds began to sing and they sang all +that dewy, moonlight night. Then little Mandy's wedding to Judge +Carter's son Jim was described. She wore a "cream-colored poplin with a +red rose throwed up in it," and the lace that was on Grandma's wedding +dress. There were bowers of sweet Southern roses and honeysuckle and +wistaria. Don't you know she was a dainty bride?</p> + +<p>At last it came out that he had not heard from home since he left it. +"Don't you ever write?" I asked. "No, I am not an eddicated man, +although I started to school. <a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>Yes'm, I started along of the rest, but +they told me it was a Yankee teacher and I was 'fraid, so when I got +most to the schoolhouse I hid in the bushes with my spelling-book, so +that is all the learning I ever got. But my mother was an eddicated +woman, yes'm, she could both read and write. I have the Bible she give +me yit. Yes'm, you jist wait and I'll show you." After some rummaging +in a box he came back with a small leather-bound Bible with print so +small it was hard to read. After turning to the record of births and +deaths he handed it to me, his wrinkled old face shining with pride as +he said, "There, my mother wrote that with her own hand." I took the +book and after a little deciphered that "Zebulon Pike Parker was born +Feb. 10, 1830," written in the stiff, difficult style of long ago and +written with pokeberry ink. He said his mother used to read about some +"old feller that was jist covered with biles," so I read Job to him, +and he was full of surprise they didn't "git some cherry bark and <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>some +sasparilly and bile it good and gin it to him."</p> + +<p>He had a side room to his cabin, which was his bedroom; so that night +he spread down a buffalo robe and two bearskins before the fire for +Jerrine and me. After making sure there were no moths in them, I spread +blankets over them and put a sleepy, happy little girl to bed, for he +had insisted on making molasses candy for her because they happened to +be born on the same day of the month. And then he played the fiddle +until almost one o'clock. He played all the simple, sweet, old-time +pieces, in rather a squeaky, jerky way, I am afraid, but the music +suited the time and the place.</p> + +<p>Next morning he called me early and when I went out I saw such a +beautiful sunrise, well worth the effort of coming to see. I had +thought his cabin in a cañon, but the snow had deceived me, for a few +steps from the door the mountains seemed to drop down suddenly for +several hundred feet and the <a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>first of the snow peaks seemed to lie +right at our feet. Around its base is a great swamp, in which the swamp +pines grow very thickly and from which a vapor was rising that got +about halfway up the snow peak all around. Fancy to yourself a big +jewel-box of dark green velvet lined with silver chiffon, the snow peak +lying like an immense opal in its center and over all the amber light +of a new day. That is what it looked most like.</p> + +<p>Well, we next went to the corral, where I was surprised to find about +thirty head of sheep. Some of them looked like they should have been +sold ten years before. "Don't you ever sell any of your sheep?" I +asked. "No'm. There was a feller come here once and wanted to buy some +of my wethers, but I wouldn't sell any because I didn't need any +money." Then he went from animal to animal, caressing each and talking +to them, calling them each by name. He milked his one cow, fed his two +little mules, and then we went back to the house to cook breakfast. <a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>We +had delicious venison steak, smoking hot, and hoe-cakes and the +"bestest" coffee, and honey.</p> + +<p>After breakfast we set out for home. Our pack transferred to one of the +little mules, we rode "Jeems," and Mr. Parker rode the other mule. He +took us another way, down cañon after cañon, so that we were able to +ride all the time and could make better speed. We came down out of the +snow and camped within twelve miles of home in an old, deserted ranch +house. We had grouse and sage chicken for supper. I was so anxious to +get home that I could hardly sleep, but at last I did and was only +awakened by the odor of coffee, and barely had time to wash before +Zebulon Pike called breakfast. Afterwards we fixed "Jeems's" pack so +that I could still ride, for Zebulon Pike was very anxious to get back +to his "critters."</p> + +<p>Poor, lonely, childlike little man! He tried to tell me how glad he had +been to entertain me. "Why," he said, "I was <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>plumb glad to see you and +right sorry to have you go. Why, I would jist as soon talk to you as to +a nigger. Yes'm, I would. It has been almost as good as talking to old +Aunt Dilsey." If a Yankee had said the same to me I would have demanded +instant apology, but I know how the Southern heart longs for the dear, +kindly old "niggers," so I came on homeward, thankful for the first +time that I can't talk correctly.</p> + +<p>I got home at twelve and found, to my joy, that none of the men had +returned, so I am safe from their superiority for a while, at least.</p> + +<p>With many apologies for this outrageous letter, I am</p> + +<div> +<p>Your ex-Washlady,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="V" id="V"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a> +<h3>V<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>SEDALIA AND REGALIA</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>November 22, 1909.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">My dear Friend,—</span></p> + +<p>I was dreadfully afraid that my last letter was too much for you and +now I feel plumb guilty. I really don't know how to write you, for I +have to write so much to say so little, and now that my last letter +made you sick I almost wish so many things didn't happen to me, for I +always want to tell you. Many things have happened since I last wrote, +and Zebulon Pike is not done for by any means, but I guess I will tell +you my newest experience.</p> + +<p>I am making a wedding dress. Don't grin; it isn't mine,—worse luck! +But I must begin at the beginning. Just after I wrote you before, there +came a terrific storm which made me appreciate indoor coziness, but as +<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>only Baby and I were at home I expected to be very lonely. The snow was +just whirling when I saw some one pass the window. I opened the door +and in came the dumpiest little woman and two daughters. She asked me +if I was "Mis' Rupit." I told her that she had almost guessed it, and +then she introduced herself. She said she was "Mis' Lane," that she had +heard there was a new stranger in the country, so she had brought her +twin girls, Sedalia and Regalia, to be neighborly. While they were +taking off their many coats and wraps it came out that they were from +Linwood, thirty miles away. I was powerful glad I had a pot roast and +some baked beans.</p> + +<p>After we had put the horses in the barn we had dinner and I heard the +story of the girls' odd names. The mother is one of those "comfy," fat +little women who remain happy and bubbling with fun in spite of hard +knocks. I had already fallen in love with Regalia, she is so jolly and +unaffected, so fat and so plain. <a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>Sedalia has a veneer of most +uncomfortable refinement. She was shocked because Gale ate all the +roast she wanted, and if I had been very sensitive I would have been in +tears, because I ate a helping more than Gale did.</p> + +<p>But about the names. It seemed that "Mis' Lane" married quite young, +was an orphan, and had no one to tell her things she should have known. +She lived in Missouri, but about a year after her marriage the young +couple started overland for the West. It was in November, and one night +when they had reached the plains a real blue blizzard struck them. +"Mis' Lane" had been in pain all day and soon she knew what was the +matter. They were alone and it was a day's travel back to the last +house. The team had given out and the wind and sleet were seeing which +could do the most meanness. At last the poor man got a fire started and +a wagon sheet stretched in such a manner that it kept off the sleet. He +fixed a bed under the poor shelter and did all he could to <a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>keep the +fire from blowing away, and there, a few hours later, a little girl +baby was born. They melted sleet in the frying-pan to get water to wash +it. "Mis' Lane" kept feeling no better fast, and about the time they +got the poor baby dressed a second little one came.</p> + +<p>That she told me herself is proof she didn't die, I guess, but it is +right hard to believe she didn't. Luckily the fire lasted until the +babies were dressed and the mother began to feel better, for there was +no wood. Soon the wind stopped and the snow fell steadily. It was +warmer, and the whole family snuggled up under the wagon sheet and +slept.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lane is a powerful good husband. He waited two whole days for his +wife to gain strength before he resumed the journey, and on the third +morning he actually carried her to the wagon. Just think of it! Could +more be asked of any man?</p> + +<p>Every turn of the wheels made poor "Mis' Lane" more homesick. Like Mrs. +Wiggs of <a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>the Cabbage Patch, she had a taste for geographical names, +and "Mis' Lane" is very loyal, so she wanted to call the little +first-born "Missouri." Mr. Lane said she might, but that if she did he +would call the other one "Arkansas." Sometimes homesickness would +almost master her. She would hug up the little red baby and murmur +"Missouri," and then daddy would growl playfully to "Arkansas." It went +on that way for a long time and at last she remembered that Sedalia was +in Missouri, so she felt glad and really named the older baby +"Sedalia." But she could think of nothing to match the name and was in +constant fear the father would name the other baby "Little Rock."</p> + +<p>For three years poor Gale was just "t'other one." Then the Lanes went +to Green River where some lodge was having a parade. They were watching +the drill when a "bystander that was standing by" said something about +the "fine regalia." Instantly "Mis' Lane" thought of her <a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>unnamed +child; so since that time Gale has had a name.</p> + +<p>There could be no two people more unlike than the sisters. Sedalia is +really handsome, and she is thin. But she is vain, selfish, shallow, +and conceited. Gale is not even pretty, but she is clean and she is +honest. She does many little things that are not exactly polite, but +she is good and true. They both went to the barn with me to milk. Gale +tucked up her skirts and helped me. She said, "I just love a stable, +with its hay and comfortable, contented cattle. I never go into one +without thinking of the little baby Christ. I almost expect to see a +little red baby in the straw every time I peek into a manger."</p> + +<p>Sedalia answered, "Well, for Heaven's sake, get out of the stable to +preach. Who wants to stand among these smelly cows all day?"</p> + +<p>They stayed with us almost a week, and one day when Gale and I were +milking she asked me to invite her to stay with me a <a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>month. She said +to ask her mother, and left her mother and myself much together. But +Sedalia stuck to her mother like a plaster and I just could not stand +Sedalia a whole month. However, I was spared all embarrassment, for +"Mis' Lane" asked me if I could not find work enough to keep Gale busy +for a month or two. She went on to explain that Sedalia was expecting +to be married and that Gale was so "common" she would really spoil the +match. I was surprised and indignant, especially as Sedalia sat and +listened so brazenly, so I said I thought Sedalia would need all the +help she could get to get married and that I should be glad to have +Gale visit me as long as she liked.</p> + +<p>So Gale stayed on with me. One afternoon she had gone to the +post-office when I saw Mr. Patterson ride up. He went into the +bunk-house to wait until the men should come. Now, from something Gale +had said I fancied that Bob Patterson must be the right man. I am +afraid I am not very delicate <a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>about that kind of meddling, and while I +had been given to understand that Patterson was the man Sedalia +expected to marry, I didn't think any man would choose her if he could +get Gale, so I called him. We had a long chat and he told me frankly he +wanted Gale, but that she didn't care for him, and that they kept +throwing "that danged Sedalia" at him. Then he begged my pardon for +saying "danged," but I told him I approved of the word when applied to +Sedalia, and broke the news to him that Gale was staying with me. He +fairly beamed. So that night I left Gale to wash dishes and Bob to help +her while I held Mr. Stewart a prisoner in the stable and questioned +him regarding Patterson's prospects and habits. I found both all that +need be, and told Mr. Stewart about my talk with Patterson, and he +said, "Wooman, some day ye'll gang ploom daft." But he admitted he was +glad it was the "bonny lassie, instead of the bony one." When we went +to the house Mr. Stewart said, "Weel, <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>when are you douchy bairns +gangin' to the kirk?"</p> + +<p>They left it to me, so I set Thanksgiving Day, and as there is no "kirk +to gang to," we are going to have a justice of the peace and they are +to be married here. We are going to have the dandiest dinner that I can +cook, and Mr. Stewart went to town next day for the wedding dress, the +gayest plaid outside of Caledonia. But Gale has lots of sense and is +going to wear it. I have it almost finished, and while it doesn't look +just like a Worth model, still it looks plumb good for me to have made. +The boys are going up after Zebulon Pike, and Mr. Stewart is going +after "Mis' Lane." Joy waves are radiating from this ranch and about +Thanksgiving morning one will strike you.</p> + +<p>With lots of love and happy wishes,</p> + +<div> +<p>Your ex-Washlady,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="VI" id="VI"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a> +<h3>VI<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>A THANKSGIVING-DAY WEDDING</h3> +<br /> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>... I think every one enjoyed our Thanksgiving programme except poor +Gale. She was grieved, I verily believe, because Mr. Patterson is not +Mormon and could not take Sedalia and herself also. I suppose it seemed +odd to her to be unable to give way to Sedalia as she had always done.</p> + +<p>I had cooked and cooked. Gale and Zebulon Pike both helped all they +could. The wedding was to be at twelve o'clock, so at ten I hustled +Gale into my room to dress. I had to lock the door to keep her in, and +I divided my time between the last touches to my dinner and the +finishing touches to Gale's toilet and receiving the people. The Lane +party had not come yet, and I was scared to death lest Sedalia had had +a tantrum and <a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>that Mr. Stewart would not get back in time. At last I +left the people to take care of themselves, for I had too much on my +mind to bother with them. Just after eleven Mr. Stewart, Mis' Lane, +Sedalia, and Pa Lane "arriv" and came at once into the kitchen to warm. +In a little while poor, frightened Gale came creeping in, looking +guilty. But she looked lovely, too, in spite of her plaid dress. She +wore her hair in a coronet braid, which added dignity and height, as +well as being simple and becoming. Her mother brought her a wreath for +her hair, of lilies of the valley and tiny pink rosebuds. It might seem +a little out of place to one who didn't see it, but the effect was +really charming.</p> + +<p>Sedalia didn't know that Mr. Stewart had given Gale her dress, so, just +to be nasty, she said, as soon as she saw Gale, "Dear me, when are you +going to dress, Gale? You will hardly have time to get out of that +horse-blanket you are wearing and get into <a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>something decent." You see, +she thought it was one of my dresses fixed over for Gale. Presently +Sedalia asked me if I was invited to the "function." She had some kind +of rash on her face and Zebulon Pike noticed the rash and heard the +word "function," so he thought that was the name of some disease and +asked Mr. Stewart if the "function" was "catching." Mr. Stewart had +heard Sedalia, but knew "Zebbie" had not heard all that was said and +how he got the idea he had, so he answered, "Yes, if ye once get the +fever." So Zebulon Pike privately warned every one against getting the +"function" from Sedalia. There are plenty of people here who don't know +exactly what a function is, myself among them. So people edged away +from Sedalia, and some asked her if she had seen the doctor and what he +thought of her case. Poor girl, I'm afraid she didn't have a very +enjoyable time.</p> + +<p>At last the "jestice" of the peace came, and I hope they live happy +ever afterward. <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>That night a dance was given to celebrate the event +and we began to have dinner immediately after the wedding so as to get +through in time to start, for dances are never given in the home here, +but in "the hall." Every settlement has one and the invitations are +merely written announcements posted everywhere. We have what Sedalia +calls "homogenous" crowds. I wouldn't attempt to say what she means, +but as everybody goes no doubt she is right.</p> + +<p>Our dinner was a success, but that is not to be wondered at. Every +woman for miles around contributed. Of course we had to borrow dishes, +but we couldn't think of seating every one; so we set one table for +twenty-four and had three other long tables, on one of which we placed +all the meats, pickles, and sauces, on another the vegetables, soup, +and coffee, and on the third the pie, cakes, ice-cream, and other +desserts. We had two big, long shelves, one above the other, on which +were the dishes. The people <a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>helped themselves to dishes and neighbors +took turns at serving from the tables, so people got what they wanted +and hunted themselves a place to sit while they ate. Two of the cowboys +from this ranch waited upon the table at which were the wedding party +and some of their friends. Boys from other ranches helped serve and +carried coffee, cake, and ice-cream. The tablecloths were tolerably +good linen and we had ironed them wet so they looked nice. We had white +lace-paper on the shelves and we used drawn-work paper napkins. As I +said, we borrowed dishes, or, that is, every woman who called herself +our neighbor brought whatever she thought we would need. So after every +one had eaten I suggested that they sort out their dishes and wash +them, and in that way I was saved all that work. We had everything done +and were off to the dance by five o'clock. We went in sleds and +sleighs, the snow was so deep, but it was all so jolly. Zebbie, Mr. +Stewart, Jerrine, and I went in the bobsled. <a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>We jogged along at a +comfortable pace lest the "beasties" should suffer, and every now and +then a merry party would fly past us scattering snow in our faces and +yelling like Comanches. We had a lovely moon then and the snow was so +beautiful! We were driving northward, and to the south and back of us +were the great somber, pine-clad Uintah Mountains, while ahead and on +every side were the bare buttes, looking like old men of the +mountains,—so old they had lost all their hair, beard, and teeth.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="VII" id="VII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a> +<h3>VII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>ZEBULON PIKE VISITS HIS OLD HOME</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>December 28, 1909.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>Our Thanksgiving affair was the most enjoyable happening I can remember +for a long time. Zebulon Pike came, but I had as a bait for him two fat +letters from home. As soon as I came back from his place I wrote to +Mrs. Carter and trusted to luck for my letter to reach her. I told her +all I could about her brother and how seldom he left his mountain home. +I asked her to write him all she could in one letter, as the trips +between our place and his were so few and far between. So when she +received my letter she wrote all she could think of, and then sent her +letter and mine to Mothie and Phœbe, who are widows living in the +old home. They each took turns writing, so their letters are a complete +record of <a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>the years "Zebbie" has been gone. The letters were addressed +to me along with a cordial letter from Mrs. Carter asking me to see +that he got them and to use my judgment in the delivering. I couldn't +go myself, but I wanted to read the letters to him and to write the +answers; so I selected one piece of news I felt would bring him to hear +the rest without his knowing how much there was for him.</p> + +<p>Well, the boys brought him, and a more delighted little man I am sure +never lived. I read the letters over and over, and answers were hurried +off. He was dreadfully homesick, but couldn't figure on how he could +leave the "critters," or how he could trust himself on a train. Mr. +Stewart became interested, and he is a very resourceful man, so an old +Frenchman was found who had no home and wanted a place to stay so he +could trap. He was installed at Zebulon Pike's with full instructions +as to each "critter's" peculiarities and needs. Then one of the <a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>boys, +who was going home for Christmas to Memphis, was induced to wait for +Mr. Parker and to see him safe to Little Rock. His money was banked for +him, and Mr. Stewart saw that he was properly clothed and made +comfortable for the trip. Then he sent a telegram to Judge Carter, who +met Zebulon Pike at Little Rock, and they had a family reunion in Yell +County. I have had some charming letters from there, but that only +proves what I have always said, that I am the luckiest woman in finding +really lovely people and having really happy experiences. Good things +are constantly happening to me. I wish I could tell you about my happy +Christmas, but one of my New Year's resolutions was to stop loading you +down with two-thousand-word letters.</p> + +<p>From something you wrote I think I must have written boastingly to you +at some time. I have certainly not intended to, and you must please +forgive me and remember how ignorant I am and how hard it is for me to +<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>express myself properly. I felt after I had written to Mr. Parker's +people that I had taken a liberty, but luckily it was not thought of in +that way by them. If you only knew how far short I fall of my own hopes +you would know I could <i>never</i> boast. Why, it keeps me busy making over +mistakes just like some one using old clothes. I get myself all ready +to enjoy a success and find that I have to fit a failure. But one +consolation is that I generally have plenty of material to cut +generously, and many of my failures have proved to be real blessings.</p> + +<p>I do hope this New Year may bring to you the desire of your heart and +all that those who love you best most wish for you.</p> + +<p>With lots and lots of love from baby and myself.</p> + +<div> +<p>Your ex-washlady,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a> +<h3>VIII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>A HAPPY CHRISTMAS</h3> +<br /> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>My happy Christmas resulted from the ex-sheriff of this county being +snowbound here. It seems that persons who come from a lower altitude to +this country frequently become bewildered, especially if in poor +health, leave the train at any stop and wander off into the hills, +sometimes dying before they are found. The ex-sheriff cited a case, +that of a young German who was returning from the Philippines, where he +had been discharged after the war. He was the only child of his widowed +mother, who has a ranch a few miles from here. No one knew he was +coming home. One day the cook belonging to the camp of a construction +gang went hunting and came back running, wild with horror. He had found +the body of a man. The <a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>coroner and the sheriff were notified, and next +morning went out for the body, but the wolves had almost destroyed it. +High up in a willow, under which the poor man had lain down to die, +they saw a small bundle tied in a red bandanna and fast to a branch. +They found a letter addressed to whoever should find it, saying that +the body was that of Benny Louderer and giving them directions how to +spare his poor old mother the awful knowledge of how he died. Also +there was a letter to his mother asking her not to grieve for him and +to keep their days faithfully. "Their days," I afterward learned, were +anniversaries which they had always kept, to which was added "Benny's +day."</p> + +<p>Poor boy! When he realized that death was near his every thought was +for the mother. Well, they followed his wishes, and the casket +containing the bare, gnawed bones was sealed and never opened. And to +this day poor Mrs. Louderer thinks her boy died of some fever while yet +aboard the transport. <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>The manner of his death has been kept so secret +that I am the only one who has heard it.</p> + +<p>I was so sorry for the poor mother that I resolved to visit her the +first opportunity I had. I am at liberty to go where I please when +there is no one to cook for. So, when the men left, a few days later, I +took Jerrine and rode over to the Louderer ranch. I had never seen Mrs. +Louderer and it happened to be "Benny's day" that I blundered in upon. +I found her to be a dear old German woman living all alone, the people +who do the work on the ranch living in another house two miles away. +She had been weeping for hours when I got there, but in accordance with +her custom on the many anniversaries, she had a real feast prepared, +although no one had been bidden.</p> + +<p>She says that God always sends her guests, but that was the first time +she had had a little girl. She had a little daughter once herself, +little Gretchen, but all that was left was a sweet memory and a +pitifully small <a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>mound on the ranch, quite near the house, where Benny +and Gretchen are at rest beside "der fader, Herr Louderer."</p> + +<p>She is such a dear old lady! She made us so welcome and she is so +entertaining. All the remainder of the day we listened to stories of +her children, looked at her pictures, and Jerrine had a lovely time +with a wonderful wooden doll that they had brought with them from +Germany. Mrs. Louderer forgot to weep in recalling her childhood days +and showing us her treasures. And then our feast,—for it was verily a +feast. We had goose and it was <i>so</i> delicious. I couldn't tell you half +the good things any more than I could have eaten some of all of them.</p> + +<p>We sat talking until far into the night, and she asked me how I was +going to spend Christmas. I told her, "Probably in being homesick." She +said that would never do and suggested that we spend it together. She +said it was one of their special days and that the only happiness left +her was in <a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>making some one else happy; so she had thought of cooking +some nice things and going to as many sheep camps as she could, taking +with her the good things to the poor exiles, the sheep-herders. I liked +the plan and was glad to agree, but I never dreamed I should have so +lovely a time. When the queer old wooden clock announced two we went to +bed.</p> + +<p>I left quite early the next morning with my head full of Christmas +plans. You may not know, but cattle-men and sheep-men cordially hate +each other. Mr. Stewart is a cattle-man, and so I didn't mention my +Christmas plans to him. I saved all the butter I could spare for the +sheep-herders; they never have any. That and some jars of gooseberry +jelly was all I could give them. I cooked plenty for the people here, +and two days before Christmas I had a chance to go down to Mrs. +Louderer's in a buggy, so we went. We found her up to her ears in +cooking, and such sights and smells I could never describe. She was so +glad I came early, for <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>she needed help. I never worked so hard in my +life or had a pleasanter time.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Louderer had sent a man out several days before to find out how +many camps there were and where they were located. There were twelve +camps and that means twenty-four men. We roasted six geese, boiled +three small hams and three hens. We had besides several meat-loaves and +links of sausage. We had twelve large loaves of the <i>best</i> rye bread; a +small tub of doughnuts; twelve coffee-cakes, more to be called +fruit-cakes, and also a quantity of little cakes with seeds, nuts, and +fruit in them,—so pretty to look at and <i>so</i> good to taste. These had +a thick coat of icing, some brown, some pink, some white. I had +thirteen pounds of butter and six pint jars of jelly, so we melted the +jelly and poured it into twelve glasses.</p> + +<p>The plan was, to start real early Christmas Eve morning, make our +circuit of camps, and wind up the day at Frau O'Shaughnessy's to spend +the night. Yes, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy <a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>is Irish,—as Irish as the pigs in +Dublin. Before it was day the man came to feed and to get our horses +ready. We were up betimes and had breakfast. The last speck was wiped +from the shining stove, the kitchen floor was scrubbed, and the last +small thing put in order. The man had four horses harnessed and hitched +to the sled, on which was placed a wagon-box filled with straw, hot +rocks, and blankets. Our twelve apostles—that is what we called our +twelve boxes—were lifted in and tied firmly into place. Then we +clambered in and away we went. Mrs. Louderer drove, and Tam O'Shanter +and Paul Revere were snails compared to us. We didn't follow any road +either, but went sweeping along across country. No one else in the +world could have done it unless they were drunk. We went careening +along hill-sides without even slacking the trot. Occasionally we struck +a particularly stubborn bunch of sagebrush and even the sled-runners +would jump up into the air. We didn't stop <a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>to light, but hit the earth +several feet in advance of where we left it. Luck was with us, though. +I hardly expected to get through with my head unbroken, but not even a +glass was cracked.</p> + +<p>It would have done your heart good to see the sheep-men. They were all +delighted, and when you consider that they live solely on canned corn +and tomatoes, beans, salt pork, and coffee, you can fancy what they +thought of their treat. They have mutton when it is fit to eat, but +that is certainly not in winter. One man at each camp does the cooking +and the other herds. It doesn't make any difference if the cook never +cooked before, and most of them never did. At one camp, where we +stopped for dinner, they had a most interesting collection of fossils. +After delivering our last "apostle," we turned our faces toward Frau +O'Shaughnessy's, and got there just in time for supper.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is a widow, too, and has quite an interesting story. +She is a <a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>dumpy little woman whose small nose seems to be smelling the +stars, it is so tip-tilted. She has the merriest blue eyes and the +quickest wit. It is really worth a severe bumping just to be welcomed +by her. It was so warm and cozy in her low little cabin. She had her +table set for supper, but she laid plates for us and put before us a +beautifully roasted chicken. Thrifty Mrs. Louderer thought it should +have been saved until next day, so she said to Frau O'Shaughnessy, "We +hate to eat your hen, best you save her till tomorrow." But Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy answered, "Oh, 't is no mather, 't is an ould hin she was +annyway." So we enjoyed the "ould hin," which was brown, juicy, and +tender.</p> + +<p>When we had finished supper and were drinking our "tay," Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy told our fortunes with the tea-leaves. She told mine +first and said I would die an old maid. I said it was rather late for +that, but she cheerfully replied, "Oh, well, better late than <a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>niver." +She predicted for Mrs. Louderer that she should shortly catch a beau. +"'T is the next man you see that will come coortin' you." Before we +left the table some one knocked and a young man, a sheep-herder, +entered. He belonged to a camp a few miles away and is out from Boston +in search of health. He had been into town and his horse was lamed so +he could not make it into camp, and he wanted to stay overnight. He was +a stranger to us all, but Mrs. O'Shaughnessy made him at home and fixed +such a tempting supper for him that I am sure he was glad of the chance +to stay. He was very decidedly English, and powerfully proud of it. He +asked Mrs. O'Shaughnessy if she was Irish and she said, "No, ye +haythen, it's Chinese Oi am. Can't yez tell it be me Cockney accint?" +Mr. Boutwell looked very much surprised. I don't know which was the +funnier, the way he looked or what she said.</p> + +<p>We had a late breakfast Christmas morning, but before we were through +Mr. Stewart <a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>came. We had planned to spend the day with Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, but he didn't approve of our going into the sheep +district, so when he found where we had gone he came after us. Mrs. +Louderer and he are old acquaintances and he bosses her around like he +tries to boss me. Before we left, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's married daughter +came, so we knew she would not be lonely.</p> + +<p>It was almost one o'clock when we got home, but all hands helped and I +had plenty cooked anyway, so we soon had a good dinner on the table. +Mr. Stewart had prepared a Christmas box for Jerrine and me. He doesn't +approve of white waists in the winter. I had worn one at the wedding +and he felt personally aggrieved. For me in the box were two dresses, +that is, the material to make them. One is a brown and red checked, and +the other green with a white fleck in, both outing flannel. For Jerrine +there was a pair of shoes and stockings, both stockings full of candy +and nuts. He is very <a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>bluff in manner, but he is really the kindest +person.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Louderer stayed until New Year's day. My Christmas was really a +very happy one.</p> + +<div> +<p>Your friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p> +</div> + +<br /> + +<p>... An interesting day on this ranch is the day the cattle are named. +If Mr. Stewart had children he would as soon think of leaving them +unnamed as to let a "beastie" go without a name.</p> + +<p>On the day they vaccinated he came into the kitchen and told me he +would need me to help him name the "critters." So he and I "assembled" +in a safe place and took turns naming the calves. As fast as a calf was +vaccinated it was run out of the chute and he or I called out a name +for it and it was booked that way.</p> + +<p>The first two he named were the "Duke of Monmouth" and the "Duke of +<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>Montrose." I called my first "Oliver Cromwell" and "John Fox." The poor +"mon" had to have revenge, so the next ugly, scrawny little beast he +called the "Poop of Roome." And it was a heifer calf, too.</p> + +<p>This morning I had the startling news that the "Poop" had eaten too +much alfalfa and was all "swellit oop," and, moreover, he had "stealit +it." I don't know which is the more astonishing, that the Pope has +stolen alfalfa, or that he has eaten it.</p> + +<p>We have a swell lot of names, but I am not sure I could tell you which +is "Bloody Mary," or which is "Elizabeth," or, indeed, which is which +of any of them.</p> + +<div> +<span class="sc2">E.R.</span></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="IX" id="IX"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a> +<h3>IX<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>A CONFESSION</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>April 5, 1910.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>I find upon re-reading your letter that I did not answer it at all when +I wrote you. You must think me very indifferent, but I really don't +mean to be.</p> + +<p>My house joins on to Mr. Stewart's house. It was built that way so that +I could "hold down" my land and job at the same time. I see the wisdom +of it now, though at first I did not want it that way. My boundary +lines run within two feet of Mr. Stewart's house, so it was quite easy +to build on.</p> + +<p>I think the Pattersons' ranch is about twenty-five miles from us. I am +glad to tell you they are doing splendidly. Gale is just as thrifty as +she can be and Bobby is steady and making money fast. Their baby is +the <a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>dearest little thing. I have heard that Sedalia is to marry a +Mormon bishop, but I doubt it. She puts on very disgusting airs about +"our Bobby," and she patronizes Gale most shamefully; but Gale, bless +her unconscious heart, is so happy in her husband and son that she +doesn't know Sedalia is insulting.</p> + +<p>My dear old grandmother whom I loved so much has gone home to God. I +used to write long letters to her. I should like a few addresses of old +persons who are lonely as she was, who would like letters such as I +write. You know I can't be brief. I have tried and cannot. If you know +of any persons who would not tire of my long accounts and would care to +have them, you will be doing me a favor to let me know.</p> + +<p>I have not treated you quite frankly about something you had a right to +know about. I am ashamed and I regret very much that I have not told +you. I so dread the possibility of losing your friendship that I will +<i>never</i> tell <a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>you unless you promise me beforehand to forgive me. I +know that is unfair, but it is the only way I can see out of a +difficulty that my foolish reticence has led me into. Few people, +perhaps, consider me reticent, but in some cases I am afraid I am even +deceitful. Won't you make it easy to "'fess" so I may be happy again?</p> + +<div> +<p>Truly your friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr style="width: 15%;"/> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>June 16, 1910.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">My Dear Friend,—</span></p> + +<p>Your card just to hand. I wrote you some time ago telling you I had a +confession to make and have had no letter since, so thought perhaps you +were scared I had done something too bad to forgive. I am suffering +just now from eye-strain and can't see to write long at a time, but I +reckon I had better confess and get it done with.</p> + +<p>The thing I have done is to marry Mr. Stewart. It was such an +inconsistent thing <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>to do that I was ashamed to tell you. And, too, I +was afraid you would think I didn't need your friendship and might +desert me. Another of my friends thinks that way.</p> + +<p>I hope my eyes will be better soon and then I will write you a long +letter.</p> + +<p>Your old friend with a new name,</p> + +<div> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Stewart.</span> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="X" id="X"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a> +<h3>X<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE STORY OF CORA BELLE</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>August 15, 1910.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>... Grandma Edmonson's birthday is the 30th of May, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy suggested that we give her a party. I had never seen +Grandma, but because of something that happened in her family years ago +which a few narrow-heads whom it didn't concern in the least cannot +forgive or forget, I had heard much of her. The family consists of +Grandma, Grandpa, and little Cora Belle, who is the sweetest little bud +that ever bloomed upon the twigs of folly.</p> + +<p>The Edmonsons had only one child, a daughter, who was to have married a +man whom her parents objected to solely because he was a sheep-man, +while their sympathies were with the cattle-men, although they <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>owned +only a small bunch. To gain their consent the young man closed out his +interest in sheep, at a loss, filed on a splendid piece of land near +them, and built a little home for the girl he loved. Before they could +get to town to be married Grandpa was stricken with rheumatism. Grandma +was already almost past going on with it, so they postponed the +marriage, and as that winter was particularly severe, the young man +took charge of the Edmonson stock and kept them from starving. As soon +as he was able he went for the license.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and a neighbor were hunting some cattle that had +wandered away and found the poor fellow shot in the back. He was not +yet dead and told them it was urgently necessary for them to hurry him +to the Edmonsons' and to get some one to perform the marriage ceremony +as quickly as possible, for he could not live long. They told him such +haste meant quicker death because he would bleed more; but he +<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>insisted, so they got a wagon and hurried all they could. But they +could not outrun death. When he knew he could not live to reach home, +he asked them to witness all he said. Everything he possessed he left +to the girl he was to have married, and said he was the father of the +little child that was to come. He begged them to befriend the poor girl +he had to leave in such a condition, and to take the marriage license +as evidence that he had tried to do right. The wagon was stopped so the +jolting would not make death any harder, and there in the shadow of the +great twin buttes he died.</p> + +<p>They took the body to the little home he had made, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy went to the Edmonsons' to do what she could there. Poor +Cora Jane didn't know how terrible a thing wounded pride is. She told +her parents her misdeeds. They couldn't see that they were in any way +to blame. They seemed to care nothing for her terrible sorrow nor for +her weakened condition. All they could <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>think of was that the child +they had almost worshiped had disgraced them; so they told her to go.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy took her to the home that had been prepared for her, +where the poor body lay. Some way they got through those dark days, and +then began the waiting for the little one to come. Poor Cora Jane said +she would die then, and that she wanted to die, but she wanted the baby +to know it was loved,—she wanted to leave something that should speak +of that love when the child should come to understanding. So Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy said they would make all its little clothes with every +care, and they should tell of the love. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is the +daintiest needleworker I have ever seen; she was taught by the nuns at +St. Catherine's in the "ould country." She was all patience with poor, +unskilled Cora Jane, and the little outfit that was finally finished +was dainty enough for a fairy. Little Cora Belle is so proud of it.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>At last the time came and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went after the parents. +Long before, they had repented and were only too glad to go. The poor +mother lived one day and night after the baby came. She laid the tiny +thing in her mother's arms and told them to call her Cora Belle. She +told them she gave them a pure little daughter in place of the sinful +one they had lost.</p> + +<p>That was almost twelve years ago, and the Edmonsons have lived in the +new house all this time. The deed to the place was made out to Cora +Belle, and her grandfather is her guardian....</p> + +<p>If you traveled due north from my home, after about nine hours' ride +you would come into an open space in the butte lands, and away between +two buttes you would see the glimmer of blue water. As you drew nearer +you would be able to see the fringe of willows around the lake, and +presently a low, red-roofed house with corrals and stables. You would +see long lines of "buck" fence, a flock <a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>of sheep near by, and cattle +scattered about feeding. This is Cora Belle's home. On the long, low +porch you would see two old folks rocking. The man is small, and has +rheumatism in his legs and feet so badly that he can barely hobble. The +old lady is large and fat, and is also afflicted with rheumatism, but +has it in her arms and shoulders. They are both cheerful and hopeful, +and you would get a cordial welcome....</p> + +<p>When you saw Cora Belle you would see a stout, square-built little +figure with long flaxen braids, a pair of beautiful brown eyes and the +longest and whitest lashes you ever saw, a straight nose, a short upper +lip, a broad, full forehead,—the whole face, neither pretty nor ugly, +plentifully sown with the brownest freckles. She is very truly the head +of the family, doing all the housework and looking after the stock, +winter and summer, entirely by herself. Three years ago she took things +into her own hands, and since that time has managed altogether. Mrs. +<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>O'Shaughnessy, however, tells her what to do.</p> + +<p>The sheep, forty in number, are the result of her individual efforts. +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy told her there was more money in raising lambs than +in raising chickens, so she quit the chickens as a business and went to +some of the big sheep-men and got permission to take the "dogie" lambs, +which they are glad to give away. She had plenty of cows, so she milked +cows and fed lambs all day long all last year. This year she has forty +head of nice sheep worth four dollars each, and she doesn't have to +feed them the year round as she would chickens, and the wolves are no +worse to kill sheep than they are to kill chickens. When shearing-time +came she went to a sheep-man and told him she would help cook for his +men one week if he would have her sheep sheared with his. She said her +work was worth three dollars, that is what one man would get a day +shearing, and he could easily shear her sheep in one day. <a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a>That is how +she got her sheep sheared. The man had her wool hauled to town with +his, sold it for her, and it brought sixty dollars. She took her money +to Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. She wanted some supplies ordered before she went +home, because, as she gravely said, "the rheumatiz would get all the +money she had left when she got home,"—meaning that her grandparents +would spend what remained for medicine.</p> + +<p>The poor old grandparents read all the time of wonderful cures that +different dopes accomplish, and they spend every nickel they can get +their hands on for nostrums. They try everything they read of, and have +to buy it by the case,—horrid patent stuff! They have rolls of +testimonials and believe every word, so they keep on trying and hoping. +When there is any money they each order whatever medicine they want to +try. If Mrs. Edmonson's doesn't seem to help her, Grandpa takes it and +she takes his,—that is their idea of economy. They would spend <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>hours +telling you about their different remedies and would offer you spoonful +after spoonful of vile-looking liquid, and be mildly grieved when you +refused to take it. Grandma's hands are so bent and twisted that she +can't sew, so dear old Grandpa tries to do it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy told me that she helped out when she could. Three +years ago she made them all a complete outfit, but the "rheumatiz" has +been getting all the spare money since then, so there has been nothing +to sew. A peddler sold them a piece of gingham which they made up for +Cora Belle. It was broad pink and white stripes, and they wanted some +style to "Cory's" clothes, so they cut a gored skirt. But they had no +pattern and made the gores by folding a width of the goods biasly and +cutting it that way. It was put together with no regard to matching the +stripes, and a bias seam came in the center behind, but they put no +stay in the seam and the result was the most outrageous affair +imaginable.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>Well, we had a large room almost empty and Mr. Stewart liked the idea +of a party, so Mrs. Louderer, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, and myself planned +for the event. It was to be a sewing-bee, a few good neighbors invited, +and all to sew for Grandma.... So Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went to Grandma's +and got all the material she had to make up. I had saved some +sugar-bags and some flour-bags. I knew Cora Belle needed underwear, so +I made her some little petticoats of the larger bags and some drawers +of the smaller. I had a small piece of white lawn that I had no use +for, and of that I made a dear little sunbonnet with a narrow edging of +lace around, and also made a gingham bonnet for her. Two days before +the time, came Mrs. Louderer, laden with bundles, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, also laden. We had all been thinking of Cora Belle. Mr. +Stewart had sent by mail for her a pair of sandals for everyday wear +and a nice pair of shoes, also some stockings. Mrs. Louderer brought +cloth for three dresses of <a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>heavy Dutch calico, and gingham for three +aprons. She made them herself and she sews so carefully. She had bought +patterns and the little dresses were stylishly made, as well as well +made. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy brought a piece of crossbar with a tiny +forget-me-not polka dot, and also had goods and embroidery for a suit +of underwear. My own poor efforts were already completed when the rest +came, so I was free to help them.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon of the 29th a funny something showed up. Fancy a +squeaky, rickety old wagon without a vestige of paint. The tires had +come off and had been "set" at home; that is done by heating the tires +red-hot and having the rims of the wheels covered with several layers +of burlap, or other old rags, well wet; then the red-hot tire is put on +and water hurriedly poured on to shrink the iron and to keep the burlap +from blazing. Well, whoever had set Cora Belle's tires had forgotten to +cut away the <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>surplus burlap, so all the ragtags were merrily waving in +the breeze.</p> + +<p>Cora Belle's team would bring a smile to the soberest face alive. Sheba +is a tall, lanky old mare. Once she was bay in color, but the years +have added gray hair until now she is roan. Being so long-legged she +strides along at an amazing pace which her mate, Balaam, a little +donkey, finds it hard to keep up with. Balaam, like Sheba, is full of +years. Once his glossy brown coat was the pride of some Mexican's +heart, but time has added to his color also, and now he is blue. His +eyes are sunken and dim, his ears no longer stand up in true donkey +style, but droop dejectedly. He has to trot his best to keep up with +Sheba's slowest stride. About every three miles he balks, but little +Cora Belle doesn't call it balking, she says Balaam has stopped to +rest, and they sit and wait till he is ready to trot along again. That +is the kind of layout which drew up before our door that evening. Cora +Belle was driving and she wore her <a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>wonderful pink dress which hung +down in a peak behind, fully six inches longer than anywhere else. The +poor child had no shoes. The winter had tried the last pair to their +utmost endurance and the "rheumatiz" had long since got the last +dollar, so she came with her chubby little sunburned legs bare. Her +poor little scarred feet were clean, her toe-nails full of nicks almost +into the quick, broken against rocks when she had been herding her +sheep. In the back of the wagon, flat on the bottom, sat Grandma and +Grandpa, such bundles of coats and blankets I can't describe. After a +great deal of trouble we got them unloaded and into the house. Then +Mrs. Louderer entertained them while Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I prepared +supper and got a bath ready for Cora Belle. We had a T-bone steak, +mashed potatoes, hominy, hot biscuits and butter, and stewed prunes. +Their long ride had made them hungry and I know they enjoyed their +meal.</p> + +<p>After supper Cora Belle and I washed the <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>dishes while Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy laid out the little clothes. Cora Belle's clothes were to +be a surprise. The postmistress here also keeps a small store and has +ribbon, and when she heard of our plans from Mr. Stewart she sent up a +couple of pairs of hair-ribbon for Cora Belle. Soon Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +called us, and Cora Belle and I went into the bedroom where she was. I +wish you could have seen that child! Poor little neglected thing, she +began to cry. She said, "They ain't for me, I know they ain't. Why, it +ain't my birthday, it's Granny's." Nevertheless, she had her arms full +of them and was clutching them so tightly with her work-worn little +hands that we couldn't get them. She sobbed so deeply that Grandma +heard her and became alarmed. She hobbled to the door and pounded with +her poor twisted hands, calling all the while, "Cory, Cory Belle, what +ails you?" She got so excited that I opened the door, but Cora Belle +told her to go away. She said, "They ain't <a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>for you, Granny, and they +ain't for me either." ...</p> + +<p>People here observe Decoration Day faithfully, and Cora Belle had +brought half a wagon-load of iris, which grows wild here. Next morning +we were all up early, but Cora Belle's flowers had wilted and she had +to gather more, but we all hurried and helped. She said as she was +going to see her mother she wanted to wear her prettiest dress, so Gale +and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy helped her to get ready. The cemetery is only +about two miles away, so we were all down quite early. We were obliged +to hurry because others were coming to help sew. Cora Belle went at +once to the graves where her parents lie side by side, and began +talking to her mother just as though she saw her. "You didn't know me, +did you, Mother, with my pretty new things? But I am your little girl, +Mamma. I am your little Cora Belle." After she had talked and had +turned every way like a proud little bird, she went to work. <a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a>And, oh, +how fast she worked! Both graves were first completely covered with +pine boughs. It looked like sod, so closely were the little twigs laid. +Next she broke the stems off the iris and scattered the blossoms over, +and the effect was very beautiful. Then we hurried home and everybody +got busy. The men took Grandpa off to another part of the ranch where +they were fanning oats to plant, and kept him all day. That was good +for him because then he could be with the men all day and he so seldom +has a chance to be with men. Several ladies came and they all made +themselves at home and worked like beavers, and we all had a fine +time....</p> + +<p>Sedalia was present and almost caused a riot. She says she likes +unusual words because they lend distinction to conversation. Well, they +do—sometimes. There was another lady present whose children are very +gifted musically, but who have the bad name of taking what they want +without asking. The mother can neither read nor write, and <a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>she is very +sensitive about the bad name her children have. While we were all busy +some one made a remark about how smart these children were. Sedalia +thought that a good time to get in a big word, so she said, "Yes, I +have always said Lula was a progeny." Mrs. Hall didn't know what she +meant and thought that she was casting reflections on her child's +honesty, so with her face scarlet and her eyes blazing she said, +"Sedalia Lane, I won't allow you nor nobody else to say my child is a +progeny. You can take that back or I will slap you peaked." Sedalia +took it back in a hurry, so I guess little Lula Hall is not a progeny.</p> + +<p>Every one left about four except Gale, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, Mrs. +Louderer, and the Edmonsons. They had farthest to go, so they stayed +over night again. We worked until ten o'clock that night over Grandma's +clothes, but everything was thoroughly finished. Every button was on, +every thread-end knotted and clipped, and some tired <a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>workers lay down +to rest, as did a very happy child and a very thankful old lady.</p> + +<p>Every one got away by ten o'clock the next morning. The last I saw of +little Cora Belle was when they had reached the top of a long slope and +Balaam had "stopped to rest." The breeze from the south was playfully +fluttering the rags on the wheels. Presently I heard a long "hee-haw, +hee-haw," and I knew Balaam had rested and had started.</p> + +<p>I have been a very busy woman since I began this letter to you several +days ago. A dear little child has joined the angels. I dressed him and +helped to make his casket. There is no minister in this whole country +and I could not bear the little broken lily-bud to be just carted away +and buried, so I arranged the funeral and conducted the services. I +know I am unworthy and in no way fitted for such a mission, but I did +my poor best, and if no one else is comforted, I am. I know the message +of God's love and care has been told once, anyway, to people who <a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a>have +learned to believe more strongly in hell than in heaven.</p> + +<p>Dear friend, I do hope that this New Year will bring you and yours +fuller joys than you have ever known. If I had all the good gifts in my +hands you should certainly be blessed.</p> + +<div> +<p>Your sincere friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XI" id="XI"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a> +<h3>XI<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>ZEBBIE'S STORY</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>September 1, 1910.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>It was just a few days after the birthday party and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +was with me again. We were down at the barn looking at some new pigs, +when we heard the big corral gates swing shut, so we hastened out to +see who it could be so late in the day.</p> + +<p>It was Zebbie. He had come on the stage to Burnt Fork and the driver +had brought him on here.... There was so much to tell, and he whispered +he had something to tell me privately, but that he was too tired then; +so after supper I hustled him off to bed....</p> + +<p>Next morning ... the men went off to their work and Zebbie and I were +left to tell secrets. When he was sure we were alone he took from his +trunk a long, flat box. Inside <a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>was the most wonderful shirt I have +ever seen; it looked like a cross between a nightshirt and a +shirt-waist. It was of homespun linen. The bosom was ruffled and +tucked, all done by hand,—such tiny stitches, such patience and skill. +Then he handed me an old daguerreotype. I unfastened the little golden +hook and inside was a face good to see and to remember. It was dim, yet +clear in outline, just as if she were looking out from the mellow +twilight of long ago. The sweet, elusive smile,—I couldn't tell where +it was, whether it was the mouth or the beautiful eyes that were +smiling. All that was visible of her dress was the Dutch collar, just +like what is being worn now. It was pinned with an ugly old brooch +which Zebbie said was a "breast-pin" he had given her. Under the glass +on the other side was a strand of faded hair and a slip of paper. The +writing on the paper was so faded it was scarcely readable, but it +said: "Pauline Gorley, age 22, 1860."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a>Next he showed me a note written by Pauline, simply worded, but it held +a world of meaning for Zebbie. It said, "I spun and wove this cloth at +Adeline's, enough for me a dress and you a shirt, which I made. It is +for the wedding, else to be buried in. Yours, Pauline." The shirt, the +picture, and the note had waited for him all these years in Mothie's +care. And now I will tell you the story.</p> + +<p>Long, long ago some one did something to some one else and started a +feud. Unfortunately the Gorleys were on one side and the Parkers on the +other. That it all happened before either Zebbie or Pauline was born +made no difference. A Gorley must hate a Parker always, as also a +Parker must hate a Gorley. Pauline was the only girl, and she had a +regiment of big brothers who gloried in the warfare and wanted only the +slightest pretext to shoot a Parker. So they grew up, and Zebbie often +met Pauline at the quiltings and other gatherings at the homes of +non-partisans. He remembers her so perfectly <a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>and describes her so +plainly that I can picture her easily. She had brown eyes and hair. She +used to ride about on her sorrel palfrey with her "nigger" boy Cæsar on +behind to open and shut plantation gates. She wore a pink calico +sunbonnet, and Zebbie says "she was just like the pink hollyhocks that +grew by mother's window." Isn't that a sweet picture?</p> + +<p>Her mother and father were both dead, and she and her brothers lived on +their plantation. Zebbie had never dared speak to her until one day he +had driven over with his mother and sisters to a dinner given on a +neighboring plantation. He was standing outside near the wall, when +some one dropped a spray of apple blossoms down upon him from an upper +window. He looked up and Pauline was leaning out smiling at him. After +that he made it a point to frequent places where he might expect her, +and things went so well that presently Cæsar was left at home lest he +should tell the brothers. She was <a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>a loyal little soul and would not +desert, although he urged her to, even promising to go away, "plumb +away, clean to Scott County if she would go." She told him that her +brothers would go even as far as that to kill him, so that they must +wait and hope. Finally Zebbie got tired of waiting, and one day he +boldly rode up to the Gorley home and formally asked for Pauline's +hand. The bullet he got for his presumption kept him from going to the +war with his father and brother when they marched away.</p> + +<p>Some time later George Gorley was shot and killed from ambush, and +although Zebbie had not yet left his bed the Gorleys believed he did +it, and one night Pauline came through a heavy rainstorm, with only +Cæsar, to warn Zebbie and to beg him, for her sake, to get away as fast +as he could that night. She pleaded that she could not live if he were +killed and could never marry him if he killed her brothers, so she +persuaded him to go while they were all innocent.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>Well, he did as she wished and they never saw each other again. He +never went home again until last Thanksgiving, and dear little Pauline +had been dead for years. She herself had taken her little gifts for +Zebbie to Mothie to keep for him. Some years later she died and was +buried in the dress she mentioned. It was woven at Adeline Carter's, +one of the bitterest enemies of the Gorleys, but the sacrifice of her +pride did her no good because she was long at rest before Zebbie knew. +He had been greatly grieved because no stone marked her grave, only a +tangle of rose-briers. So he bought a stone, and in the night before +Decoration Day he and two of Uncle Buck's grandsons went to the Gorley +burying-ground and raised it to the memory of sweet Pauline. Some of +the Gorleys still live there, so he came home at once, fearing if they +should find out who placed the stone above their sister they would take +vengeance on his poor, frail body.</p> + +<p>After he had finished telling me his story, <a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>I felt just as I used to +when Grandmother opened the "big chist" to air her wedding clothes and +the dress each of her babies wore when baptized. It seemed almost like +smelling the lavender and rose-leaves, and it was with reverent fingers +that I folded the shirt, the work of love, yellow with age, and laid it +in the box....</p> + +<p>Well, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy returned, and early one morning we started +with a wagon and a bulging mess-box for Zebbie's home. We were going a +new and longer route in order to take the wagon. Dandelions spread a +carpet of gold. Larkspur grew waist-high with its long spikes of blue. +The service-bushes and the wild cherries were a mass of white beauty. +Meadowlarks and robins and bluebirds twittered and sang from every +branch, it almost seemed. A sky of tenderest blue bent over us and +fleecy little clouds drifted lazily across.... Soon we came to the +pineries, where we traveled up deep gorges and cañons. The sun shot +arrows of <a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>gold through the pines down upon us and we gathered our arms +full of columbines. The little black squirrels barked and chattered +saucily as we passed along, and we were all children together. We +forgot all about feuds and partings, death and hard times. All we +remembered was that God is good and the world is wide and beautiful. We +plodded along all day. Next morning there was a blue haze that Zebbie +said meant there would be a high wind, so we hurried to reach his home +that evening.</p> + +<p>The sun was hanging like a great red ball in the smoky haze when we +entered the long cañon in which is Zebbie's cabin. Already it was dusky +in the cañons below, but not a breath of air stirred. A more delighted +man than Zebbie I never saw when we finally drove up to his low, +comfortable cabin. Smoke was slowly rising from the chimney, and +Gavotte, the man in charge, rushed out and the hounds set up a joyful +barking. Gavotte is a Frenchman, and he was all <a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>smiles and +gesticulations as he said, "Welcome, welcome! To-day I am rejoice you +have come. Yesterday I am despair if you have come because I am scrub, +but to-day, behold, I am delight."</p> + +<p>I have heard of clean people, but Gavotte is the cleanest man I ever +saw. The cabin floor was so white I hated to step upon it. The windows +shone, and at each there was a calico curtain, blue-and-white check, +unironed but newly washed. In one window was an old brown pitcher, +cracked and nicked, filled with thistles. I never thought them pretty +before, but the pearly pink and the silvery green were so pretty and +looked so clean that they had a new beauty. Above the fireplace was a +great black eagle which Gavotte had killed, the wings outspread and a +bunch of arrows in the claws. In one corner near the fire was a +washstand, and behind it hung the fishing-tackle. Above one door was a +gun-rack, on which lay the rifle and shotgun, and over the other door +was a pair <a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a>of deer-antlers. In the center of the room stood the square +home-made table, every inch scrubbed. In the side room, which is the +bedroom, was a wide bunk made of pine plank that had also been +scrubbed, then filled with fresh, sweet pine boughs, and over them was +spread a piece of canvas that had once been a wagon sheet, but Gavotte +had washed it and boiled and pounded it until it was clean and sweet. +That served for a sheet.</p> + +<p>Zebbie was beside himself with joy. The hounds sprang upon him and +expressed their joy unmistakably. He went at once to the corrals to see +the "critters," and every one of them was safely penned for the night. +"Old Sime," an old ram (goodness knows <i>how</i> old!), promptly butted him +over, but he just beamed with pleasure. "Sime knows me, dinged if he +don't!" was his happy exclamation. We went into the cabin and left him +fondling the "critters."</p> + +<p>Gavotte did himself proud getting supper. We had trout and the most +delicious biscuit. <a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a>Each of us had a crisp, tender head of lettuce with +a spoonful of potato salad in the center. We had preserves made from +canned peaches, and the firmest yellow butter. Soon it was quite dark +and we had a tiny brass lamp which gave but a feeble light, but it was +quite cool so we had a blazing fire which made it light enough.</p> + +<p>When supper was over, Zebbie called us out and asked us if we could +hear anything. We could hear the most peculiar, long-drawn, sighing +wail that steadily grew louder and nearer. I was really frightened, but +he said it was the forerunner of the windstorm that would soon strike +us. He said it was wind coming down Crag Cañon, and in just a few +minutes it struck us like a cold wave and rushed, sighing, on down the +cañon. We could hear it after it had passed us, and it was perfectly +still around the cabin. Soon we heard the deep roaring of the coming +storm, and Zebbie called the hounds in and secured the door. The sparks +began to fly <a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a>up the chimney. Jerrine lay on a bearskin before the +fire, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I sat on the old blue "settle" at one +side. Gavotte lay on the other side of the fire on the floor, his hands +under his head. Zebbie got out his beloved old fiddle, tuned up, and +began playing. Outside the storm was raging, growing worse all the +time. Zebbie played and played. The worse the tumult, the harder the +storm, the harder he played. I remember I was holding my breath, +expecting the house to be blown away every moment, and Zebbie was +playing what he called "Bonaparte's Retreat." It all seemed to flash +before me—I could see those poor, suffering soldiers staggering along +in the snow, sacrifices to one man's unholy ambition. I verily believe +we were all bewitched. I shouldn't have been surprised to have seen +witches and gnomes come tumbling down the chimney or flying in at the +door, riding on the crest of the storm. I glanced at Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy. She sat with her chin <a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>in her hand, gazing with unseeing +eyes into the fire. Zebbie seemed possessed; he couldn't tire.</p> + +<p>It seemed like hours had passed and the tumult had not diminished. I +felt like shrieking, but I gathered Jerrine up into my arms and carried +her in to bed. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy came with us. She touched my elbow +and said, "Child, don't look toward the window, the banshees are out +to-night." We knelt together beside the bed and said our beads; then, +without undressing save pulling off our shoes, we crawled under our +blankets and lay on the sweet, clean pine. We were both perfectly worn +out, but we could not sleep. There seemed to be hundreds of different +noises of the storm, for there are so many cañons, so many crooks and +turns, and the great forest too. The wind was shrieking, howling, and +roaring all at once. A deep boom announced the fall of some giant of +the forest. I finally dozed off even in that terrible din, but Zebbie +was not so <a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>frenzied as he had been. He was playing "Annie Laurie," and +that song has always been a favorite of mine. The storm began gradually +to die away and "Annie Laurie" sounded so beautiful. I was thinking of +Pauline and, I know, to Zebbie, Annie Laurie and Pauline Gorley are one +and the same.</p> + +<p>I knew no more until I heard Zebbie call out, "Ho, you sleepy-heads, +it's day." Mrs. O'Shaughnessy turned over and said she was still +sleepy. My former visit had taught me what beauty the early morning +would spread before me, so I dressed hastily and went outdoors. Zebbie +called me to go for a little walk. The amber light of the new day was +chasing the violet and amethyst shadows down the cañons. It was all +more beautiful than I can tell you. On one side the cañon-walls were +almost straight up. It looked as if we might step off into a very world +of mountains. Soon Old Baldy wore a crown of gleaming gold. The sun was +up. We walked on and soon came to a brook. We were <a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a>washing our faces +in its icy waters when we heard twigs breaking, so we stood perfectly +still. From out the undergrowth of birch and willows came a deer with +two fawns. They stopped to drink, and nibbled the bushes. But soon they +scented strangers, and, looking about with their beautiful, startled +eyes, they saw us and away they went like the wind. We saw many great +trees uptorn by the storm. High up on the cliffs Zebbie showed me where +the eagles built every year.... We turned homeward and sat down upon +the trunk of a fallen pine to rest and take another look at the +magnificent view. Zebbie was silent, but presently he threw a handful +of pebbles down the cañon wall. "I am not sorry Pauline is dead. I have +never shed a tear. I know you think that is odd, but I have never +wanted to mourn. I am glad that it is as it is. I am happy and at peace +because I know she is mine. The little breeze is Pauline's own voice; +she had a little caressing way just like <a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>the gentlest breeze when it +stirs your hair. There is something in everything that brings back +Pauline: the beauty of the morning, the song of a bird or the flash of +its wings. The flowers look like she did. So I have not lost her, she +is mine more than ever. I have always felt so, but was never quite sure +until I went back and saw where they laid her. I know people think I am +crazy, but I don't care for that. I shall not hate to die. When you get +to be as old as I am, child, everything will have a new meaning to +you."</p> + +<p>At last we slowly walked back to the cabin, and at breakfast Zebbie +told of the damage the storm had done. He was so common-place that no +one ever would have guessed his strange fancy....</p> + +<p>I shall never forget Zebbie as I last saw him. It was the morning we +started home. After we left the bench that Zebbie lives on, our road +wound down into a deeper cañon. Zebbie had followed us to where a turn +in the cañon should hide us from view. I looked <a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>back and saw him +standing on the cliffs, high above us, the early morning sun turning +his snowy hair to gold, the breeze-fingers of Pauline tossing the +scanty locks. I shall always remember him so, a living monument to a +dead past.</p> + +<div> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Stewart.</span> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XII" id="XII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a> +<h3>XII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>A CONTENTED COUPLE</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>October 6, 1911.</i> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>... I once "heared" Sedalia Lane telling some of her experiences, and +she said she "surreptitiously stole along." One day, when I thought the +coast was clear, I was surreptitiously examining the contents of the +tool-chest with a view toward securing to myself such hammers, saws, +and what else I might need in doing some carpentry work I had planned. +The tool-chest is kept in the granary; both it and the granary are +usually kept locked. Now the "gude mon" has an idea that a "wooman" +needs no tools, and the use and misuse of his tools have led to numbers +of inter-household wars. I was gloating over my opportunity, and also +making the best of it, when a medley of burring Scotch voices <a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>brought +me to a quick realization that discretion is the better part of valor. +So I went into seclusion behind a tall oat-bin. It seemed that two +neighbors whom I had never seen were preparing to go to town, and had +come to get some tools and to see if the Stewart would lend them each a +team. Now Mr. Stewart must be very righteous, because he certainly +regardeth his beast, although he doesn't always love his neighbor as +himself. He was willing, however, for friends Tam Campbell and Archie +McEttrick to use his teams, but he himself would take a lighter rig and +go along, so as to see that his horses were properly cared for, and to +help out in case of need.</p> + +<p>They made their plans, set the day, and went their ways. As soon as I +could, I made myself scarce about the granary and very busy about the +house, and, like Josiah Allen, I was in a very "happyfied" state of +mind. There is nothing Mr. Stewart likes better than to catch me +unprepared for something. <a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>I had been wanting to go to town, and he had +said I might go with him next time he went, if I was ready when he was. +I knew I would not hear one word about the proposed trip, but that only +added to the fun. I had plenty of time to make all preparations; so the +day before they were to start found me with all in readiness. It was +quite early in the spring and the evenings were quite chilly. We had +just finished supper, when we heard a great rumbling, and I knew +neighbors Campbell and McEttrick had arrived on their way to town; so I +began to prepare supper for them. I hadn't expected a woman, and was +surprised when I saw the largest, most ungainly person I have ever met +come shambling toward me.</p> + +<p>She was Aggie McEttrick. She is tall and raw-boned, she walks with her +toes turned out, she has a most peculiar lurching gait like a camel's. +She has skin the color of a new saddle, and the oddest straggly +straw-colored hair. She never wears corsets and <a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>never makes her waists +long enough, so there is always a streak of gray undershirt visible +about her waist. Her skirts are never long enough either, and she knits +her own stockings. Those inclined can always get a good glimpse of +blue-and-white striped hose. She said, "I guess you are the Missus." +And that was every word she said until I had supper on the table. The +men were busy with their teams, and she sat with her feet in my oven, +eyeing my every movement. I told her we had just had our supper, but +she waited until I had theirs ready before she announced that neither +she nor Archie ate hot biscuits or steak, that they didn't take tea for +supper, preferred coffee, and that neither of them could eat peaches or +honey. So all of my supper was ruled off except the butter and cream. +She went down to their wagons and brought up what she wanted, so Tam +Campbell was the only one who ate my honey and biscuit.</p> + +<p>Tam is just a Scot with an amazingly close <a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>fist, and he is very +absent-minded. I had met Annie, his wife, and their six children. She +told me of his absent-mindedness. Her remedy for his trouble when it +came to household needs was to repeat the article two or three times in +the list. People out like we are buy a year's supply at a time. So a +list of needed things is made up and sent into town. Tam always managed +to forget a great many things.</p> + +<p>Well, bedtime came. I offered to show them to their room, but Aggie +said, "We'll nae sleep in your bed. We'll jest bide in the kitchen." I +could not persuade her to change her mind. Tam slept at the barn in +order to see after the "beasties," should they need attention during +the night. As I was preparing for bed, Aggie thrust her head into my +room and announced that she would be up at three o'clock. I am not an +early bird, so I thought I would let Aggie get her own breakfast, and I +told her she would find everything in the pantry. As long as I was +<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>awake I could hear Archie and Aggie talking, but I could not imagine +what about. I didn't know their habits so well as I came to later. Next +morning the rumbling of their wagons awakened me, but I turned over and +slept until after six.</p> + +<p>There are always so many things to do before leaving that it was nine +o'clock before we got started. We had only gotten about two miles, when +Mr. Stewart remembered he had not locked the granary, so back we +trotted. We nooned only a few miles from home. We knew we could not +catch the wagons before camping-time unless we drove very hard, so Mr. +Stewart said we would go by the Edmonsons' and spend the night there. I +enjoy even the memory of that drive through the short spring +afternoon,—the warm red sand of the desert; the Wind River Mountains +wrapped in the blue veil of distance; the sparse gray-green sage, ugly +in itself, but making complete a beautiful picture; the occasional +glimpse we had of shy, <a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>beautiful wild creatures. So much happiness can +be crowded into so short a time. I was glad, though, when Cora Belle's +home became a part of our beautiful picture. It is situated among great +red buttes, and there is a blue lake back of the house. Around the lake +is a fringe of willows. Their house is a low, rambling affair, with a +long, low porch and a red clay roof. Before the house is a cotton-wood +tree, its gnarled, storm-twisted branches making it seem to have the +"rheumatiz." There is a hop-vine at one end of the porch. It had not +come out when we were there, but the dead vine clung hopelessly to its +supports.</p> + +<p>Little Cora Belle just bubbled with delight, and her grandparents were +scarcely better than she. Spring house-cleaning was just finished, and +they have company so seldom that they made us feel that we were doing +them a favor by stopping. Poor old "Pa" hobbled out to help put the +team away, and when they came back, Cora Belle asked me <a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a>out to help +prepare supper, so I left Mr. Stewart with "Granny" and "Pa" to listen +to their recitals and to taste their many medicines. Cora Belle is +really an excellent housekeeper. Her cooking would surprise many +people. Her bread was delicious, and I am sure I never tasted anything +better than the roasted leg of lamb she gave us for supper. I am +ashamed to tell you how much I ate of her carrot jam. From where I sat +I had a splendid view of the sunset across the lake. Speaking of things +singly, Wyoming has nothing beautiful to offer. Taken altogether, it is +grandly beautiful, and at sunrise and sunset the "heavens declare His +glory."</p> + +<p>Cora Belle is so animated and so straightforward, so entirely clean in +all her thoughts and actions, that she commands love and respect at one +and the same time. After supper her grandfather asked her to sing and +play for us. Goodness only knows where they got the funny little old +organ that Cora Belle thinks so much of. It has spots all over <a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>it of +medicine that has been spilled at different times, and it has, as Cora +Belle said, lost its voice in spots; but that doesn't set back Cora +Belle at all, she plays away just as if it was all right. Some of the +keys keep up a mournful whining and groaning, entirely outside of the +tune. Cora Belle says they play themselves. After several "pieces" had +been endured, "Pa" said, "Play my piece, Cory Belle"; so we had "Bingen +on the Rhine" played and sung from A to izzard. Dear old "Pa," his +pain-twisted old face just beamed with pride. I doubt if heaven will +have for him any sweeter music than his "baby's" voice. Granny's +squeaky, trembly old voice trailed in after Cora Belle's, always a word +or two behind. "Tell my friends and companions when they meet and +<i>scrouge</i> around"; that is the way they sang it, but no one would have +cared for that, if they had noticed with what happy eagerness the two +sang together. The grandparents would like to have sat up all night +singing and telling of <a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>things that happened in bygone days, but poor +tired little Cora Belle began to nod, so we retired. As we were +preparing for bed it suddenly occurred to Mr. Stewart that I had not +been surprised when going to town was mentioned, so he said, "Wooman, +how did it happen that you were ready when I was to gae to the toone?" +"Oh," I said, "I knew you were going." "Who tell it ye?" "A little +bird." "'T was some fool wooman, mayhap." I didn't feel it necessary to +enlighten him, and I think he is still wondering how I knew.</p> + +<p>Next morning we were off early, but we didn't come up with the wagons +until almost camping-time. The great heavily-loaded wagons were +creaking along over the heavy sands. The McEttricks were behind, +Aggie's big frame swaying and lurching with every jolt of the wagon. +They never travel without their German socks. They are great thick +things to wear on the outside of their shoes. As we came up behind +them, we could see Aggie's big socks dangling and bobbing <a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>beside +Archie's from where they were tied on the back part of the wagon. We +could hear them talking and see them gesticulating. When we came +nearer, we found they were quarreling, and they kept at it as long as I +was awake that night. After the men had disposed of their loads, they +and Mr. Stewart were going out of town to where a new coal-mine was +being opened. I intended to go on the train to Rock Springs to do some +shopping. Aggie said she was going also. I suggested that we get a room +together, as we would have to wait several hours for the train, but she +was suspicious of my motives. She is greatly afraid of being "done," so +she told me to get my own room and pay for it. We got into town about +three o'clock in the afternoon, and the train left at midnight.</p> + +<p>I had gone to my room, and Jerrine and myself were enjoying a good rest +after our fatiguing drive, when my door was thrown open and a very +angry Aggie strode in. They asked us fifty cents each for our rooms. +Aggie <a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>paid hers under protest and afterward got to wondering how long +she was entitled to its use. She had gone back to the clerk about it, +and he had told her for that night only. She argued that she should +have her room for a quarter, as she would only use it until midnight. +When that failed, she asked for her money back, but the clerk was out +of patience and refused her that. Aggie was angry all through. She +vowed she was being robbed. After she had berated me soundly for +submitting so tamely, she flounced back to her own room, declaring she +would get even with the robbers. I had to hurry like everything that +night to get myself and Jerrine ready for the train, so I could spare +no time for Aggie. She was not at the depot, and Jerrine and I had to +go on to Rock Springs without her. It is only a couple of hours from +Green River to Rock Springs, so I had a good nap and a late breakfast. +I did my shopping and was back at Green River at two that afternoon. +The first person I saw was Aggie. She sat in the <a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>depot, glowering at +everybody. She had a basket of eggs and a pail of butter, which she had +been trying to sell. She was waiting for the night train, the only one +she could get to Rock Springs. I asked her had she overslept. "No, I +didna," she replied. Then, she proceeded to tell me that, as she had +paid for a whole night's use of a room, she had stayed to get its use. +That it had made her plans miscarry didn't seem to count.</p> + +<p>After all our business was attended to, we started for home. The wagons +were half a day ahead of us. When we came in sight, we could see Aggie +fanning the air with her long arms, and we knew they were quarreling. I +remarked that I could not understand how persons who hated each other +so could live together. Clyde told me I had much to learn, and said +that really he knew of no other couple who were actually so devoted. He +said to prove it I should ask Aggie into the buggy with me and he would +get in with Archie, and afterwards we would compare <a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>notes. He drove up +alongside of them, and Aggie seemed glad to make the exchange. As we +had the buggy, we drove ahead of the wagons. It seems that Archie and +Aggie are each jealous of the other. Archie is as ugly a little monkey +as it would be possible to imagine. She bemeaned him until at last I +asked her why she didn't leave him, and added that I would not stand +such crankiness for one moment. Then she poured out the vials of her +wrath upon my head, only I don't think they were vials but barrels.</p> + +<p>About sundown we made it to where we intended to camp and found that +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had established a sheep-camp there, and was out with +her herd herself, having only Manny, a Mexican boy she had brought up +herself, for a herder. She welcomed us cordially and began supper for +our entire bunch. Soon the wagons came, and all was confusion for a few +minutes getting the horses put away for the night. Aggie went to her +wagon as soon as it stopped and made <a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>secure her butter and eggs +against a possible raid by Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. Having asked too high a +price for them, she had failed to sell them and was taking them back. +After supper we were sitting around the fire, Tam going over his +account and lamenting that because of his absent-mindedness he had +bought a whole hundred pounds of sugar more than he had intended, Aggie +and Archie silent for once, pouting I suspect. Clyde smiled across the +camp-fire at me and said, "Gin ye had sic a lass as I hae, ye might +blither." "Gin ye had sic a mon as mine—" I began, but Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy said, "Gin ye had sic a mon as I hae." Then we all three +laughed, for we had each heard the same thing, and we knew the +McEttricks wouldn't fight each other. They suspected us of laughing at +them, for Archie said to Aggie, "Aggie, lass, is it sport they are +making of our love?" "'T is daft they be, Archie, lad; we'll nae mind +their blither." She arose and shambled across to Archie and hunkered +<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>her big self down beside him. We went to bed and left them peaceable +for once.</p> + +<p>I am really ashamed of the way I have treated you, but I know you will +forgive me. I am not strong yet, and my eyes are still bothering me, +but I hope to be all right soon now, and I promise you a better letter +next time. Jerrine is very proud of her necklace. I think they are so +nice for children. I can remember how proud I was of mine when I was a +child. Please give your brother our thanks, and tell him his little +gift made my little girl very happy.</p> + +<p>I am afraid this letter will seem rather jumbled. I still want the +address of your friend in Salem or any other. I shall find time to +write, and I am not going to let my baby prevent me from having many +enjoyable outings. We call our boy Henry Clyde for his father. He is a +dear little thing, but he is a lusty yeller for baby's rights.</p> + +<div> +<p>With much love,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Jerrine and her Mamma.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a> +<h3>XIII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>PROVING UP</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>October 14, 1911.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>I think you must be expecting an answer to your letter by now, so I +will try to answer as many of your questions as I remember. Your letter +has been mislaid. We have been very much rushed all this week. We had +the thresher crew two days. I was busy cooking for them two days before +they came, and have been busy ever since cleaning up after them. Clyde +has taken the thresher on up the valley to thresh for the neighbors, +and all the men have gone along, so the children and I are alone. No, I +shall not lose my land, although it will be over two years before I can +get a deed to it. The five years in which I am required to "prove up" +will have passed by then. I couldn't have held my homestead <a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>if Clyde +had also been proving up, but he had accomplished that years ago and +has his deed, so I am allowed my homestead. Also I have not yet used my +desert right, so I am still entitled to one hundred and sixty acres +more. I shall file on that much some day when I have sufficient money +of my own earning. The law requires a cash payment of twenty-five cents +per acre at the filing, and one dollar more per acre when final proof +is made. I should not have married if Clyde had not promised I should +meet all my land difficulties unaided. I wanted the fun and the +experience. For that reason I want to earn every cent that goes into my +own land and improvements myself. Sometimes I almost have a brain-storm +wondering how I am going to do it, but I know I shall succeed; other +women have succeeded. I know of several who are now where they can +laugh at past trials. Do you know?—I am a firm believer in laughter. I +am real superstitious about it. I think if Bad Luck came along, he +<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a>would take to his heels if some one laughed right loudly.</p> + +<p>I think Jerrine must be born for the law. She always threshes out +questions that arise, to her own satisfaction, if to no one else's. She +prayed for a long time for her brother; also she prayed for some +puppies. The puppies came, but we didn't let her know they were here +until they were able to walk. One morning she saw them following their +mother, so she danced for joy. When her little brother came she was +plainly disappointed. "Mamma," she said, "did God really make the +baby?" "Yes, dear." "Then He hasn't treated us fairly, and I should +like to know why. The puppies could walk when He finished them; the +calves can, too. The pigs can, and the colt, and even the chickens. +What is the use of giving us a half-finished baby? He has no hair, and +no teeth; he can't walk or talk, nor do anything else but squall and +sleep."</p> + +<p>After many days she got the question <a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>settled. She began right where +she left off. "I know, Mamma, why God gave us such a half-finished +baby; so he could learn our ways, and no one else's, since he must live +with us, and so we could learn to love him. Every time I stand beside +his buggy he laughs and then I love him, but I don't love Stella nor +Marvin because they laugh. So that is why." Perhaps that is the reason.</p> + +<p>Zebbie's kinsfolk have come and taken him back to Yell County. I should +not be surprised if he never returned. The Lanes and the Pattersons +leave shortly for Idaho, where "our Bobbie" has made some large +investments.</p> + +<p>I hope to hear from you soon and that you are enjoying every minute. +With much love,</p> + +<div> +<p>Your friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a> +<h3>XIV<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE NEW HOUSE</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>December 1, 1911.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>I feel just like visiting to-night, so I am going to "play like" you +have come. It is so good to have you to chat with. Please be seated in +this low rocker; it is a present to me from the Pattersons and I am +very proud of it. I am just back from the Patterson ranch, and they +have a dear little boy who came the 20th of November and they call him +Robert Lane.</p> + +<p>I am sure this room must look familiar to you, for there is so much in +it that was once yours. I have two rooms, each fifteen by fifteen, but +this one on the south is my "really" room and in it are my treasures. +My house faces east and is built up against a side-hill, or should I +say hillside? Anyway, <a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a>they had to excavate quite a lot. I had them +dump the dirt right before the house and terrace it smoothly. I have +sown my terrace to California poppies, and around my porch, which is +six feet wide and thirty long, I have planted wild cucumbers.</p> + +<p>Every log in my house is as straight as a pine can grow. Each room has +a window and a door on the east side, and the south room has two +windows on the south with space between for my heater, which is one of +those with a grate front so I can see the fire burn. It is almost as +good as a fireplace. The logs are unhewed outside because I like the +rough finish, but inside the walls are perfectly square and smooth. The +cracks in the walls are snugly filled with "daubing" and then the walls +are covered with heavy gray building-paper, which makes the room very +warm, and I really like the appearance. I had two rolls of wall-paper +with a bold rose pattern. By being very careful I was able to cut out +enough of the roses, which are divided <a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>in their choice of color as to +whether they should be red, yellow, or pink, to make a border about +eighteen inches from the ceiling. They brighten up the wall and the +gray paper is fine to hang pictures upon. Those you have sent us make +our room very attractive. The woodwork is stained a walnut brown, oil +finish, and the floor is stained and oiled just like it. In the corners +by the stove and before the windows we take our comfort.</p> + +<p>From some broken bamboo fishing-rods I made frames for two screens. +These I painted black with some paint that was left from the buggy, and +Gavotte fixed the screens so they will stay balanced, and put in +casters for me. I had a piece of blue curtain calico and with +brass-headed tacks I put it on the frame of Jerrine's screen, then I +mixed some paste and let her decorate it to suit herself on the side +that should be next her corner. She used the cards you sent her. Some +of the people have a suspiciously tottering appearance, perhaps not so +very artistic, but they <a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a>all mean something to a little girl whose +small fingers worked patiently to attain satisfactory results. She has +a set of shelves on which her treasures of china are arranged. On the +floor is a rug made of two goatskins dyed black, a present from +Gavotte, who heard her admiring Zebbie's bearskin. She has a tiny red +rocking-chair which she has outgrown, but her rather dilapidated family +of dolls use it for an automobile. For a seat for herself she has a +small hassock that you gave me, and behind the blue screen is a world +apart.</p> + +<p>My screen is made just like Jerrine's except that the cover is cream +material with sprays of wild roses over it. In my corner I have a cot +made up like a couch. One of my pillows is covered with some checked +gingham that "Dawsie" cross-stitched for me. I have a cabinet bookcase +made from an old walnut bedstead that was a relic of the Mountain +Meadow Massacre. Gavotte made it for me. In it I have my few books, +some odds <a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>and ends of china, all gifts, and a few fossil curios. For a +floor-covering I have a braided rug of blue and white, made from old +sheets and Jerrine's old dresses. In the center of my room is a square +table made of pine and stained brown. Over it is a table-cover that you +gave me. Against the wall near my bed is my "dresser." It is a box with +shelves and is covered with the same material as my screen. Above it I +have a mirror, but it makes ugly faces at me every time I look into it. +Upon the wall near by is a match-holder that you gave me. It is the +heads of two fisher-folk. The man has lost his nose, but the old lady +still thrusts out her tongue. The material on my screen and "dresser" I +bought for curtains, then decided to use some white crossbar I had. But +I wish I had not, for every time I look at them I think of poor little +Mary Ann Parker.</p> + +<p>I am going to make you a cup of tea and wonder if you will see anything +familiar about the teapot. You should, I think, for it <a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>is another of +your many gifts to me. Now I feel that you have a fairly good idea of +what my house looks like, on the inside anyway. The magazines and +Jerrine's cards and Mother Goose book came long ago, and Jerrine and I +were both made happy. I wish I could do nice things for you, but all I +can do is to love you.</p> + +<div> +<p>Your sincere friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XV" id="XV"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a> +<h3>XV<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE "STOCKING-LEG" DINNER</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>February, 1912.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>... This time I want to tell you about a "stocking-leg" dinner which I +attended not long ago. It doesn't sound very respectable, but it was +one of the happiest events I ever remember.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Louderer was here visiting us, and one afternoon we were all in +the kitchen when Gavotte came skimming along on the first pair of +snowshoes I ever saw. We have had lots of snow this winter, and many of +the hollows and gullies are packed full. Gavotte had no difficulty in +coming, and he had come for the mail and to invite us to a feast of "ze +hose." I could not think what kind of a dinner it could be, and I did +not believe that Mr. Stewart would go, but after Gavotte <a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a>had explained +how much easier it was now than at any other time because the +hard-packed snow made it possible to go with bobsleds, I knew he would +go. I can't say I really wanted to go, but Mrs. Louderer took it for +granted that it would be delightful, so she and Mr. Stewart did the +planning. Next morning Gavotte met Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and invited her. +Then, taking the mail, he went on ahead to blaze a trail we should +follow with the sleds. We were to start two days later. They planned we +could easily make the trip in a day, as, with the gulches filled with +snow, short cuts were possible, and we could travel at a good pace, as +we would have a strong team. To me it seemed dangerous, but +dinner-parties have not been so plenty that I could miss one. So, when +the day came on which we were to start, we were up betimes and had a +mess-box packed and Mr. Stewart had a big pile of rocks hot. We all +wore our warmest clothes, and the rest carried out hot rocks and +blankets while I <a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>put the kitchen in such order that the men left to +feed the stock would have no trouble in getting their meals. Mr. +Stewart carried out the mess-box, and presently we were off. We had a +wagon-box on bobsleds, and the box was filled with hay and hot rocks +with blankets on top and more to cover us. Mr. Stewart had two big bags +of grain in front, feed for the horses, and he sat on them.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful day and we jogged along merrily. We had lots of fun, +and as we went a new way, there was much that was new to Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy and myself, and it was all new to the rest. Gavotte had +told us where we should noon, and we reached the place shortly after +twelve. Mr. Stewart went to lift out the mess-box,—but he had +forgotten to put it in! Oh, dear! We were a disappointed lot. I don't +think I was ever so hungry, but there was nothing for it but to grin +and bear it. It did me some good, though, to remember how a man misses +his dinner. The horses had to be fed, so we <a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a>walked about while they +were eating. We went up a cañon that had high cliffs on one side, and +came to a place where, high up on the rock wall, in great black +letters, was this legend: "Dick fell off of this here clift and died." +I should think there would be no question that any one who fell from +that place on to the boulders below <i>would</i> die.</p> + +<p>Soon we started again, and if not quite so jolly as we were before, at +least we looked forward to our supper with a keen relish and the horses +were urged faster than they otherwise would have been. The beautiful +snow is rather depressing, however, when there is snow everywhere. The +afternoon passed swiftly and the horses were becoming jaded. At four +o'clock it was almost dark. We had been going up a deep cañon and came +upon an appalling sight. There had been a snow-slide and the cañon was +half-filled with snow, rock, and broken trees. The whole way was +blocked, and what to do we didn't know, for the horses could hardly be +gotten along and <a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>we could not pass the snow-slide. We were twenty-five +miles from home, night was almost upon us, and we were almost starved. +But we were afraid to stay in that cañon lest more snow should slide +and bury us, so sadly we turned back to find as comfortable a place as +we could to spend the night. The prospects were very discouraging, and +I am afraid we were all near tears, when suddenly there came upon the +cold air a clear blast from a horn. Mrs. Louderer cried, "Ach, der +reveille!" Once I heard a lecturer tell of climbing the Matterhorn and +the calls we heard brought his story to mind. No music could have been +so beautiful. It soon became apparent that we were being signaled; so +we drove in the direction of the sound and found ourselves going up a +wide cañon. We had passed the mouth of it shortly before we had come to +the slide. Even the tired horses took new courage, and every few +moments a sweet, clear call put new heart into us. Soon we saw a light. +We had to drive very slowly <a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a>and in places barely crept. The bugler +changed his notes and we knew he was wondering if we were coming, so +Mr. Stewart helloed. At once we had an answer, and after that we were +steadily guided by the horn. Many times we could not see the light, but +we drove in the right direction because we could hear the horn.</p> + +<p>At last, when it was quite dark and the horses could go no farther, we +drew up before the fire that had been our beacon light. It was a +bonfire built out upon a point of rock at the end of the cañon. Back +from it among the pines was a 'dobe house. A dried-up mummy of a man +advanced from the fire to meet us, explaining that he had seen us +through his field-glasses and, knowing about the snow-slide, had +ventured to attract us to his poor place. Carlota Juanita was within, +prepared for the <i>señoras</i>, if they would but walk in. If they would! +More dead than alive, we scrambled out, cold-stiffened and hungry. +Carlota Juanita threw <a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a>open the low, wide door and we stumbled into +comfort. She hastened to help us off with our wraps, piled more wood on +the open fire, and busied herself to make us welcome and comfortable. +Poor Carlota Juanita! Perhaps you think she was some slender, +limpid-eyed, olive-cheeked beauty. She was fat and forty, but not fair. +She had the biggest wad of hair that I ever saw, and her face was so +fat that her eyes looked beady. She wore an old heelless pair of +slippers or sandals that would hardly stay on, and at every step they +made the most exasperating sliding noise, but she was all kindness and +made us feel very welcome. The floor was of dirt, and they had the +largest fireplace I have ever seen, with the widest, cleanest hearth, +which was where they did their cooking. All their furniture was +home-made, and on a low bench near the door were three water-jars +which, I am sure, were handmade. Away back in a corner they had a small +altar, on which was a little statue <a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>of Mary and the Child. Before it, +suspended by a wire from the rafters, was a cow's horn in which a piece +of punk was burning, just as the incense is kept burning in churches. +Supper was already prepared and was simmering and smoking on the +hearth. As soon as the men came in, Carlota Juanita put it on the +table, which was bare of cloth. I can't say that I really like Mexican +bread, but they certainly know how to cook meat. They had a most +wonderful pot-roast with potatoes and corn dumplings that were +delicious. The roast had been slashed in places and small bits of +garlic, pepper, bacon, and, I think, parsley, inserted. After it and +the potatoes and the dumplings were done, Carlota had poured in a can +of tomatoes. You may not think that was good, but I can assure you it +was and that we did ample justice to it. After we had eaten until we +were hardly able to swallow, Carlota Juanita served a queer Mexican +pie. It was made of dried buffalo-berries, stewed and made very sweet. +A <a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>layer of batter had been poured into a deep baking-dish, then the +berries, and then more batter. Then it was baked and served hot with +plenty of hard sauce; and it was powerful good, too. She had very +peculiar coffee with goat's milk in it. I took mine without the milk, +but I couldn't make up my mind that I liked the coffee. We sat around +the fire drinking it, when Manuel Pedro Felipe told us it was some he +had brought from Mexico. I didn't know they raised it there, but he +told us many interesting things about it. He and Carlota Juanita both +spoke fairly good English. They had lived for many years in their +present home and had some sheep, a few goats, a cow or two, a few pigs, +and chickens and turkeys. They had a small patch of land that Carlota +Juanita tilled and on which was raised the squaw corn that hung in +bunches from the rafters. Down where we live we can't get sweet corn to +mature, but here, so much higher up, they have a sheltered little nook +where they are <a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a>able to raise many things. Upon a long shelf above the +fire was an ugly old stone image, the bottom broken off and some +plaster applied to make it set level. The ugly thing they had brought +with them from some old ruined temple in Mexico. We were all so very +tired that soon Carlota Juanita brought out an armful of the thickest, +brightest rugs and spread them over the floor for us to sleep upon. The +men retired to a lean-to room, where they slept, but not before Manuel +Pedro Felipe and Carlota had knelt before their altar for their +devotions. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and myself and Jerrine, knowing the +rosary, surprised them by kneeling with them. It is good to meet with +kindred faith away off in the mountains. It seems there could not +possibly be a mistake when people so far away from creeds and doctrines +hold to the faith of their childhood and find the practice a pleasure +after so many years. The men bade us good-night, and we lost no time in +settling <a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>ourselves to rest. Luckily we had plenty of blankets.</p> + +<p>Away in the night I was awakened by a noise that frightened me. All was +still, but instantly there flashed through my mind tales of murdered +travelers, and I was almost paralyzed with fear when again I heard that +stealthy, sliding noise, just like Carlota Juanita's old slippers. The +fire had burned down, but just then the moon came from behind a cloud +and shone through the window upon Carlota Juanita, who was asleep with +her mouth open. I could also see a pine bough which was scraping +against the wall outside, which was perhaps making the noise. I turned +over and saw the punk burning, which cast a dim light over the serene +face of the Blessed Virgin, so all fear vanished and I slept as long as +they would let me in the morning. After a breakfast of <i>tortillas</i>, +cheese, and rancid butter, and some more of the coffee, we started +again for the stocking-leg dinner. Carlota Juanita stood in the <a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>door, +waving to us as long as we could see her, and Manuel P.F. sat with Mr. +Stewart to guide us around the snow-slide. Under one arm he carried the +horn with which he had called us to him. It came from some long-horned +cow in Mexico, was beautifully polished, and had a fancy rim of silver. +I should like to own it, but I could not make it produce a sound. When +we were safe on our way our guide left us, and our spirits ran high +again. The horses were feeling good also, so it was a merry, laughing +party that drew up before Zebbie's two hours later.</p> + +<p>Long before I had lent Gavotte a set of the Leather-Stocking Tales, +which he had read aloud to Zebbie. Together they had planned a +Leather-Stocking dinner, at which should be served as many of the +viands mentioned in the Tales as possible. We stayed two days and it +was one long feast. We had venison served in half a dozen different +ways. We had antelope; we had porcupine, or <a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>hedgehog, as Pathfinder +called it; and also we had beaver-tail, which he found toothsome, but +which I did <i>not</i>. We had grouse and sage hen. They broke the ice and +snared a lot of trout. In their cellar they had a barrel of trout +prepared exactly like mackerel, and they were more delicious than +mackerel because they were finer-grained. I had been a little +disappointed in Zebbie after his return from home. It seemed to me that +Pauline had spoiled him. I guess I was jealous. This time he was the +same little old Zebbie I had first seen. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy +our visit, and I am sure we each had the time of our lives. We made it +home without mishap the same day we started, all of us sure life held +something new and enjoyable after all.</p> + +<p>If nothing happens there are some more good times in store for me this +summer. Gavotte once worked under Professor Marsden when he was out +here getting fossils for the Smithsonian Institution, and he is very +<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>interesting to listen to. He has invited us to go with him out to the +Bad-Land hills in the summer to search for fossils. The hills are only +a few miles from here and I look forward to a splendid time.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a> +<h3>XVI<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE HORSE-THIEVES</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +[No date.]<br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>... I am so afraid that you will get an overdose of culture from your +visit to the Hub and am sending you an antidote of our sage, sand, and +sunshine.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Louderer had come over to see our boy. Together we had prepared +supper and were waiting for Clyde, who had gone to the post-office. +Soon he came, and after the usual friendly wrangling between him and +Mrs. Louderer we had supper. Then they began their inevitable game of +cribbage, while I sat near the fire with Baby on my lap. Clyde was +telling us of a raid on a ranch about seventy-five miles away, in which +the thieves had driven off thirty head of fine horses. There were only +two of the thieves, <a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>and the sheriff with a large posse was pursuing +them and forcing every man they came across into the chase, and a +regular man-hunt was on. It was interesting only because one of the +thieves was a noted outlaw then out on parole and known to be +desperate. We were in no way alarmed; the trouble was all in the next +county, and somehow that always seems so far away. We knew if the men +ever came together there would be a pitched battle, with bloodshed and +death, but there seemed little chance that the sheriff would ever +overtake the men.</p> + +<p>I remember I was feeling sorry for the poor fellows with a price on +their heads,—the little pink man on my lap had softened my heart +wonderfully. Jerrine was enjoying the pictures in a paper illustrating +early days on the range, wild scenes of roping and branding. I had +remarked that I didn't believe there were any more such times, when Mrs +Louderer replied, "Dot yust shows how much it iss you do not know. You +shall come to <a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a>mine house and when away you come it shall be wiser as +when you left." I had kept at home very closely all summer, and a +little trip seemed the most desirable thing I could think of, +particularly as the baby would be in no way endangered. But long ago I +learned that the quickest way to get what I want is not to want it, +outwardly, at least. So I assumed an indifference that was not very +real. The result was that next morning every one was in a hurry to get +me started,—Clyde greasing the little old wagon that looks like a twin +to Cora Belle's, and Mrs. Louderer, who thinks no baby can be properly +brought up without goose-grease, busy greasing the baby "so as he shall +not some cold take yet." Mrs. Louderer had ridden over, so her saddle +was laid in the wagon and her pony, Bismarck, was hitched in with Chub, +the laziest horse in all Wyoming. I knew Clyde could manage very well +while I should be gone, and there wasn't a worry to interfere with the +pleasure of my outing.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>We jogged along right merrily, Mrs. Louderer devoting her entire +attention to trying to make Chub pull even with Bismarck, Jerrine and +myself enjoying the ever-changing views. I wish I could lay it all +before you. Summer was departing with reluctant feet, unafraid of +Winter's messengers, the chill winds. That day was especially +beautiful. The gleaming snow peaks and heavy forest south and at our +back; west, north, and east, long, broken lines of the distant +mountains with their blue haze. Pilot Butte to the north, one hundred +miles away, stood out clear and distinct as though we could drive there +in an hour or two. The dull, neutral-colored "Bad Land" hills nearer us +are interesting only because we know they are full of the fossil +remains of strange creatures long since extinct.</p> + +<p>For a distance our way lay up Henry's Fork valley; prosperous little +ranches dotted the view, ripening grain rustled pleasantly in the warm +morning sunshine, and closely cut <a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>alfalfa fields made bright spots of +emerald against the dun landscape. The quaking aspens were just +beginning to turn yellow; everywhere purple asters were a blaze of +glory except where the rabbit-bush grew in clumps, waving its feathery +plumes of gold. Over it all the sky was so deeply blue, with little, +airy, white clouds drifting lazily along. Every breeze brought scents +of cedar, pine, and sage. At this point the road wound along the base +of cedar hills; some magpies were holding a noisy caucus among the +trees, a pair of bluebirds twittered excitedly upon a fence, and high +overhead a great black eagle soared. All was so peaceful that +horse-thieves and desperate men seemed too remote to think about.</p> + +<p>Presently we crossed the creek and headed our course due north toward +the desert and the buttes. I saw that we were not going right to reach +Mrs. Louderer's ranch, so I asked where we were supposed to be going. +"We iss going to the mouth of Dry Creek by, <a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>where it goes Black's Fork +into. Dere mine punchers holdts five huntert steers. We shall de camp +visit and you shall come back wiser as when you went."</p> + +<p>Well, we both came away wiser. I had thought we were going only to the +Louderer ranch, so I put up no lunch, and there was nothing for the +horses either. But it was too beautiful a time to let such things annoy +us. Anyway, we expected to reach camp just after noon, so a little +delay about dinner didn't seem so bad. We had entered the desert by +noon; the warm, red sands fell away from the wheels with soft, hissing +sounds. Occasionally a little horned toad sped panting along before us, +suddenly darting aside to watch with bright, cunning eyes as we passed. +Some one had placed a buffalo's skull beside a big bunch of sage and on +the sage a splendid pair of elk's antlers. We saw many such scattered +over the sands, grim reminders of a past forever gone.</p> + +<p>About three o'clock we reached our <a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>destination, but no camp was there. +We were more disappointed than I can tell you, but Mrs. Louderer merely +went down to the river, a few yards away, and cut an armful of willow +sticks wherewith to coax Chub to a little brisker pace, and then we +took the trail of the departed mess-wagon. Shortly, we topped a low +range of hills, and beyond, in a cuplike valley, was the herd of sleek +beauties feeding contentedly on the lush green grass. I suppose it +sounds odd to hear desert and river in the same breath, but within a +few feet of the river the desert begins, where nothing grows but sage +and greasewood. In oasis-like spots will be found plenty of grass where +the soil is nearer the surface and where sub-irrigation keeps the roots +watered. In one of these spots the herd was being held. When the grass +became short they would be moved to another such place.</p> + +<p>It required, altogether, fifteen men to take care of the herd, because +many of the cattle had been bought in different places, some in <a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a>Utah, +and these were always trying to run away and work back toward home, so +they required constant herding. Soon we caught the glimmer of white +canvas, and knew it was the cover of the mess-wagon, so we headed that +way.</p> + +<p>The camp was quite near the river so as to be handy to water and to +have the willows for wood. Not a soul was at camp. The fire was out, +and even the ashes had blown away. The mess-box was locked and Mrs. +Louderer's loud calls brought only echoes from the high rock walls +across the river. However, there was nothing to do but to make the best +of it, so we tethered the horses and went down to the river to relieve +ourselves of the dust that seemed determined to unite with the dust +that we were made of. Mrs. Louderer declared she was "so mat as nodings +and would fire dot Herman so soon as she could see him alreaty."</p> + +<p>Presently we saw the most grotesque figure approaching camp. It was +Herman, the <a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>fat cook, on Hunks, a gaunt, ugly old horse, whose days of +usefulness under the saddle were past and who had degenerated into a +workhorse. The disgrace of it seemed to be driving him into a decline, +but he stumbled along bravely under his heavy load. A string of a dozen +sage chickens swung on one side, and across the saddle in front of +Herman lay a young antelope. A volley of German abuse was hurled at +poor Herman, wound up in as plain American as Mrs. Louderer could +speak: "And who iss going to pay de game warden de fine of dot antelope +what you haf shot? And how iss it that we haf come de camp by und so +starved as we iss hungry, and no cook und no food? Iss dat for why you +iss paid?"</p> + +<p>Herman was some Dutch himself, however. "How iss it," he demanded, "dat +you haf not so much sense as you haf tongue? How haf you lived so long +as always in de West und don't know enough to hunt a bean-hole when you +reach your own camp. Hey?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a>Mrs. Louderer was very properly subdued and I delighted when he removed +the stones from where the fire had been, exposing a pit from which, +with a pair of pot-hooks, he lifted pots and ovens of the most +delicious meat, beans, and potatoes. From the mess-box he brought bread +and apricot pie. From a near-by spring he brought us a bright, new pail +full of clear, sparkling water, but Mrs. Louderer insisted upon tea and +in a short time he had it ready for us. The tarpaulin was spread on the +ground for us to eat from, and soon we were showing an astonished cook +just how much food two women and a child could get away with. I ate a +good deal of ashes with my roast beef and we all ate more or less sand, +but fastidiousness about food is a good thing to get rid of when you +come West to camp.</p> + +<p>When the regular supper-time arrived the punchers began to gather in, +and the "boss," who had been to town about some business, came in and +brought back the news of the <a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>man-hunt. The punchers sat about the +fire, eating hungrily from their tin plates and eagerly listening to +the recital. Two of the boys were tenderfeet: one from Tennessee called +"Daisy Belle," because he whistled that tune so much and because he had +nose-bleed so much,—couldn't even ride a broncho but his nose would +bleed for hours afterwards; and the other, "N'Yawk," so called from his +native State. N'Yawk was a great boaster; said he wasn't afraid of no +durned outlaw,—said his father had waded in bloody gore up to his neck +and that he was a chip off the old block,—rather hoped the chase would +come our way so he could try his marksmanship.</p> + +<p>The air began to grow chill and the sky was becoming overcast. +Preparations for the night busied everybody. Fresh ponies were being +saddled for the night relief, the hard-ridden, tired ones that had been +used that day being turned loose to graze. Some poles were set up and a +tarpaulin arranged for <a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>Mrs. Louderer and me to sleep under. Mrs. +Louderer and Jerrine lay down on some blankets and I unrolled some +more, which I was glad to notice were clean, for Baby and myself. I +can't remember ever being more tired and sleepy, but I couldn't go to +sleep. I could hear the boss giving orders in quick, decisive tones. I +could hear the punchers discussing the raid, finally each of them +telling exploits of his favorite heroes of outlawry. I could hear +Herman, busy among his pots and pans. Then he mounted the tongue of the +mess-wagon and called out, "We haf for breakfast cackle-berries, first +vot iss come iss served, und those vot iss sleep late gets nodings."</p> + +<p>I had never before heard of cackle-berries and asked sleepy Mrs. +Louderer what they were. "Vait until morning and you shall see," was +all the information that I received.</p> + +<p>Soon a gentle, drizzling rain began, and the punchers hurriedly made +their beds, as they did so twitting N'Yawk about making <a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>his between +our tent and the fire. "You're dead right, pard," I heard one of them +say, "to make your bed there, fer if them outlaws comes this way +they'll think you air one of the women and they won't shoot you. Just +us <i>men</i> air in danger."</p> + +<p>"Confound your fool tongues, how they goin' to know there's any women +here? I tell you, fellers, my old man waded in bloody gore up to his +neck and I'm just like him."</p> + +<p>They kept up this friendly parleying until I dozed off to sleep, but I +couldn't stay asleep. I don't think I was afraid, but I certainly was +nervous. The river was making a sad, moaning sound; the rain fell +gently, like tears. All nature seemed to be mourning about something, +happened or going to happen. Down by the river an owl hooted dismally. +Half a mile away the night-herders were riding round and round the +herd. One of them was singing,—faint but distinct came his song: "Bury +me not on the lone prairie." Over and over again he sang it. <a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a>After a +short interval of silence he began again. This time it was, "I'm +thinking of my dear old mother, ten thousand miles away."</p> + +<p>Two punchers stirred uneasily and began talking. "Blast that Tex," I +heard one of them say, "he certainly has it bad to-night. What the +deuce makes him sing so much? I feel like bawling like a kid; I wish +he'd shut up." "He's homesick; I guess we all are too, but they ain't +no use staying awake and letting it soak in. Shake the water off the +tarp, you air lettin' water catch on your side an' it's running into my +ear."</p> + +<p>That is the last I heard for a long time. I must have slept. I remember +that the baby stirred and I spoke to him. It seemed to me that +something struck against the guy-rope that held our tarpaulin taut, but +I wasn't sure. I was in that dozy state, half asleep, when nothing is +quite clear. It seemed as though I had been listening to the tramp of +feet for hours and that a whole army must <a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>be filing past, when I was +brought suddenly into keen consciousness by a loud voice demanding, +"Hello! Whose outfit is this?" "This is the 7 Up,—Louderer's," the +boss called back; "what's wanted?" "Is that you, Mat? This is Ward's +posse. We been after Meeks and Murdock all night. It's so durned dark +we can't see, but we got to keep going; their horses are about played. +We changed at Hadley's, but we ain't had a bite to eat and we got to +search your camp." "Sure thing," the boss answered, "roll off and take +a look. Hi, there, you Herm, get out of there and fix these fellers +something to eat."</p> + +<p>We were surrounded. I could hear the clanking of spurs and the sound of +the wet, tired horses shaking themselves and rattling the saddles on +every side. "Who's in the wickiup?" I heard the sheriff ask. "Some +women and kids,—Mrs. Louderer and a friend."</p> + +<p>In an incredibly short time Herman had a <a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>fire coaxed into a blaze and +Mat Watson and the sheriff went from bed to bed with a lantern. They +searched the mess-wagon, even, although Herman had been sleeping there. +The sheriff unceremoniously flung out the wood and kindling the cook +had stored there. He threw back the flap of our tent and flashed the +lantern about. He could see plainly enough that there were but the four +of us, but I wondered how they saw outside where the rain made it +worse, the lantern was so dirty. "Yes," I heard the sheriff say, "we've +been pushing them hard. They're headed north, evidently intend to hit +the railroad but they'll never make it. Every ford on the river is +guarded except right along here, and there's five parties ranging on +the other side. My party's split,—a bunch has gone on to the bridge. +If they find anything they're to fire a volley. Same with us. I knew +they couldn't cross the river nowhere but at the bridge or here."</p> + +<p>The men had gathered about the fire and <a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a>were gulping hot coffee and +cold beef and bread. The rain ran off their slickers in little +rivulets. I was sorry the fire was not better, because some of the men +had on only ordinary coats, and the drizzling rain seemed determined +that the fire should not blaze high.</p> + +<p>Before they had finished eating we heard a shot, followed by a regular +medley of dull booms. The men were in their saddles and gone in less +time than it takes to tell it. The firing had ceased save for a few +sharp reports from the revolvers, like a coyote's spiteful snapping. +The pounding of the horse's hoofs grew fainter, and soon all was still. +I kept my ears strained for the slightest sound. The cook and the boss, +the only men up, hurried back to bed. Watson had risen so hurriedly +that he had not been careful about his "tarp" and water had run into +his bed. But that wouldn't disconcert anybody but a tenderfoot. I kept +waiting in tense silence to hear them come back with dead or <a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a>wounded, +but there was not a sound. The rain had stopped. Mrs. Louderer struck a +match and said it was three o'clock. Soon she was asleep. Through a +rift in the clouds a star peeped out. I could smell the wet sage and +the sand. A little breeze came by, bringing Tex's song once more:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, it matters not, so I've been told,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How the body lies when the heart grows cold."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Oh, dear! the world seemed so full of sadness. I kissed my baby's +little downy head and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>It seems that cowboys are rather sleepy-headed in the morning and it is +a part of the cook's job to get them up. The next I knew, Herman had a +tin pan on which he was beating a vigorous tattoo, all the time +hollering, "We haf cackle-berries und antelope steak for breakfast." +The baby was startled by the noise, so I attended to him and then +dressed myself for breakfast. I went down to the little spring to wash +my face. The morning was lowering and gray, but a wind had <a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a>sprung up +and the clouds were parting. There are times when anticipation is a +great deal better than realization. Never having seen a cackle-berry, +my imagination pictured them as some very luscious wild fruit, and I +was so afraid none would be left that I couldn't wait until the men +should eat and be gone. So I surprised them by joining the very +earliest about the fire. Herman began serving breakfast. I held out my +tin plate and received some of the steak, an egg, and two delicious +biscuits. We had our coffee in big enameled cups, without sugar or +cream, but it was piping hot and <i>so</i> good. I had finished my egg and +steak and so I told Herman I was ready for my cackle-berries.</p> + +<p>"Listen to her now, will you?" he asked. And then indignantly, "How +many cackle-berries does you want? You haf had so many as I haf cooked +for you." "Why, Herman, I haven't had a single berry," I said. Then +such a roar of laughter. Herman gazed at me in astonishment, and Mr. +Watson gently <a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>explained to me that eggs and cackle-berries were one +and the same.</p> + +<p>N'Yawk was not yet up, so Herman walked over to his bed, kicked him a +few times, and told him he would scald him if he didn't turn out. It +was quite light by then. N'Yawk joined us in a few minutes. "What the +deuce was you fellers kicking up such a rumpus fer last night?" he +asked. "You blamed blockhead, don't you know?" the boss answered. "Why, +the sheriff searched this camp last night. They had a battle down at +the bridge afterwards and either they are all killed or else no one is +hurt. They would have been here otherwise. Ward took a shot at them +once yesterday, but I guess he didn't hit; the men got away, anyway. +And durn your sleepy head! you just lay there and snored. Well, I'll be +danged!" Words failed him, his wonder and disgust were so great.</p> + +<p>N'Yawk turned to get his breakfast. His light shirt was blood-stained +in the <a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a>back,—seemed to be soaked. "What's the matter with your shirt, +it's soaked with blood?" some one asked. "Then that durned Daisy Belle +has been crawling in with me, that's all," he said. "Blame his bleeding +snoot. I'll punch it and give it something to bleed for."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Watson said, "Daisy ain't been in all night. He took Jesse's +place when he went to town after supper." That started an inquiry and +search which speedily showed that some one with a bleeding wound had +gotten in with N'Yawk. It also developed that Mr. Watson's splendid +horse and saddle were gone, the rope that the horse had been picketed +with lying just as it had been cut from his neck.</p> + +<p>Now all was bustle and excitement. It was plainly evident that one of +the outlaws had lain hidden on N'Yawk's bed while the sheriff was +there, and that afterwards he had saddled the horse and made his +escape. His own horse was found in the willows, the saddle <a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>cut loose +and the bridle off, but the poor, jaded thing had never moved. By sunup +the search-party returned, all too worn-out with twenty-four hours in +the saddle to continue the hunt. They were even too worn-out to eat, +but flung themselves down for a few hours' rest. The chase was hopeless +anyway, for the search-party had gone north in the night. The wounded +outlaw had doubtless heard the sheriff talking and, the coast being +clear to the southward, had got the fresh horse and was by that time +probably safe in the heavy forests and mountains of Utah. His getting +in with N'Yawk had been a daring ruse, but a successful one. Where his +partner was, no one could guess. But by that time all the camp +excepting Herman and Mrs. Louderer were so panicky that we couldn't +have made a rational suggestion.</p> + +<p>N'Yawk, white around his mouth, approached Mrs. Louderer. "I want to +quit," he said. "Well," she said, calmly sipping her coffee, "you haf +done it." "I'm sick," he <a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>stammered. "I know you iss," she said, "I haf +before now seen men get sick when they iss scared to death." "My old +daddy—" he began. "Yes, I know, he waded the creek vone time und you +has had cold feet effer since."</p> + +<p>Poor fellow, I felt sorry for him. I had cold feet myself just then, +and I was powerfully anxious to warm them by my own fire where a pair +of calm blue eyes would reassure me.</p> + +<p>I didn't get to see the branding that was to have taken place on the +range that day. The boss insisted on taking the trail of his valued +horse. He was very angry. He thought there was a traitor among the +posse. Who started the firing at the bridge no one knew, and Watson +said openly that it was done to get the sheriff away from camp.</p> + +<p>My own home looked mighty good to me when we drove up that evening. I +don't want any more wild life on the range,—not for a while, anyway.</p> + +<div> +<p>Your ex-Washlady,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a> +<h3>XVII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>AT GAVOTTE'S CAMP</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>November 16, 1912.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">My dear Friend,—</span></p> + +<p>At last I can write you as I want to. I am afraid you think I am going +to wait until the "bairns" are grown up before writing to my friends, +but indeed I shall not. I fully intend to "gather roses while I may." +Since God has given me two blessings, children and friends, I shall +enjoy them both as I go along.</p> + +<p>I must tell you why I have not written as I should have done. All +summer long my eyes were so strained and painful that I had to let all +reading and writing go. And I have suffered terribly with my back. But +now I am able to be about again, do most of my own work, and my eyes +are much better. So now I shall not treat you so badly again. If you +<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>could only know how kind every one is to me, you would know that even +ill health has its compensations out here. Dear Mrs. Louderer, with her +goose-grease, her bread, and her delicious "kuchens." Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, with her cheery ways, her tireless friendship, and +willing, capable hands. Gavotte even, with his tidbits of game and +fish. Dear little Cora Belle came often to see me, sometimes bringing +me a little of Grandpa's latest cure, which I received on faith, for, +of course, I could not really swallow any of it. Zebbie's nephew, +Parker Carter, came out, spent the summer with him, and they have now +gone back to Yell County, leaving Gavotte in charge again.</p> + +<p>Gavotte had a most interesting and prosperous summer. He was +commissioned by a wealthy Easterner to procure some fossils. I had had +such a confined summer that Clyde took me out to Gavotte's camp as soon +as I was able to sit up and be driven. We found him away over in the +bad lands camped in a <a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>fine little grove. He is a charming man to visit +at any time, and we found him in a particularly happy mood. He had just +begun to quarry a gigantic find; he had piles of specimens; he had +packed and shipped some rare specimens of fossil plants, but his "beeg +find" came later and he was jubilant. To dig fossils successfully +requires great care and knowledge, but it is a work in which Gavotte +excels. He is a splendid cook. I almost believe he could make a Johnny +Reb like codfish, and that night we had a delicious supper and all the +time listening to a learned discourse about prehistoric things. I +enjoyed the meal and I enjoyed the talk, but I could not sleep +peacefully for being chased in my dreams by pterodactyls, dinosaurs, +and iguanodons, besides a great many horrible creatures whose names I +have forgotten. Of course, when the ground begins to freeze and snow +comes, fossil-mining is done for until summer comes, so Gavotte tends +the critters and traps this winter. I shall not get to go <a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>to the +mountains this winter. The babies are too small, but there is always +some happy and interesting thing happening, and I shall have two +pleasures each time, my own enjoyment, and getting to tell you of +them.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a> +<h3>XVIII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE HOMESTEADER'S MARRIAGE AND A LITTLE FUNERAL</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>December 2, 1912.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>Every time I get a new letter from you I get a new inspiration, and I +am always glad to hear from you.</p> + +<p>I have often wished I might tell you all about my Clyde, but have not +because of two things. One is I could not even begin without telling +you what a good man he is, and I didn't want you to think I could do +nothing but brag. The other reason is the haste I married in. I am +ashamed of that. I am afraid you will think me a Becky Sharp of a +person. But although I married in haste, I have no cause to repent. +That is very fortunate because I have never had one bit of leisure to +repent in. So I am lucky all <a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a>around. The engagement was powerfully +short because both agreed that the trend of events and ranch work +seemed to require that we be married first and do our "sparking" +afterward. You see, we had to chink in the wedding between times, that +is, between planting the oats and other work that must be done early or +not at all. In Wyoming ranchers can scarcely take time even to be +married in the springtime. That having been settled, the license was +sent for by mail, and as soon as it came Mr. Stewart saddled Chub and +went down to the house of Mr. Pearson, the justice of the peace and a +friend of long standing. I had never met any of the family and +naturally rather dreaded to have them come, but Mr. Stewart was firm in +wanting to be married at home, so he told Mr. Pearson he wanted him and +his family to come up the following Wednesday and serve papers on the +"wooman i' the hoose." They were astonished, of course, but being such +good friends they promised <a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a>him all the assistance they could render. +They are quite the dearest, most interesting family! I have since +learned to love them as my own.</p> + +<p>Well, there was no time to make wedding clothes, so I had to "do up" +what I did have. Isn't it queer how sometimes, do what you can, work +will keep getting in the way until you can't get anything done? That is +how it was with me those few days before the wedding; so much so that +when Wednesday dawned everything was topsy-turvy and I had a very +strong desire to run away. But I always did hate a "piker," so I stood +pat. Well, I had most of the dinner cooked, but it kept me hustling to +get the house into anything like decent order before the old dog +barked, and I knew my moments of liberty were limited. It was blowing a +perfect hurricane and snowing like midwinter. I had bought a beautiful +pair of shoes to wear on that day, but my vanity had squeezed my feet a +little, so while I was so busy at work I <a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>had kept on a worn old pair, +intending to put on the new ones later; but when the Pearsons drove up +all I thought about was getting them into the house where there was +fire, so I forgot all about the old shoes and the apron I wore.</p> + +<p>I had only been here six weeks then, and was a stranger. That is why I +had no one to help me and was so confused and hurried. As soon as the +newcomers were warm, Mr. Stewart told me I had better come over by him +and stand up. It was a large room I had to cross, and how I did it +before all those strange eyes I never knew. All I can remember very +distinctly is hearing Mr. Stewart saying, "I will," and myself chiming +in that I would, too. Happening to glance down, I saw that I had +forgotten to take off my apron or my old shoes, but just then Mr. +Pearson pronounced us man and wife, and as I had dinner to serve right +away I had no time to worry over my odd toilet. Anyway the shoes were +comfortable and the apron white, so I <a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a>suppose it could have been +worse; and I don't think it has ever made any difference with the +Pearsons, for I number them all among my most esteemed friends.</p> + +<p>It is customary here for newlyweds to give a dance and supper at the +hall, but as I was a stranger I preferred not to, and so it was a long +time before I became acquainted with all my neighbors. I had not +thought I should ever marry again. Jerrine was always such a dear +little pal, and I wanted to just knock about foot-loose and free to see +life as a gypsy sees it. I had planned to see the Cliff-Dwellers' home; +to live right there until I caught the spirit of the surroundings +enough to live over their lives in imagination anyway. I had planned to +see the old missions and to go to Alaska; to hunt in Canada. I even +dreamed of Honolulu. Life stretched out before me one long, happy +jaunt. I aimed to see all the world I could, but to travel unknown +bypaths to do it. But first I wanted to try homesteading.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a>But for my having the grippe, I should never have come to Wyoming. Mrs. +Seroise, who was a nurse at the institution for nurses in Denver while +I was housekeeper there, had worked one summer at Saratoga, Wyoming. It +was she who told me of the pine forests. I had never seen a pine until +I came to Colorado; so the idea of a home among the pines fascinated +me. At that time I was hoping to pass the Civil-Service examination, +with no very definite idea as to what I would do, but just to be +improving my time and opportunity. I never went to a public school a +day in my life. In my childhood days there was no such thing in the +Indian Territory part of Oklahoma where we lived, so I have had to try +hard to keep learning. Before the time came for the examination I was +so discouraged because of the grippe that nothing but the mountains, +the pines, and the clean, fresh air seemed worth while; so it all came +about just as I have written you.</p> + +<p>So you see I was very deceitful. Do you <a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a>remember, I wrote you of a +little baby boy dying? That was my own little Jamie, our first little +son. For a long time my heart was crushed. He was such a sweet, +beautiful boy. I wanted him so much. He died of erysipelas. I held him +in my arms till the last agony was over. Then I dressed the beautiful +little body for the grave. Clyde is a carpenter; so I wanted him to +make the little coffin. He did it every bit, and I lined and padded it, +trimmed and covered it. Not that we couldn't afford to buy one or that +our neighbors were not all that was kind and willing; but because it +was a sad pleasure to do everything for our little first-born +ourselves.</p> + +<p>As there had been no physician to help, so there was no minister to +comfort, and I could not bear to let our baby leave the world without +leaving any message to a community that sadly needed it. His little +message to us had been love, so I selected a chapter from John and we +had a funeral service, at which all our neighbors for thirty miles +around <a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a>were present. So you see, our union is sealed by love and +welded by a great sorrow.</p> + +<p>Little Jamie was the first little Stewart. God has given me two more +precious little sons. The old sorrow is not so keen now. I can bear to +tell you about it, but I never could before. When you think of me, you +must think of me as one who is truly happy. It is true, I want a great +many things I haven't got, but I don't want them enough to be +discontented and not enjoy the many blessings that are mine. I have my +home among the blue mountains, my healthy, well-formed children, my +clean, honest husband, my kind, gentle milk cows, my garden which I +make myself. I have loads and loads of flowers which I tend myself. +There are lots of chickens, turkeys, and pigs which are my own special +care. I have some slow old gentle horses and an old wagon. I can load +up the kiddies and go where I please any time. I have the best, kindest +neighbors and I have my dear absent friends. Do you wonder I am <a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a>so +happy? When I think of it all, I wonder how I can crowd all my joy into +one short life. I don't want you to think for one moment that you are +bothering me when I write you. It is a real pleasure to do so. You're +always so good to let me tell you everything. I am only afraid of +trying your patience too far. Even in this long letter I can't tell you +all I want to; so I shall write you again soon. Jerrine will write too. +Just now she has very sore fingers. She has been picking gooseberries, +and they have been pretty severe on her brown little paws.</p> + +<p>With much love to you, I am</p> + +<div> +<p>"Honest and truly" yours,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a> +<h3>XIX<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>January 6, 1913.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">My dear Friend,—</span></p> + +<p>I have put off writing you and thanking you for your thought for us +until now so that I could tell you of our very happy Christmas and our +deer hunt all at once.</p> + +<p>To begin with, Mr. Stewart and Junior have gone to Boulder to spend the +winter. Clyde wanted his mother to have a chance to enjoy our boy, so, +as he had to go, he took Junior with him. Then those of my dear +neighbors nearest my heart decided to prevent a lonely Christmas for +me, so on December 21st came Mrs. Louderer, laden with an immense plum +pudding and a big "<i>wurst</i>," and a little later came Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +on her frisky pony, Chief, her scarlet sweater making a bright bit of +color against our <a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a>snow-wrapped horizon. Her face and ways are just as +bright and cheery as can be. When she saw Mrs. Louderer's pudding and +sausage she said she had brought nothing because she had come to get +something to eat herself, "and," she continued, "it is a private +opinion of mine that my neighbors are so glad to see me that they are +glad to feed me." Now wouldn't that little speech have made her welcome +anywhere?</p> + +<p>Well, we were hilariously planning what Mrs. O'Shaughnessy called a +"widdy" Christmas and getting supper, when a great stamping-off of snow +proclaimed a newcomer. It was Gavotte, and we were powerfully glad to +see him because the hired man was going to a dance and we knew Gavotte +would contrive some unusual amusement. He had heard that Clyde was +going to have a deer-drive, and didn't know that he had gone, so he had +come down to join the hunt just for the fun, and was very much +disappointed to find there was going to be no hunt. <a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a>After supper, +however, his good humor returned and he told us story after story of +big hunts he had had in Canada. He worked up his own enthusiasm as well +as ours, and at last proposed that we have a drive of our own for a +Christmas "joy." He said he would take a station and do the shooting if +one of us would do the driving. So right now I reckon I had better tell +you how it is done.</p> + +<p>There are many little parks in the mountains where the deer can feed, +although now most places are so deep in snow that they can't walk in +it. For that reason they have trails to water and to the different +feeding-grounds, and they can't get through the snow except along these +paths. You see how easy it would be for a man hidden on the trail to +get one of the beautiful creatures if some one coming from another +direction startled them so that they came along that particular path.</p> + +<p>So they made their plans. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy elected herself driver. +Two miles away is a huge mountain called Phillipeco, and <a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a>deer were +said to be plentiful up there. At one time there had been a sawmill on +the mountain, and there were a number of deserted cabins in which we +could make ourselves comfortable. So it was planned that we go up the +next morning, stay all night, have the hunt the following morning, and +then come home with our game.</p> + +<p>Well, we were all astir early the next morning and soon grain, bedding, +and chuck-box were in the wagon. Then Mrs. Louderer, the <i>kinder</i>, and +myself piled in; Mrs. O'Shaughnessy bestrode Chief, Gavotte stalked on +ahead to pick our way, and we were off.</p> + +<p>It was a long, tedious climb, and I wished over and over that I had +stayed at home; but it was altogether on Baby's account. I was so +afraid that he would suffer, but he kept warm as toast. The day was +beautiful, and the views many times repaid us for any hardship we had +suffered. It was three o'clock before we reached the old mill camp. +<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a>Soon we had a roaring fire, and Gavotte made the horses comfortable in +one of the cabins. They were bedded in soft, dry sawdust, and were +quite as well off as if they had been in their own stalls. Then some +rough planks were laid on blocks, and we had our first meal since +breakfast. We called it supper, and we had potatoes roasted in the +embers, Mrs. Louderer's <i>wurst</i>, which she had been calmly carrying +around on her arm like a hoop and which was delicious with the bread +that Gavotte toasted on long sticks; we had steaming coffee, and we +were all happy; even Baby clapped his hands and crowed at the unusual +sight of an open fire. After supper Gavotte took a little stroll and +returned with a couple of grouse for our breakfast. After dark we sat +around the fire eating peanuts and listening to Gavotte and Mrs. +Louderer telling stories of their different great forests. But soon +Gavotte took his big sleeping-bag and retired to another cabin, warning +us that we must be up early. <a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a>Our improvised beds were the most +comfortable things; I love the flicker of an open fire, the smell of +the pines, the pure, sweet air, and I went to sleep thinking how blest +I was to be able to enjoy the things I love most.</p> + +<p>It seemed only a short time until some one knocked on our door and we +were all wide awake in a minute. The fire had burned down and only a +soft, indistinct glow from the embers lighted the room, while through a +hole in the roof I could see a star glimmering frostily. It was Gavotte +at the door and he called through a crack saying he had been hearing +queer noises for an hour and he was going to investigate. He had called +us so that we need not be alarmed should we hear the noise and not find +him. We scrambled into our clothes quickly and ran outdoors to listen.</p> + +<p>I can never describe to you the weird beauty of a moonlight night among +the pines when the snow is sparkling and gleaming, the deep silence +unbroken even by the <a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a>snapping of a twig. We stood shivering and +straining our ears and were about to go back to bed when we heard +faintly a long-drawn wail as if all the suffering and sorrow on earth +were bound up in that one sound. We couldn't tell which way it came +from; it seemed to vibrate through the air and chill our hearts. I had +heard that panthers cried that way, but Gavotte said it was not a +panther. He said the engine and saws had been moved from where we were +to another spring across the cañon a mile away, where timber for sawing +was more plentiful, but he supposed every one had left the mill when +the water froze so they couldn't saw. He added that some one must have +remained and was, perhaps, in need of help, and if we were not afraid +he would leave us and go see what was wrong.</p> + +<p>We went in, made up the fire, and sat in silence, wondering what we +should see or hear next. Once or twice that agonized cry came shivering +through the cold moonlight. <a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>After an age, we heard Gavotte crunching +through the snow, whistling cheerily to reassure us. He had crossed the +cañon to the new mill camp, where he had found two women, loggers' +wives, and some children. One of the women, he said, was "so ver' +seek," 't was she who was wailing so, and it was the kind of "seek" +where we could be of every help and comfort.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Louderer stayed and took care of the children while Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy and I followed after Gavotte, panting and stumbling, +through the snow. Gavotte said he suspected they were short of +"needfuls," so he had filled his pockets with coffee and sugar, took in +a bottle some of the milk I brought for Baby, and his own flask of +whiskey, without which he never travels.</p> + +<p>At last, after what seemed to me hours of scrambling through the snow, +through deepest gloom where pines were thickest, and out again into +patches of white moonlight, we reached the ugly clearing where the new +<a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>camp stood. Gavotte escorted us to the door and then returned to our +camp. Entering, we saw the poor, little soon-to-be mother huddled on +her poor bed, while an older woman stood near warning her that the oil +would soon be all gone and they would be in darkness. She told us that +the sick one had been in pain all the day before and much of the night, +and that she herself was worn completely out. So Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +sent her to bed and we took charge.</p> + +<p>Secretly, I felt it all to be a big nuisance to be dragged out from my +warm, comfortable bed to traipse through the snow at that time of the +night. But the moment poor little Molly spoke I was glad I was living, +because she was a poor little Southern girl whose husband is a Mormon. +He had been sent on a mission to Alabama, and the poor girl had fallen +in love with his handsome face and knew nothing of Mormonism, so she +had run away with him. She thought it would be so grand to live in the +glorious West with so <a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a>splendid a man as she believed her husband to +be. But now she believed she was going to die and she was glad of it +because she could not return to her "folks," and she said she knew her +husband was dead because he and the other woman's husband, both of whom +had intended to stay there all winter and cut logs, had gone two weeks +before to get their summer's wages and buy supplies. Neither man had +come back and there was not a horse or any other way to get out of the +mountains to hunt them, so they believed the men to be frozen somewhere +on the road. Rather a dismal prospect, wasn't it? Molly was just +longing for some little familiar thing, so I was glad I have not yet +gotten rid of my Southern way of talking. No Westerner can ever +understand a Southerner's need of sympathy, and, however kind their +hearts, they are unable to give it. Only a Southerner can understand +how dear are our peculiar words and phrases, and poor little Molly took +new courage when she found I <a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a>knew what she meant when she said she was +just "honin'" after a friendly voice.</p> + +<p>Well, soon we had the water hot and had filled some bottles and placed +them around our patient, and after a couple of hours the tiny little +stranger came into the world. It had been necessary to have a great +fire in order to have light, so as soon as we got Baby dressed I opened +the door a little to cool the room and Molly saw the morning star +twinkling merrily. "Oh," she said, "that is what I will call my little +girlie,—Star, dear little Star."</p> + +<p>It is strange, isn't it? how our spirits will revive after some great +ordeal. Molly had been sure she was going to die and saw nothing to +live for; now that she had had a cup of hot milk and held her red +little baby close, she was just as happy and hopeful as if she had +never left her best friends and home to follow the uncertain fortunes +of young Will Crosby. So she and I talked of ash-hoppers, smoke-houses, +cotton-patches, <a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a>goobers, poke-greens, and shoats, until she fell +asleep.</p> + +<p>Soon day was abroad, and so we went outdoors for a fresh breath. The +other woman came out just then to ask after Molly. She invited us into +her cabin, and, oh, the little Mormons were everywhere; poor, half-clad +little things! Some sour-dough biscuit and a can of condensed milk was +everything they had to eat. The mother explained to us that their "men" +had gone to get things for them, but had not come back, so she guessed +they had got drunk and were likely in jail. She told it in a very +unconcerned manner. Poor thing! Years of such experience had taught her +that blessed are they who expect nothing, for they shall not be +disappointed. She said that if Molly had not been sick she would have +walked down out of the mountains and got help.</p> + +<p>Just then two shots rang out in quick succession, and soon Gavotte came +staggering along with a deer across his shoulders. That <a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a>he left for +the family. From our camp he had brought some bacon and butter for +Molly, and, poor though it may seem, it was a treat for her. Leaving +the woman to dress the venison with her oldest boy's aid, we put out +across the cañon for our own breakfast. Beside our much-beaten trail +hung the second venison, and when we reached our camp and had our own +delicious breakfast of grouse, bread, butter, and coffee, Gavotte took +Chub and went for our venison. In a short time we were rolling +homeward. Of course it didn't take us nearly so long to get home +because it was downhill and the road was clearly marked, so in a couple +of hours we were home.</p> + +<p>Gavotte knew the two loggers were in Green River and were then at work +storing ice for the railroad, but he had not known that their wives +were left as they were. The men actually had got drunk, lost their +money, and were then trying to replace it. After we debated a bit we +decided we could <a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a>not enjoy Christmas with those people in want up +there in the cold. Then we got busy. It is sixty miles to town, +although our nearest point to the railroad is but forty, so you see it +was impossible to get to town to get anything. You should have seen us! +Every old garment that had ever been left by men who have worked here +was hauled out, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's deft fingers soon had a pile +of garments cut. We kept the machine humming until far into the night, +as long as we could keep our eyes open.</p> + +<p>All next day we sewed as hard as we could, and Gavotte cooked as hard +as he could. We had intended to have a tree for Jerrine, so we had a +box of candles and a box of Christmas snow. Gavotte asked for all the +bright paper we could find. We had lots of it, and I think you would be +surprised at the possibilities of a little waste paper. He made +gorgeous birds, butterflies, and flowers out of paper that once wrapped +parcels. Then he asked us for some silk thread, but I had none, so he +<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a>told us to comb our hair and give him the combings. We did, and with a +drop of mucilage he would fasten a hair to a bird's back and then hold +it up by the hair. At a few feet's distance it looked exactly as though +the bird was flying. I was glad I had a big stone jar full of +<i>fondant</i>, because we had a lot of fun shaping and coloring candies. We +offered a prize for the best representation of a "nigger," and we had +two dozen chocolate-covered things that might have been anything from a +monkey to a mouse. Mrs. Louderer cut up her big plum pudding and put it +into a dozen small bags. These Gavotte carefully covered with green +paper. Then we tore up the holly wreath that Aunt Mary sent me, and put +a sprig in the top of each green bag of pudding. I never had so much +fun in my life as I had preparing for that Christmas.</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock, the morning of the 24th, we were again on our way up +the mountain-side. We took shovels so we could clear a <a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a>road if need +be. We had dinner at the old camp, and then Gavotte hunted us a way out +to the new, and we smuggled our things into Molly's cabin so the +children should have a real surprise. Poor, hopeless little things! +Theirs was, indeed, a dull outlook.</p> + +<p>Gavotte busied himself in preparing one of the empty cabins for us and +in making the horses comfortable. He cut some pine boughs to do that +with, and so they paid no attention when he cut a small tree. In the +mean time we had cleared everything from Molly's cabin but her bed; we +wanted her to see the fun. The children were sent to the spring to +water the horses and they were all allowed to ride, so that took them +out of the way while Gavotte nailed the tree into a box he had filled +with dirt to hold it steady.</p> + +<p>There were four women of us, and Gavotte, so it was only the work of a +few moments to get the tree ready, and it was the most beautiful one I +ever saw. Your largest bell, dear Mrs. Coney, dangled from the topmost +<a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>branch. Gavotte had attached a long, stout wire to your Santa Claus, so +he was able to make him dance frantically without seeming to do so. The +hairs that held the birds and butterflies could not be seen, and the +effect was beautiful. We had a bucket of apples rubbed bright, and +these we fastened to the tree just as they grew on their own branches. +The puddings looked pretty, too, and we had done up the parcels that +held the clothes as attractively as we could. We saved the candy and +the peanuts to put in their little stockings.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark we lighted the candles and then their mother +called the children. Oh, if you could have seen them! It was the very +first Christmas tree they had ever seen and they didn't know what to +do. The very first present Gavotte handed out was a pair of trousers +for eight-years-old Brig, but he just stood and stared at the tree +until his brother next in size, with an eye to the main chance, got +behind him and pushed him forward, all the time exclaiming, "Go <a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a>on, +can't you! They ain't doin' nothin' to you, they's just doin' somethin' +for you." Still Brig would not put out his hand. He just shook his +tousled sandy head and said he wanted a bird. So the fun kept up for an +hour. Santa had for Molly a package of oatmeal, a pound of butter, a +Mason jar of cream, and a dozen eggs, so that she could have suitable +food to eat until something could be done.</p> + +<p>After the presents had all been distributed we put the phonograph on a +box and had a dandy concert. We played "There were Shepherds," "Ave +Maria," and "Sweet Christmas Bells." Only we older people cared for +those, so then we had "Arrah Wanna," "Silver Bells," "Rainbow," "Red +Wing," and such songs. How delighted they were! Our concert lasted two +hours, and by that time the little fellows were so sleepy that the +excitement no longer affected them and they were put to bed, but they +hung up their stockings first, and even Molly hung hers up too. We +filled them with peanuts and candy, <a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>putting the lion's share of +"niggers" into Molly's stocking.</p> + +<p>Next morning the happiness broke out in new spots. The children were +all clean and warm, though I am afraid I can't brag on the fit of all +the clothes. But the pride of the wearers did away with the necessity +of a fit. The mother was radiantly thankful for a warm petticoat; that +it was made of a blanket too small for a bed didn't bother her, and the +stripes were around the bottom anyway. Molly openly rejoiced in her new +gown, and that it was made of ugly gray outing flannel she didn't know +nor care. Baby Star Crosby looked perfectly sweet in her little new +clothes, and her little gown had blue sleeves and they thought a white +skirt only added to its beauty. And so it was about everything. We all +got so much out of so little. I will never again allow even the +smallest thing to go to waste. We were every one just as happy as we +could be, almost as delighted as Molly was over her "niggers," and +there was <a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>very little given that had not been thrown away or was not +just odds and ends.</p> + +<p>There was never anything more true than that it is more blessed to give +than to receive. We certainly had a delicious dinner too, and we let +Molly have all she wanted that we dared allow her to eat. The roast +venison was so good that we were tempted to let her taste it, but we +thought better of that. As soon as dinner was over we packed our +belongings and betook ourselves homeward.</p> + +<p>It was just dusk when we reached home. Away off on a bare hill a wolf +barked. A big owl hooted lonesomely among the pines, and soon a pack of +yelping coyotes went scampering across the frozen waste.</p> + +<p>It was not the Christmas I had in mind when I sent the card, but it was +a <i>dandy</i> one, just the same.</p> + +<p>With best wishes for you for a happy, <i>happy</i> New Year,</p> + +<div> +<p>Sincerely your friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XX" id="XX"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a> +<h3>XX<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE JOYS OF HOMESTEADING</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>January 23, 1913.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>I am afraid all my friends think I am very forgetful and that you think +I am ungrateful as well, but I am going to plead not guilty. Right +after Christmas Mr. Stewart came down with <i>la grippe</i> and was so +miserable that it kept me busy trying to relieve him. Out here where we +can get no physician we have to dope ourselves, so that I had to be +housekeeper, nurse, doctor, and general overseer. That explains my long +silence.</p> + +<p>And now I want to thank you for your kind thought in prolonging our +Christmas. The magazines were much appreciated. They relieved some +weary night-watches, and the box did Jerrine more good than the +medicine I was having to give her for <i>la grippe</i>. She <a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a>was content to +stay in bed and enjoy the contents of her box.</p> + +<p>When I read of the hard times among the Denver poor, I feel like urging +them every one to get out and file on land. I am very enthusiastic +about women homesteading. It really requires less strength and labor to +raise plenty to satisfy a large family than it does to go out to wash, +with the added satisfaction of knowing that their job will not be lost +to them if they care to keep it. Even if improving the place does go +slowly, it is that much done to stay done. Whatever is raised is the +homesteader's own, and there is no house-rent to pay. This year Jerrine +cut and dropped enough potatoes to raise a ton of fine potatoes. She +wanted to try, so we let her, and you will remember that she is but six +years old. We had a man to break the ground and cover the potatoes for +her and the man irrigated them once. That was all that was done until +digging time, when they were ploughed out and Jerrine picked them <a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a>up. +Any woman strong enough to go out by the day could have done every bit +of the work and put in two or three times that much, and it would have +been so much more pleasant than to work so hard in the city and then be +on starvation rations in the winter.</p> + +<p>To me, homesteading is the solution of all poverty's problems, but I +realize that temperament has much to do with success in any +undertaking, and persons afraid of coyotes and work and loneliness had +better let ranching alone. At the same time, any woman who can stand +her own company, can see the beauty of the sunset, loves growing +things, and is willing to put in as much time at careful labor as she +does over the washtub, will certainly succeed; will have independence, +plenty to eat all the time, and a home of her own in the end.</p> + +<p>Experimenting need cost the homesteader no more than the work, because +by applying to the Department of Agriculture at <a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a>Washington he can get +enough of any seed and as many kinds as he wants to make a thorough +trial, and it doesn't even cost postage. Also one can always get +bulletins from there and from the Experiment Station of one's own State +concerning any problem or as many problems as may come up. I would not, +for anything, allow Mr. Stewart to do anything toward improving my +place, for I want the fun and the experience myself. And I want to be +able to speak from experience when I tell others what they can do. +Theories are very beautiful, but facts are what must be had, and what I +intend to give some time.</p> + +<p>Here I am boring you to death with things that cannot interest you! +You'd think I wanted you to homestead, wouldn't you? But I am only +thinking of the troops of tired, worried women, sometimes even cold and +hungry, scared to death of losing their places to work, who could have +plenty to eat, who could have good fires by gathering the wood, and +comfortable homes of their own, if they <a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a>but had the courage and +determination to get them.</p> + +<p>I must stop right now before you get so tired you will not answer. With +much love to you from Jerrine and myself, I am</p> + +<div> +<p>Yours affectionately,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a> +<h3>XXI<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>A LETTER OF JERRINE'S</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>February 26, 1913.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>I think you will excuse my mama for not writing to thank you for black +Beauty when I tell you why. I wanted to thank you myself, and I wanted +to hear it read first so I could very trully thank. Mama always said +horses do not talk, but now she knows they do since she read the Dear +little book. I have known it along time. My own pony told me the story +is very true. Many times I have see men treat horses very badly, but +our Clyde dont, and wont let a workman stay if He hurts stock. I am +very glad.</p> + +<p>Mr Edding came past one day with a load of hay. he had too much load to +pull up hill and there was much ice and snow but he think he can make +them go up so he fighted <a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a>and sweared but they could not get up. Mama +tried to lend him some horse to help but he was angry and was termined +to make his own pull it but at last he had to take off some hay I wish +he may read my Black Beauty.</p> + +<p>Our Clyde is still away. We were going to visit Stella. Mama was +driving, the horses raned away. We goed very fast as the wind. I almost +fall out Mama hanged on to the lines. if she let go we may all be kill. +At last she raned them into a fence. they stop and a man ran to help so +we are well but mama hands and arms are still so sore she cant write +you yet. My brother Calvin is very sweet. God had to give him to us +because he squealed so much he sturbed the angels. We are not angels so +he Dont sturb us. I thank you for my good little book. and I love you +for it too.</p> + +<div> +<p>very speakfully,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Jerrine Rupert.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a> +<h3>XXII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>THE EFFICIENT MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>May 5, 1913.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>Your letter of April 25 certainly was a surprise, but a very welcome +one. We are so rushed with spring work that we don't even go to the +office for the mail, and I owe you letters and thanks. I keep promising +myself the pleasure of writing you and keep putting it off until I can +have more leisure, but that time never gets here. I am so glad when I +can bring a little of this big, clean, beautiful outdoors into your +apartment for you to enjoy, and I can think of nothing that would give +me more happiness than to bring the West and its people to others who +could not otherwise enjoy them. If I could only take them from whatever +is worrying them and give them this bracing mountain air, glimpses <a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a>of +the scenery, a smell of the pines and the sage,—if I could only make +them feel the free, ready sympathy and hospitality of these frontier +people, I am sure their worries would diminish and my happiness would +be complete.</p> + +<p>Little Star Crosby is growing to be the sweetest little kid. Her mother +tells me that she is going "back yan" when she gets a "little mo' +richer." I am afraid you give me too much credit for being of help to +poor little Molly. It wasn't that I am so helpful, but that "fools rush +in where angels fear to tread." It was Mrs. O'Shaughnessy who was the +real help. She is a woman of great courage and decision and of splendid +sense and judgment. A few days ago a man she had working for her got +his finger-nail mashed off and neglected to care for it. Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy examined it and found that gangrene had set in. She +didn't tell him, but made various preparations and then told him she +had heard that if there was danger of blood-poisoning it would show if +the finger was <a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a>placed on wood and the patient looked toward the sun. +She said the person who looked at the finger could then see if there +was any poison. So the man placed his finger on the chopping-block and +before he could bat his eye she had chopped off the black, swollen +finger. It was so sudden and unexpected that there seemed to be no +pain. Then Mrs. O'Shaughnessy showed him the green streak already +starting up his arm. The man seemed dazed and she was afraid of shock, +so she gave him a dose of morphine and whiskey. Then with a quick +stroke of a razor she laid open the green streak and immersed the whole +arm in a strong solution of bichloride of mercury for twenty minutes. +She then dressed the wound with absorbent cotton saturated with olive +oil and carbolic acid, bundled her patient into a buggy, and drove +forty-five miles that night to get him to a doctor. The doctor told us +that only her quick action and knowledge of what to do saved the man's +life.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a>I was surprised that you have had a letter from Jerrine. I knew she was +writing to you that day, but I was feeling very stiff and sore from the +runaway and had lain down. She kept asking me how to spell words until +I told her I was too tired and wanted to sleep. While I was asleep the +man came for the mail, so she sent her letter. I have your address on +the back of the writing-pad, so she knew she had it right, but I +suspect that was all she had right. She has written you many letters +but I have never allowed her to send them because she misspells, but +that time she stole a march on me. The books you sent her, "Black +Beauty" and "Alice in Wonderland," have given her more pleasure than +anything she has ever had. She just loves them and is saving them, she +says, for her own little girls. She is very confident that the stork +will one day visit her and leave her a "very many" little girls. They +are to be of assorted sizes. She says she can't see why I order all my +babies little and red and <a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>squally,—says she thinks God had just as +soon let me have larger ones, especially as I get so many from him.</p> + +<p>One day before long I will get busy and write you of a visit I shall +make to a Mormon bishop's household. Polygamy is still practiced.</p> + +<div> +<p>Very truly your friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a> +<h3>XXIII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>HOW IT HAPPENED</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>June 12, 1913.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>Your letter of the 8th to hand, and in order to catch you before you +leave I'll answer at once and not wait for time. I always think I shall +do better with more time, but with three "bairns," garden, chickens, +cows, and housework I don't seem to find much time for anything. Now +for the first question. My maiden name was Pruitt, so when I am putting +on airs I sign Elinore Pruitt Stewart. I don't think I have ever +written anything that Clyde would object to, so he can still stay on +the pedestal Scotch custom puts him upon and remain "the Stewart." +Indeed, I don't think you are too inquisitive, and I am glad to tell +you how I happened to meet the "gude mon."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a>It all happened because I had a stitch in my side. When I was +housekeeper at the Nursery, I also had to attend to the furnace, and, +strange but true, the furnace was built across the large basement from +where the coal was thrown in, so I had to tote the coal over, and my +<i>modus operandi</i> was to fill a tub with coal and then drag it across to +the hungry furnace. Well, one day I felt the catch and got no better +fast. After Dr. F—— punched and prodded, she said, "Why, you have the +grippe." Rev. Father Corrigan had been preparing me to take the +Civil-Service examination, and that afternoon a lesson was due, so I +went over to let him see how little I knew. I was in pain and was so +blue that I could hardly speak without weeping, so I told the Reverend +Father how tired I was of the rattle and bang, of the glare and the +soot, the smells and the hurry. I told him what I longed for was the +sweet, free open, and that I would like to homestead. That was Saturday +evening. He advised me to go straight <a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a>uptown and put an "ad" in the +paper, so as to get it into the Sunday paper. I did so, and because I +wanted as much rest and quiet as possible I took Jerrine and went +uptown and got a nice quiet room.</p> + +<p>On the following Wednesday I received a letter from Clyde, who was in +Boulder visiting his mother. He was leaving for Wyoming the following +Saturday and wanted an interview, if his proposition suited me. I was +so glad of his offer, but at the same time I couldn't know what kind of +person he was; so, to lessen any risk, I asked him to come to the +Sunshine Mission, where Miss Ryan was going to help me "size him up." +He didn't know that part of it, of course, but he stood inspection +admirably. I was under the impression he had a son, but he hadn't, and +he and his mother were the very last of their race. I am as proud and +happy to-day as I was the day I became his wife. I wish you knew him, +but I suspect I had better not brag too much, lest you think me not +quite <a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a>sincere. He expected to visit you while he was in Boulder. He +went to the Stock Show, but was with a party, so he planned to go +again. But before he could, the man he left here, and whom I dismissed +for drunkenness, went to Boulder and told him I was alone, so the +foolish thing hurried home to keep me from too hard work. So that is +why he was disappointed.</p> + +<p>Junior can talk quite well, and even Calvin jabbers. The children are +all well, and Jerrine writes a little every day to you. I have been +preparing a set of indoor outings for invalids. Your telling me your +invalid friends enjoyed the letters suggested the idea. I thought to +write of little outings I take might amuse them, but wanted to write +just as I took the little trips, while the impressions were fresh; that +is why I have not sent them before now. Is it too late? Shall I send +them to you? Now this is really not a letter; it is just a reply. I +must say good-night; it is twelve o'clock, and I am so sleepy.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a>I do hope you will have a very happy summer, and that you will share +your happiness with me in occasional letters.</p> + +<div> +<p>With much love,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> + +<p>In writing I forgot to say that the Reverend Father thought it a good +plan to get a position as housekeeper for some rancher who would advise +me about land and water rights. By keeping house, he pointed out, I +could have a home and a living and at the same time see what kind of a +homestead I could get.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a> +<h3>XXIV<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>A LITTLE ROMANCE</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>October 8, 1913.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">My dear Friend,—</span></p> + +<p>I have had such a happy little peep into another's romance that I think +I should be cheating you if I didn't tell you. Help in this country is +extremely hard to get; so when I received a letter from one Aurelia +Timmons, saying she wanted a job,—three dollars a week and <i>not</i> to be +called "Relie,"—my joy could hardly be described. I could hardly wait +until morning to start for Bridger Bench, where Aurelia held forth. I +was up before the lark next morning. It is more miles to the Bridger +Bench country than the "gude mon" wants his horses driven in a day; so +permission was only given after I promised to curb my impatience and +stay overnight with Mrs. Louderer. Under <a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a>ordinary circumstances that +would have been a pleasure, but I knew at least a dozen women who would +any of them seize on to Aurelia and wrest her from me, so it was only +after it seemed I would not get to go at all that I promised.</p> + +<p>At length the wagon was greased, some oats put in, a substantial lunch +and the kiddies loaded in, and I started on my way. Perhaps it was the +prospect of getting help that gilded everything with a new beauty. The +great mountains were so majestic, and the day so young that I knew the +night wind was still murmuring among the pines far up on the +mountain-sides. The larks were trying to outdo each other and the +robins were so saucy that I could almost have flicked them with the +willow I was using as a whip. The rabbit-bush made golden patches +everywhere, while purple asters and great pink thistles lent their +charm. Going in that direction, our way lay between a mountain stream +and the foothills. There are many ranches <a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a>along the stream, and as we +were out so early, we could see the blue smoke curling from each house +we passed. We knew that venison steak, hot biscuit, and odorous coffee +would soon grace their tables. We had not had the venison, for the +"gude mon" holds to the letter of the law which protects deer here, but +we begrudged no one anything; we were having exactly what we wanted. We +jogged along happily, if slowly, for I must explain to you that Chub is +quite the laziest horse in the State, and Bill, his partner, is so old +he stands like a bulldog. He is splay-footed and sway-backed, but he is +a beloved member of our family, so I vented my spite on Chub, and the +willow descended periodically across his black back, I guess as much +from force of habit as anything else. But his hide is thick and his +memory short, so we broke no record that day.</p> + +<p>We drove on through the fresh beauty of the morning, and when the sun +was straight overhead we came to the last good water we <a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a>could expect +before we reached Mrs. Louderer's; so we stopped for lunch. In Wyoming +quantity has a great deal more to do with satisfaction than does +quality; after half a day's drive you won't care so much what it is +you're going to eat as you will that there is enough of it. That is a +lesson I learned long ago; so our picnic was real. There were no ants +in the pie, but that is accounted for by there being no pie. Our road +had crossed the creek, and we were resting in the shade of a +quaking-asp grove, high up on the sides of the Bad Land hills. For +miles far below lay the valley through which we had come.</p> + +<p>Farther on, the mountains with their dense forests were all wrapped in +the blue haze of the melancholy days. Soon we quitted our enchanted +grove whose quivering, golden leaves kept whispering secrets to us.</p> + +<p>About three o'clock we came down out of the hills on to the bench on +which the Louderer ranch is situated. Perhaps I should explain that +this country is a series of huge <a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a>terraces, each terrace called a +bench. I had just turned into the lane that leads to the house when a +horseman came cantering toward me. "Hello!" he saluted, as he drew up +beside the wagon. "Goin' up to the house? Better not. Mrs. Louderer is +not at home, and there's no one there but Greasy Pete. He's on a tear; +been drunk two days, I'm tellin' you. He's <i>full</i> of mischief. 'T ain't +safe around old Greasy. I advise you to go some'eres else." "Well," I +asked, "where <i>can</i> I go?" "Danged if I know," he replied, "'lessen it +'s to Kate Higbee's. She lives about six or seven miles west. She ain't +been here long, but I guess you can't miss her place. Just jog along +due west till you get to Red Gulch ravine, then turn north for a couple +of miles. You'll see her cabin up against a cedar ridge. Well, so +'long!" He dug his spurs into his cayuse's side and rode on.</p> + +<p>Tears of vexation so blinded me that I could scarcely see to turn the +team, but ominous sounds and wild yells kept coming from <a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a>the house, so +I made what haste I could to get away from such an unpleasant +neighborhood. Soon my spirits began to rise. Kate Higbee, I reflected, +was likely to prove to be an interesting person. All Westerners are +likable, with the possible exception of Greasy Pete. I rather looked +forward to my visit. But my guide had failed to mention the buttes; so, +although I jogged as west as I knew how, I found I had to wind around a +butte about ever so often. I crossed a ravine with equal frequency, and +all looked alike. It is not surprising that soon I could not guess +where I was. We could turn back and retrace our tracks, but actual +danger lay there; so it seemed wiser to push on, as there was, perhaps, +no greater danger than discomfort ahead. The sun hung like a big red +ball ready to drop into the hazy distance when we came clear of the +buttes and down on to a broad plateau, on which grass grew plentifully. +That encouraged me because the horses need not suffer, and if I could +make <a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a>the scanty remnant of our lunch do for the children's supper and +breakfast, we could camp in comfort, for we had blankets. But we must +find water. I stood up in the wagon and, shading my eyes against the +sun's level light, was looking out in the most promising directions +when I noticed that the plateau's farther side was bounded by a cedar +ridge, and, better yet, a smoke was slowly rising, column-like, against +the dun prospect. That, I reasoned, must be my destination. Even the +horses livened their paces, and in a little while we were there.</p> + +<p>But no house greeted our eyes,—just a big camp-fire. A lean old man +sat on a log-end and surveyed us indifferently. On the ground lay a +large canvas-covered pack, apparently unopened. An old saddle lay up +against a cedar-trunk. Two old horses grazed near. I was powerfully +disappointed. You know misery loves company; so I ventured to say, +"Good-evening." He didn't stir, but he grunted, "Hello." I knew then +that he was <a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a>not a fossil, and hope began to stir in my heart. Soon he +asked, "Are you goin' somewheres or jist travelin'?" I told him I had +started somewhere, but reckoned I must be traveling, as I had not +gotten there. Then he said, "My name is Hiram K. Hull. Whose woman are +you?" I confessed to belonging to the house of Stewart. "Which +Stewart?" he persisted,—"C.R., S.W., or H.C.?" Again I owned up +truthfully. "Well," he continued, "what does he mean by letting you gad +about in such onconsequential style?"</p> + +<p><i>Sometimes</i> a woman gets too angry to talk. Don't you believe that? No? +Well, they do, I assure you, for I was then. He seemed grown to the +log. As he had made no move to help me, without answering him I +clambered out of the wagon and began to take the horses loose. "Ho!" he +said; "are you goin' to camp here?" "Yes, I am," I snapped. "Have you +any objections?" "Oh, no, none that won't keep," he assured <a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a>me. It has +always been a theory of mine that when we become sorry for ourselves we +make our misfortunes harder to bear, because we lose courage and can't +think without bias; so I cast about me for something to be glad about, +and the comfort that at least we were safer with a simpleton than near +a drunken Mexican came to me; so I began to view the situation with a +little more tolerance.</p> + +<p>After attending to the horses I began to make the children comfortable. +My unwilling host sat silently on his log, drawing long and hard at his +stubby old pipe. How very little there was left of our lunch! Just for +meanness I asked him to share with us, and, if you'll believe me, he +did. He gravely ate bread-rims and scraps of meat until there was not +one bit left for even the baby's breakfast. Then he drew the back of +his hand across his mouth and remarked, "I should think when you go off +on a ja'nt like this you'd have a well-filled mess-box." Again speech +failed me.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a>Among some dwarf willows not far away a spring bubbled. I took the +kiddies there to prepare them for rest. When I returned to the fire, +what a transformation! The pack was unrolled and blankets were spread, +the fire had been drawn aside, disclosing a bean-hole, out of which +Hiram K. was lifting an oven. He took off the lid. Two of the plumpest, +brownest ducks that ever tempted any one were fairly swimming in gravy. +Two loaves of what he called punk, with a box of crackers, lay on a +newspaper. He mimicked me exactly when he asked me to take supper with +him, and I tried hard to imitate him in promptitude when I accepted. +The babies had some of the crackers wet with hot water and a little of +the gravy. We soon had the rest looking scarce. The big white stars +were beginning to twinkle before we were through, but the camp-fire was +bright, and we all felt better-natured. Men are not alone in having a +way to their heart through their stomach.</p> + +<p>I made our bed beneath the wagon, and <a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a>Hiram K. fixed his canvas +around, so we should be sheltered. I felt so much better and thought so +much better of him that I could laugh and chat gayly. "Now, tell me," +he asked, as he fastened the canvas to a wheel, "didn't you think I was +an old devil at first?" "Yes, I did," I answered. "Well," he said, "I +am; so you guessed right." After I put the children to bed, we sat by +the fire and talked awhile. I told him how I happened to be gadding +about in "such onconsequential" style, and he told me stories of when +the country was new and fit to live in. "Why," he said, in a burst of +enthusiasm, "time was once when you went to bed you were not sure +whether you'd get up alive and with your scalp on or not, the Injins +were that thick. And then there was white men a durned sight worse; +they were likely to plug you full of lead just to see you kick. But +now," he continued mournfully, "a bear or an antelope, maybe an elk, is +about all the excitement we can expect. Them good old days <a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a>are gone." +I am mighty glad of it; a drunken Pete is bad enough for me.</p> + +<p>I was tired, so soon I went to bed. I could hear him as he cut cedar +boughs for his own fireside bed, and as he rattled around among his +pots and pans. Did you ever eat pork and beans heated in a frying-pan +on a camp-fire for breakfast? Then if you have not, there is one +delight left you. But you must be away out in Wyoming, with the morning +sun just gilding the distant peaks, and your pork and beans must be out +of a can, heated in a disreputable old frying-pan, served with coffee +<i>boiled</i> in a battered old pail and drunk from a tomato-can. You'll +<i>never</i> want iced melons, powdered sugar, and fruit, or sixty-nine +varieties of breakfast food, if once you sit Trilby-wise on Wyoming +sand and eat the kind of breakfast we had that day.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Hiram K. Hull hitched our horses to the wagon, got his +own horses ready, and then said, "'T ain't more 'n half a mile straight +out between them two hills to <a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a>the stage-road, but I guess I had better +go and show you exactly, or you will be millin' around here all day, +tryin' to find it." In a very few minutes we were on the road, and our +odd host turned to go. "S'long!" he called. "Tell Stewart you seen old +Hikum. Him and me's shared tarps many's the nights. We used to be +punchers together,—old Clyde and me. Tell him old Hikum ain't forgot +him." So saying, he rode away into the golden morning, and we drove +onward, too.</p> + +<p>We stopped for lunch only a few minutes that day, and we reached the +Bridger community about two that afternoon. The much sought Aurelia had +accepted the position of lifetime housekeeper for a sheep-herder who +had no house to keep, so I had to cast about for whatever comfort I +could. The roadhouse is presided over by a very able body of the clan +of Ferguson. I had never met her, but formalities count for very little +in the West. She was in her kitchen, having more trouble, <a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a>she said, +than a hen whose ducklings were in swimming. I asked her if she could +accommodate the children and myself. "Yes," she said, "I can give you a +bed and grub, but I ain't got no time to ask you nothing. I ain't got +no time to inquire who you are nor where you come from. There's one +room left. You can have that, but you'll have to look out for yourself +and young 'uns." I felt equal to that; so I went out to have the horses +cared for and to unload the kiddies.</p> + +<p>Leaning against the wagon was a man who made annual rounds of all the +homes in our community each summer; his sole object was to see what +kind of flowers we succeeded with. Every woman in our neighborhood +knows Bishey Bennet, but I don't think many would have recognized him +that afternoon. I had never seen him dressed in anything but blue denim +overalls and overshirt to match, but to-day he proudly displayed what +he said was his dove-colored suit. The style must have been one of +years ago, for I <a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a>cannot remember seeing trousers quite so skimpy. He +wore top-boots, but as a concession to fashion he wore the boot-tops +under the trouser-legs, and as the trousers were about as narrow as a +sheath skirt, they kept slipping up and gave the appearance of being at +least six inches too short. Although Bishey is tall and thin, his coat +was two sizes too small, his shirt was of soft tan material, and he +wore a blue tie. But whatever may have been amiss with his costume was +easily forgotten when one saw his radiant face. He grasped my hand and +wrung it as if it was a chicken's neck.</p> + +<p>"What in the world is the matter with you?" I asked, as I rubbed my +abused paw. "Just you come here and I'll tell you," he answered. There +was no one to hear but the kiddies, but I went around the corner of the +house with him. He put his hand up to his mouth and whispered that +"Miss Em'ly" was coming, would be there on the afternoon stage. I had +never heard of "Miss Em'ly," <a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a>and said so. "Well, just you go in and +set on the sofy and soon's I see your horses took care of I'll come in +and tell you." I went into my own room, and after I rustled some water +I made myself and the kiddies a little more presentable. Then we went +into the sitting-room and sat on the "sofy." Presently Bishey sauntered +in, trying to look unconcerned and at ease, but he was so fidgety he +couldn't sit down. But he told his story, and a dear one it is.</p> + +<p>It seems that back in New York State he and Miss Em'ly were "young uns" +together. When they were older they planned to marry, but neither +wanted to settle down to the humdrumness that they had always known. +Both dreamed of the golden West; so Bishey had gone to blaze the trail, +and "Miss Em'ly" was to follow. First one duty and then another had +held her, until twenty-five years had slipped by and they had not seen +each other, but now she was coming, that very day. They would be +married that evening, <a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a>and I at once appointed myself matron of honor +and was plumb glad there was no other candidate.</p> + +<p>I at once took the decorations in hand. Bishey, Jerrine, and myself +went out and gathered armfuls of asters and goldenrod-like +rabbit-brush. From the dump-pile we sorted cans and pails that would +hold water, and we made the sitting-room a perfect bower of purple and +gold beauty. I put on my last clean shirt-waist and the children's last +clean dresses. Then, as there seemed nothing more to do, Bishey +suggested that we walk up the road and meet the stage; but the day had +been warm, and I remembered my own appearance when I had come over that +same road the first time. I knew that journey was trying on any one's +appearance at any time of the year, and after twenty-five years to be +thrust into view covered with alkali dust and with one's hat on awry +would be too much for feminine patience; so I pointed out to Bishey +that he'd better clear out and let Miss <a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a>Em'ly rest a bit before he +showed up. At last he reluctantly agreed.</p> + +<p>I went out to the kitchen to find what could be expected in the way of +hot water for Miss Em'ly when she should come. I found I could have all +I wanted if I heated it myself. Mrs. Ferguson could not be bothered +about it, because a water company had met there to vote on new canals, +the sheep-men were holding a convention, there was a more than usual +run of transients besides the regular boarders, and supper was ordered +for the whole push. All the help she had was a girl she just knew +didn't have sense enough to pound sand into a rat-hole. Under those +circumstances I was mighty glad to help. I put water on to heat and +then forgot Miss Em'ly, I was enjoying helping so much, until I heard a +door slam and saw the stage drive away toward the barn.</p> + +<p>I hastened to the room I knew was reserved for Miss Em'ly. I rapped on +the door, but it was only opened a tiny crack. I <a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a>whispered through +that I was a neighbor-friend of Mr. Bennet's, that I had lots of hot +water for her and had come to help her if I might. Then she opened the +door, and I entered. I found a very travel-stained little woman, down +whose dust-covered cheeks tears had left their sign. Her prettiness was +the kind that wins at once and keeps you ever after. She was a strange +mixture of stiff reticence and childish trust. She was in <i>such</i> a +flutter, and she said she was ashamed to own it, but she was so hungry +she could hardly wait.</p> + +<p>After helping her all I could, I ran out to see about the wedding +supper that was to be served before the wedding. I found that no +special supper had been prepared. It seemed to me a shame to thrust +them down among the water company, the convention, the regulars, and +the transients, and I mentally invited myself to the wedding supper and +began to plan how we could have a little privacy. The carpenters were +at work on a long <a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a>room off the kitchen that was to be used as +storeroom and pantry. They had gone for the day, and their saw-horses +and benches were still in the room. It was only the work of a moment to +sweep the sawdust away. There was only one window, but it was large and +in the west. It took a little time to wash that, but it paid to do it. +When a few asters and sprays of rabbit-brush were placed in a broken +jar on the window-sill, there was a picture worth seeing. Some planks +were laid on the saw-horses, some papers over them, and a clean white +cloth over all. I sorted the dishes myself; the prettiest the house +afforded graced our table. I rubbed the glassware until it shone almost +as bright as Bishey's smile.</p> + +<p>Bishey had come when he could stay away no longer; he and Miss Em'ly +had had their first little talk, so they came out to where I was laying +the table. They were both beaming. Miss Em'ly took hold at once to +help. "Bishey," she commanded, "do you go at <a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a>once to where my boxes +are open, the one marked 7; bring me a blue jar you'll find in one +corner." He went to do her bidding, and I to see about the kiddies. +When I came back with them, there was a small willow basket in the +center of our improvised table, heaped high with pears, apples, and +grapes all a little the worse for their long journey from New York +State to Wyoming, but still things of beauty and a joy as long as they +lasted to Wyoming eyes and appetites. We had a perfectly roasted leg of +lamb; we had mint sauce, a pyramid of flaky mashed potatoes, a big dish +of new peas, a plate of sponge-cake I will be long in forgetting; and +the blue jar was full of grape marmalade. Our iced tea was exactly +right; the pieces of ice clinked pleasantly against our glasses. We +took our time, and we were all happy. We could all see the beautiful +sunset, its last rays lingering on Miss Em'ly's abundant auburn hair to +make happy the bride the sun shines on. We saw the wonderful +<a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a>colors—orange, rose, and violet—creep up and fade into darker shades, +until at last mellow dusk filled the room. Then I took the kiddies to +my room to be put to bed while I should wait until time for the +ceremony.</p> + +<p>Soon the babies were sleeping, and Jerrine and I went into the +sitting-room. They were sitting on the "sofy." She was telling him that +the apples had come from the tree they had played under, the pears from +the tree they had set out, the grapes from the vine over the well. She +told him of things packed in her boxes, everything a part of the past +they both knew. He in turn told her of his struggles, his successes, +and some of what he called his failures. She was a most encouraging +little person, and she'd say to him, "You did well, Bishey. I'll say +<i>that</i> for you: you did well!" Then he told her about the flowers he +had planted for her. I understood then why he acted so queerly about my +flowers. It happens that I am partial to old-time favorites, and I grow +as many of them as I <a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a>can get to succeed in this altitude; so I have +zinnias, marigolds, hollyhocks, and many other dear old flowers that my +mother loved. Many of them had been the favorites of Miss Em'ly's +childhood, but Bishey hadn't remembered the names; so he had visited us +all, and when he found a flower he remembered, he asked the name and +how we grew it, then he tried it, until at last he had about all. Miss +Em'ly wiped the tears from her eyes as she remarked, "Bishey, you did +well; yes, you did <i>real</i> well." I thought to myself how well we could +<i>all</i> do if we were so encouraged.</p> + +<p>At last the white-haired old justice of the peace came, and said the +words that made Emily Wheeler the wife of Abisha Bennet. A powerfully +noisy but truly friendly crowd wished them well. One polite fellow +asked her where she was from. She told him from New York <i>State</i>. +"Why," he asked, "do New Yorkers always say <i>State</i>?" "Why, because," +she answered,—and her eyes were <a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a>big with surprise,—"<i>no</i> one would +want to say they were from New York <i>City</i>."</p> + +<p>It had been a trying day for us, so soon Jerrine and I slipped out to +our room. Ours was the first room off the sitting-room, and a long +hallway led past our door; a bench sat against the wall, and it seemed +a favorite roosting-place for people with long discussions. First some +fellows were discussing the wedding. One thought Bishey "cracked" +because he had shipped out an old cooking-stove, one of the first +manufactured, all the way from where he came from, instead of buying a +new one nearer home. They recalled instance after instance in which he +had acted queerly, but to me his behavior was no longer a mystery. I +know the stove belonged somewhere in the past and that his every act +connected past and future. After they had talked themselves tired, two +old fellows took possession of the bench and added a long discussion on +how to grow corn to the general din. Even sweet corn cannot be +successfully <a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a>grown at this altitude, yet those old men argued pro and +con till I know their throats must have ached. In the sitting-room they +all talked at once of ditches, water-contracts, and sheep. I was <i>so</i> +sleepy. I heard a tired clock away off somewhere strike two. Some +sheep-men had the bench and were discussing the relative values of +different dips. I reckon my ego must have gotten tangled with some +one's else about then, for I found myself sitting up in bed foolishly +saying,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Two old herders, unshaved and hairy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whose old tongues are <i>never</i> weary,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Just outside my chamber-door<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Prate of sheep dips for <i>ever</i> more."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Next morning it was Bishey's cheerful voice that started my day. I had +hoped to be up in time to see them off, but I wasn't. I heard him call +out to Mrs. Bishey, "Miss Em'ly, I've got the boxes all loaded. We can +start <i>home</i> in ten minutes." I heard her clear voice reply, "You've +done well, Bishey. I'll be ready by then." I was hurriedly dressing, +<a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a>hoping yet to see her, when I heard Bishey call out to bluff old +Colonel Winters, who had arrived in the night and had not known of the +wedding, "Hello! Winters, have you met Miss Em'ly? Come over here and +meet her. I'm a married man now. I married Miss Em'ly last night." The +colonel couldn't have known how apt was his reply when he said, "I'm +glad for you, Bishey. You've done well." I peeked between the curtains, +and saw Bishey's wagon piled high with boxes, with Miss Em'ly, +self-possessed and happy, greeting the colonel. Soon I heard the rattle +of wheels, and the dear old happy pair were on their way to the cabin +home they had waited twenty-five years for. Bless the kind old hearts +of them! I'm sure they've both "done well."</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a> +<h3>XXV<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>AMONG THE MORMONS</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>November, 1913.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">My dear Friend,—</span></p> + +<p>I have wanted to write you for a long time, but have been so busy. I +have had some visitors and have been on a visit; I think you would like +to hear about it all, so I will tell you.</p> + +<p>I don't think you would have admired my appearance the morning this +adventure began: I was in the midst of fall house-cleaning which +included some papering. I am no expert at the very best, and papering a +wall has difficulties peculiar to itself. I was up on a barrel trying +to get a long, sloppy strip of paper to stick to the ceiling instead of +to me, when in my visitors trooped, and so surprised me that I stepped +off the barrel and into a candy-bucket of paste. At the same time the +paper came off the ceiling and fell over mine <a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a>and Mrs. Louderer's +head. It was right aggravating, I can tell you, but my visitors were +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and Mrs. Louderer, and no one could stay discouraged +with that pair around.</p> + +<p>After we had scraped as much paste as we could off ourselves they +explained that they had come to take me somewhere. That sounded good to +me, but I could not see how I could get off. However, Mrs. Louderer +said she had come to keep house and to take care of the children while +I should go with Mrs. O'Shaughnessy to E——. We should have two days' +travel by sled and a few hours on a train, then another journey by +sled. I wanted to go powerfully, but the paste-smeared room seemed to +forbid.</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Louderer would stay with the children, Mr. Stewart thought the +trip would be good for me. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy knew I wanted to visit +Bishop D——, a shining light among the Latter-Day Saints, so she +promised we should stay overnight at his <a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a>house. That settled it; so in +the cold, blue light of the early morning, Mr. Beeler, a new neighbor, +had driven my friends over in Mrs. Louderer's big sled, to which was +hitched a pair of her great horses and his own team. He is a widower +and was going out to the road for supplies, so it seemed a splendid +time to make my long-planned visit to the Bishop. Deep snow came +earlier this year than usual, and the sledding and weather both +promised to be good. It was with many happy anticipations that I +snuggled down among the blankets and bearskins that morning.</p> + +<p>Mr. Beeler is pleasant company, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is so jolly and +bright, and I could leave home without a single misgiving with Mrs. +Louderer in charge.</p> + +<p>The evening sky was blazing crimson and gold, and the mountains behind +us were growing purple when we entered the little settlement where the +Bishop lives. We drove briskly through the scattered, straggling little +village, past the store and the meeting-house, <a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a>and drew up before the +dwelling of the Bishop. The houses of the village were for the most +part small cabins of two or three rooms, but the Bishop's was more +pretentious. It was a frame building and boasted paint and shutters. A +tithing-office stood near, and back of the house we could see a large +granary and long stacks of hay. A bunch of cattle was destroying one +stack, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy remarked that the tallow from those +cattle should be used when the olive oil gave out at their anointings, +because it was the Bishop's cattle eating consecrated hay.</p> + +<p>We knocked on the door, but got no answer. Mr. Beeler went around to +the back, but no one answered, so we concluded we would have to try +elsewhere for shelter. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy comforted me by remarking, +"Well, there ain't a penny's worth of difference in a Mormon bishop and +any other Mormon, and D—— is not the only polygamist by a long shot."</p> + +<p>We had just turned out of the gate when a <a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a>lanky, tow-headed boy about +fourteen years of age rode up. We explained our presence there, and the +boy explained to us that the Bishop and Aunt Debbie were away. The next +best house up the road was his "Maw's," he said; so, as Mr. Beeler +expected to stay with a friend of his, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I +determined to see if "Maw" could accommodate us for the night.</p> + +<p>Mr. Beeler offered to help the boy get the cattle out, but he said, +"No, Paw said it would not matter if they got into the hay, but that he +had to knock off some poles on another part of the stockyard so that +some horses could get in to eat."</p> + +<p>"But," I asked, "isn't that consecrated hay?—isn't it tithing?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "but that won't hurt a bit, only that old John Ladd +always pays his tithe with foxtail hay and it almost ruins Paw's +horses' mouths."</p> + +<p>I asked him if his father's stock was supposed to get the hay.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a>"No, I guess not," he said, "but they are always getting in accidental +like."</p> + +<p>We left him to fix the fence so the horses could get in "accidental +like," and drove the short distance to "the next best house."</p> + +<p>We were met at the door by a pleasant-faced little woman who hurried us +to the fire. We told her our plight. "Why, certainly you must stay with +me," she said. "I am glad the Bishop and Deb are away. They keep all +the company, and I so seldom have any one come; you see Debbie has no +children and can do so much better for any one stopping there than I +can, but I like company, too, and I am glad of a chance to keep you. +You two can have Maudie's bed. Maud is my oldest girl and she has gone +to Ogden to visit, so we have plenty of room."</p> + +<p>By now it was quite dark. She lighted a lamp and bustled about, +preparing supper. We sat by the stove and, as Mrs. O'Shaughnessy said, +"noticed."</p> + +<p>Two little boys were getting in wood for <a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a>the night. They appeared to +be about eight years old; they were twins and were the youngest of the +family. Two girls, about ten and twelve years old, were assisting our +hostess; then the boy Orson, whom we met at the gate, and Maud, the +daughter who was away, made up the family. They seemed a happy, +contented family, if one judged by appearance alone. After supper the +children gathered around the table to prepare next day's lessons. They +were bright little folks, but they mingled a great deal of talk with +their studies and some of what they talked was family history.</p> + +<p>"Mamma," said Kittie, the largest of the little girls, "if Aunt Deb +does buy a new coat and you get her old one, then can I have yours?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," her mother replied; "I should have to make it over if +you did take it. Maybe we can have a new one."</p> + +<p>"No, we can't have a new one, I know, for Aunt Deb said so, but she is +going to give me <a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a>her brown dress and you her gray one; she said so the +day I helped her iron. We'll have those to make over."</p> + +<p>For the first time I noticed the discontented lines on our hostess's +face, and it suddenly occurred to me that we were in the house of the +Bishop's second wife. Before I knew I was coming on this journey I +thought of a dozen questions I wanted to ask the Bishop, but I could +never ask that care-worn little woman anything concerning their +peculiar belief. However, I was spared the trouble, for soon the +children retired and the conversation drifted around to Mormonism and +polygamy; and our hostess seemed to want to talk, so I just listened, +for Mrs. O'Shaughnessy rather likes to "argufy"; but she had no +argument that night, only her questions started our hostess's story.</p> + +<p>She had been married to the Bishop not long before the manifesto, and +he had been married several years then to Debbie. But Debbie had no +children, and all the money <a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a>the Bishop had to start with had been his +first wife's; so when it became necessary for him to discard a wife it +was a pretty hard question for him because a little child was coming to +the second wife and he had nothing to provide for her with except what +his first wife's money paid for. The first wife said she would consent +to him starting the second, if she filed on land and paid her back a +small sum every year until it was all paid back. So he took the poor +"second," after formally renouncing her, and helped her to file on the +land she now lives on. He built her a small cabin, and so she started +her career as a "second." I suppose the "first" thought she would be +rid of the second, who had never really been welcome, although the +Bishop could never have married a "second" without her consent.</p> + +<p>"I would <i>never</i> consent," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you would if you had been raised a Mormon," said our hostess. +"You see, we <a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a>were all of us children of polygamous parents. We have +been used to plural marriages all our lives. We believe that such +experience fits us for our after-life, as we are only preparing for +life beyond while here."</p> + +<p>"Do you expect to go to heaven, and do you think the man who married +you and then discarded you will go to heaven too?" asked Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," she replied.</p> + +<p>"Then," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, "I am afraid if it had been mysilf I'd +have been after raising a little hell here intirely."</p> + +<p>Our hostess was not offended, and there followed a long recital of +earlier-day hard times that you would scarcely believe any one could +live through. It seems the first wife in such families is boss, and +while they do not live in the same homes, still she can very materially +affect the other's comfort.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy asked her if she had married again.</p> + +<p>She said, "No."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a>"Then," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, "whose children are these?"</p> + +<p>"My own," she replied.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was relentless. "Who is their father?" she asked.</p> + +<p>I was right sorry for the poor little woman as she stammered, "I—I +don't know."</p> + +<p>Then she went on, "Of course I <i>do</i> know, and I don't believe you are +spying to try to stir up trouble for my husband. Bishop D—— is their +father, as he is still my husband, although he had to cast me off to +save himself and me. I love him and I see no wrong in him. All the +Gentiles have against him is he is a little too smart for them. 'T was +their foolish law that made him wrong the children and me, and <i>not</i> +his wishes."</p> + +<p>"But," Mrs. O'Shaughnessy said, "it places your children in such a +plight; they can't inherit, they can't even claim his name, they have +no status legally."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but the Bishop will see to that," the little woman answered.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy asked her if she had still to work as hard as she +used to.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't believe I do," she said, "for since Mr. D—— has been +Bishop, things come easier. He built this house with his own money, so +Deb has nothing to do with it."</p> + +<p>I asked her if she thought she was as happy as "second" as she would be +if she was the <i>only</i> wife.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," she said, "perhaps not. Deb and me don't always +agree. She is jealous of the children and because I am younger, and I +get to feeling bad when I think she is perfectly safe as a wife and has +no cares. She has everything she wants, and I have to take what I can +get, and my children have to wait upon her. But it will all come right +somewhere, sometime," she ended cheerfully, as she wiped her eyes with +her apron.</p> + +<p>I felt so sorry for her and so ashamed to have seen into her sorrow +that I was really <a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a>glad next morning when I heard Mr. Beeler's cheerful +voice calling, "All aboard!"</p> + +<p>We had just finished breakfast, and few would ever guess that Mrs. +D—— knew a trial; she was so cheerful and so cordial as she bade us +good-bye and urged us to stop with her every time we passed through.</p> + +<p>About noon that day we reached the railroad. The snow had delayed the +train farther north, so for once we were glad to have to wait for a +train, as it gave us time to get a bite to eat and to wash up a bit. It +was not long, however, till we were comfortably seated in the train. I +think a train ride might not be so enjoyable to most, but to us it was +a delight; I even enjoyed looking at the Negro porter, although I +suspect he expected to be called Mister. I found very soon after coming +West that I must not say "Uncle" or "Aunty" as I used to at home.</p> + +<p>It was not long until they called the name of the town at which we +wanted to stop. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had a few acquaintances <a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a>there, but +we went to a hotel. We were both tired, so as soon as we had supper we +went to bed. The house we stopped at was warmer and more comfortable +than the average hotel in the West, but the partitions were very thin, +so when a couple of "punchers," otherwise cowboys, took the room next +to ours, we could hear every word they said.</p> + +<p>It appears that one was English and the other a tenderfoot. The +tenderfoot was in love with a girl who had filed on a homestead near +the ranch on which he was employed, but who was then a waitress in the +hotel we were at. She had not seemed kind to the tenderfoot and he was +telling his friend about it. The Englishman was trying to instruct him +as to how to proceed.</p> + +<p>"You need to be <i>very</i> circumspect, Johnny, where females are +concerned, but you mustn't be too danged timid either."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what the devil to say to her; I can barely nod my head +when she asks me will I take tea or coffee; and to-night she <a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a>mixed it +because I nodded yes when she said, 'tea or coffee,' and it was the +dangdest mess I ever tried to get outside of."</p> + +<p>"Well," the friend counseled, "you just get her into a corner some'eres +and say to 'er, 'Dearest 'Attie, I hoffer you my 'and hand my 'eart.'"</p> + +<p>"But I <i>can't</i>," wailed Johnny. "I could never get her into a corner +anyway."</p> + +<p>"If you can't, you're not hold enough to marry then. What the 'ell +would you do with a woman in the 'ouse if you couldn't corner 'er? I +tell 'e, women 'ave to 'ave a master, and no man better tackle that job +until 'e can be sure 'e can make 'er walk the chalk-line."</p> + +<p>"But I don't want her to walk any line; I just want her to speak to +me."</p> + +<p>"Dang me if I don't believe you are locoed. Why, she's got 'e throwed +hand 'og-tied now. What d'e want to make it any worse for?"</p> + +<p>They talked for a long time and the Englishman continued to have +trouble with his <a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a><i>h</i>'s; but at last Johnny was encouraged to "corner +'er" next morning before they left for their ranch.</p> + +<p>We expected to be astir early anyway, and our curiosity impelled us to +see the outcome of the friend's counsel, so we were almost the first in +the dining-room next morning. A rather pretty girl was busy arranging +the tables, and soon a boyish-looking fellow, wearing great bat-wing +chaps, came in and stood warming himself at the stove.</p> + +<p>I knew at once it was Johnny, and I saw "'Attie" blush. The very +indifference with which she treated him argued well for his cause, but +of course he didn't know that. So when she passed by him and her skirt +caught on his big spurs they both stooped at once to unfasten it; their +heads hit together with such a bump that the ice was broken, although +he seemed to think it was her skull. I am sure there ought to be a thaw +after all his apologies. After breakfast Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went out to +see her friend Cormac <a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a>O'Toole. He was the only person in town we could +hope to get a team from with which to continue our journey. This is a +hard country on horses at best, and at this time of the year +particularly so; few will let their teams go out at any price, but Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy had hopes, and she is so persuasive that I felt no one +could resist her. There was a drummer at breakfast who kept "cussing" +the country. He had tried to get a conveyance and had failed; so the +cold, the snow, the people, and everything else disgusted him.</p> + +<p>Soon Mrs. O'Shaughnessy returned, and as the drummer was trying to get +out to E——, and that was our destination also, she made her way +toward him, intending to invite him to ride with us. She wore over her +best clothes an old coat that had once belonged to some one of her men +friends. It had once been bearskin, but was now more <i>bare</i> skin, so +her appearance was against her; she looked like something with the +mange. So Mr. Drummer did not wait to hear what she <a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a>was going to say +but at once exclaimed, "No, madam, I cannot let you ride out with me. I +can't get a rig myself in this beastly place." Then he turned to a man +standing near and remarked, "These Western women are so bold they don't +hesitate to <i>demand</i> favors."</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's eyes fairly snapped, but she said nothing. I think +she took a malicious delight in witnessing the drummer's chagrin when a +few moments later our comfortable sleigh and good strong team appeared.</p> + +<p>We were going to drive ourselves, but we had to drive to the depot for +our suit-cases; but when we got there the ticket-office was not open, +so the agent was probably having his beauty sleep. There was a fire in +the big stove, and we joined the bunch of men in the depot. Among them +we noticed a thin, consumptive-looking fellow, evidently a stranger.</p> + +<p>Very soon some men began talking of some transaction in which a Bishop +B—— was concerned. It seemed they didn't admire the Bishop very much; +they kept talking of <a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a>his peculiarities and transgressions, and +mentioned his treatment of his wives. His "second," they said, was +blind because of cataracts, and, although abundantly able, he left her +in darkness. She had never seen her two last children. Some one spoke +up and said, "I thought polygamy was no longer practiced." Then the man +explained that they no longer contracted plural marriages, but that +many kept <i>all</i> their wives and B—— still had both of his. He went on +to say that although such practice is contrary to law, it was almost +impossible to make a case against them, for the women would not swear +against their husbands. B—— had been arrested once, but his second +swore that she didn't know who her children's father was, and it cost +the sheriff his office the next election.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Shaughnessy spoke to an acquaintance of hers and mentioned where +we were going. In a short while we got our suit-cases and we were off, +but as we drove past the freight depot, the stranger we had noticed +<a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a>came down the steps and asked us to let him ride out with us. I really +felt afraid of him, but Mrs. O'Shaughnessy thinks herself a match for +any mere man, so she drew up and the man climbed in. He took the lines +and we snuggled down under the robes and listened to the runners, +shrill screeching over the frozen surface.</p> + +<p>We had dinner with a new settler, and about two o'clock that afternoon +we overtook a fellow who was plodding along the road. His name was +B——, he said, and he pointed out to us his broad fields and herds. He +had been overseeing some feeders he had, and his horse had escaped, so +he was walking home, as it was only a couple of miles. He talked a +great deal in that two-mile trip; too much for his own good, it +developed.</p> + +<p>For the first time since B—— climbed into our sleigh, the stranger +spoke. "Can you tell me where Mrs. Belle B—— lives?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," our passenger replied. "She is a member of our little +flock. She is slightly <a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a>related to me, as you perhaps noticed the name, +and I will show you to her house."</p> + +<p>"Just how is she related to you?" the stranger asked.</p> + +<p>"That," the man replied, "is a matter of protection. I have <i>given</i> her +the protection of my name."</p> + +<p>"Then she is your wife, is she not?" the stranger asked.</p> + +<p>"You must be a stranger in this country," the man evaded. "What is your +name?"</p> + +<p>But the stranger didn't seem to hear, and just then we came opposite +the residence of the Bishop, and the man we had picked up in the road +said, "That is my home, won't you get out and warm? My wife will be +glad to get acquainted with you ladies."</p> + +<p>We declined, as it was only a short distance to the house of the man +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had come to see, so he stayed in the sleigh to show +the stranger to the house of Mrs. Belle B——. I can't say much for it +as a house, and I was glad I didn't have to go in. The <a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a>stranger and +B—— got out and entered the house, and we drove away.</p> + +<p>Next morning, as we returned through the little village, it was all +excitement. Bishop B—— had been shot the night before, just as he had +left the house of Mrs. Belle B——, for what reason or by whom no one +knew; and if the Bishop knew he had not told, for he either would not +or could not talk.</p> + +<p>They were going to start with him that day to the hospital, but they +had no hopes of his living.</p> + +<p>When we came to Mrs. Belle's house, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy got out of the +sleigh and went into the house. I could hear her soothing voice, and I +was mighty glad the poor, forlorn woman had such a comforter.</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>I was so <i>very</i> glad to get home. How good it all looked to me! "Poop +o' Roome" has a calf, and as we drove up to the corral Clyde was trying +to get it into the stall with the rest. It is "Poop's" first calf, and +she is very <a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a>proud of it, and objected to its being put away from her, +so she bunted at Clyde, and as he dodged her, the calf ran between his +feet and he sat down suddenly in the snow. I laughed at him, but I am +powerfully glad he is no follower of old Joseph Smith.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Louderer was enjoying herself immensely, she loves children so +much. She and Clyde hired the "Tackler"—so called because he will +tackle <i>any</i> kind of a job, whether he knows anything about it or +not—to paper the room. He thinks he is a great judge of the fitness of +things and of beauty. The paper has a stripe of roses, so Tackler +reversed every other strip so that some of my roses are standing on +their heads. Roses don't all grow one way, he claims, and so his method +"makes 'em look more nachul like."</p> + +<p>A little thing like wall-paper put on upside down don't bother me; but +what <i>would</i> I do if I were a "second"?</p> + +<div> +<p>Your loving friend,<br /> +<span class="sc2">Elinore Rupert Stewart.</span></p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="XXVI" id="XXVI"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a> +<h3>XXVI<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h3>SUCCESS</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="right"> +<i>November, 1913.</i><br /> +</div> + +<p class="noin"><span class="sc">Dear Mrs. Coney,—</span></p> + +<p>This is Sunday and I suppose I ought not to be writing, but I must +write to you and I may not have another chance soon. Both your letters +have reached me, and now that our questions are settled we can proceed +to proceed.</p> + +<p>Now, this is the letter I have been wanting to write you for a long +time, but could not because until now I had not actually proven all I +wanted to prove. Perhaps it will not interest you, but if you see a +woman who wants to homestead and is a little afraid she will starve, +you can tell her what I am telling you.</p> + +<p>I never did like to theorize, and so this year I set out to prove that +a woman could ranch if she wanted to. We like to grow <a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a>potatoes on new +ground, that is, newly cleared land on which no crop has been grown. +Few weeds grow on new land, so it makes less work. So I selected my +potato-patch, and the man ploughed it, although I could have done that +if Clyde would have let me. I cut the potatoes, Jerrine helped, and we +dropped them in the rows. The man covered them, and that ends the man's +part. By that time the garden ground was ready, so I planted the +garden. I had almost an acre in vegetables. I irrigated and I +cultivated it myself.</p> + +<p>We had all the vegetables we could possibly use, and now Jerrine and I +have put in our cellar full, and this is what we have: one large bin of +potatoes (more than two tons), half a ton of carrots, a large bin of +beets, one of turnips, one of onions, one of parsnips, and on the other +side of the cellar we have more than one hundred heads of cabbage. I +have experimented and found a kind of squash that can be raised here, +and that the ripe ones keep well and make good pies; also that <a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a>the +young tender ones make splendid pickles, quite equal to cucumbers. I +was glad to stumble on to that, because pickles are hard to manufacture +when you have nothing to work with. Now I have plenty. They told me +when I came that I could not even raise common beans, but I tried and +succeeded. And also I raised lots of green tomatoes, and, as we like +them preserved, I made them all up that way. Experimenting along +another line, I found that I could make catchup, as delicious as that +of tomatoes, of gooseberries. I made it exactly the same as I do the +tomatoes and I am delighted. Gooseberries were very fine and very +plentiful this year, so I put up a great many. I milked ten cows twice +a day all summer; have sold enough butter to pay for a year's supply of +flour and gasoline. We use a gasoline lamp. I have raised enough +chickens to completely renew my flock, and all we wanted to eat, and +have some fryers to go into the winter with. I have enough turkeys for +all of our birthdays and holidays.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a>I raised a great many flowers and I worked several days in the field. +In all I have told about I have had no help but Jerrine. Clyde's mother +spends each summer with us, and she helped me with the cooking and the +babies. Many of my neighbors did better than I did, although I know +many town people would doubt my doing so much, but I did it. I have +tried every kind of work this ranch affords, and I can do any of it. Of +course I <i>am</i> extra strong, but those who try know that strength and +knowledge come with doing. I just love to experiment, to work, and to +prove out things, so that ranch life and "roughing it" just suit me.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> + + +<h3>THE END</h3> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of a Woman Homesteader +by Elinore Pruitt Stewart + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER *** + +***** This file should be named 16623-h.htm or 16623-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/2/16623/ + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/16623-h/images/frontimage.png b/16623-h/images/frontimage.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..08dfd05 --- /dev/null +++ b/16623-h/images/frontimage.png diff --git a/16623.txt b/16623.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7706334 --- /dev/null +++ b/16623.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5068 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Letters of a Woman Homesteader, by Elinore Pruitt Stewart + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Letters of a Woman Homesteader + +Author: Elinore Pruitt Stewart + +Release Date: August 30, 2005 [EBook #16623] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER *** + + + + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + * * * * * + + + + + + LETTERS + OF A WOMAN + HOMESTEADER + + BY + + _Elinore Pruitt Stewart_ + + [Illustration] + + + BOSTON AND NEW YORK + HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY + The Riverside Press Cambridge + + + + + 1913 AND 1914, BY THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY CO. + + 1914, BY ELINORE PRUITT STEWART + + ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + + _Published May 1914_ + + + + +PUBLISHERS' NOTE + + +The writer of the following letters is a young woman who lost her +husband in a railroad accident and went to Denver to seek support for +herself and her two-year-old daughter, Jerrine. Turning her hand to the +nearest work, she went out by the day as house-cleaner and laundress. +Later, seeking to better herself, she accepted employment as a +housekeeper for a well-to-do Scotch cattle-man, Mr. Stewart, who had +taken up a quarter-section in Wyoming. The letters, written through +several years to a former employer in Denver, tell the story of her new +life in the new country. They are genuine letters, and are printed as +written, except for occasional omissions and the alteration of some of +the names. + + 4 PARK ST. + + + +CONTENTS + + + I. THE ARRIVAL AT BURNT FORK 3 + + II. FILING A CLAIM 7 + + III. A BUSY, HAPPY SUMMER 15 + + IV. A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND ZEBULON PIKE 23 + + V. SEDALIA AND REGALIA 45 + + VI. A THANKSGIVING-DAY WEDDING 54 + + VII. ZEBULON PIKE VISITS HIS OLD HOME 60 + + VIII. A HAPPY CHRISTMAS 64 + + IX. A CONFESSION 77 + + X. THE STORY OF CORA BELLE 81 + + XI. ZEBBIE'S STORY 100 + + XII. A CONTENTED COUPLE 117 + + XIII. PROVING UP 133 + + XIV. THE NEW HOUSE 137 + + XV. THE "STOCKING-LEG" DINNER 143 + + XVI. THE HORSE-THIEVES 157 + + XVII. AT GAVOTTE'S CAMP 180 + +XVIII. THE HOMESTEADER'S MARRIAGE AND A LITTLE FUNERAL 184 + + XIX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE 193 + + XX. THE JOYS OF HOMESTEADING 213 + + XXI. A LETTER OF JERRINE'S 218 + + XXII. THE EFFICIENT MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY 220 + +XXIII. HOW IT HAPPENED 225 + + XXIV. A LITTLE ROMANCE 230 + + XXV. AMONG THE MORMONS 256 + + XXVI. SUCCESS 279 + + * * * * * + + + + +LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER + + +I + +THE ARRIVAL AT BURNT FORK + + + BURNT FORK, WYOMING, + _April 18, 1909._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Are you thinking I am lost, like the Babes in the Wood? Well, I am not +and I'm sure the robins would have the time of their lives getting +leaves to cover me out here. I am 'way up close to the Forest Reserve +of Utah, within half a mile of the line, sixty miles from the railroad. +I was twenty-four hours on the train and two days on the stage, and oh, +those two days! The snow was just beginning to melt and the mud was +about the worst I ever heard of. + +The first stage we tackled was just about as rickety as it could very +well be and I had to sit with the driver, who was a Mormon and so +handsome that I was not a bit offended when he insisted on making love +all the way, especially after he told me that he was a widower Mormon. +But, of course, as I had no chaperone I looked very fierce (not that +that was very difficult with the wind and mud as allies) and told him +my actual opinion of Mormons in general and particular. + +Meantime my new employer, Mr. Stewart, sat upon a stack of baggage and +was dreadfully concerned about something he calls his "Tookie," but I +am unable to tell you what that is. The road, being so muddy, was full +of ruts and the stage acted as if it had the hiccoughs and made us all +talk as though we were affected in the same way. Once Mr. Stewart asked +me if I did not think it a "gey duir trip." I told him he could call it +gay if he wanted to, but it didn't seem very hilarious to me. Every +time the stage struck a rock or a rut Mr. Stewart would "hoot," until +I began to wish we would come to a hollow tree or a hole in the ground +so he could go in with the rest of the owls. + +At last we "arriv," and everything is just lovely for me. I have a +very, very comfortable situation and Mr. Stewart is absolutely no +trouble, for as soon as he has his meals he retires to his room and +plays on his bagpipe, only he calls it his "bugpeep." It is "The +Campbells are Coming," without variations, at intervals all day long +and from seven till eleven at night. Sometimes I wish they would make +haste and get here. + +There is a saddle horse especially for me and a little shotgun with +which I am to kill sage chickens. We are between two trout streams, so +you can think of me as being happy when the snow is through melting and +the water gets clear. We have the finest flock of Plymouth Rocks and +get so many nice eggs. It sure seems fine to have all the cream I want +after my town experiences. Jerrine is making good use of all the good +things we are having. She rides the pony to water every day. + +I have not filed on my land yet because the snow is fifteen feet deep +on it, and I think I would rather see what I am getting, so will wait +until summer. They have just three seasons here, winter and July and +August. We are to plant our garden the last of May. When it is so I can +get around I will see about land and find out all I can and tell you. + +I think this letter is about to reach thirty-secondly, so I will send +you my sincerest love and quit tiring you. Please write me when you +have time. + + Sincerely yours, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +II + +FILING A CLAIM + + + _May 24, 1909._ + +DEAR, DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Well, I have filed on my land and am now a bloated landowner. I waited +a long time to even _see_ land in the reserve, and the snow is yet too +deep, so I thought that as they have but three months of summer and +spring together and as I wanted the land for a ranch anyway, perhaps I +had better stay in the valley. So I have filed adjoining Mr. Stewart +and I am well pleased. I have a grove of twelve swamp pines on my +place, and I am going to build my house there. I thought it would be +very romantic to live on the peaks amid the whispering pines, but I +reckon it would be powerfully uncomfortable also, and I guess my twelve +can whisper enough for me; and a dandy thing is, I have all the nice +snow-water I want; a small stream runs right through the center of my +land and I am quite near wood. + +A neighbor and his daughter were going to Green River, the county-seat, +and said I might go along, so I did, as I could file there as well as +at the land office; and oh, that trip! I had more fun to the square +inch than Mark Twain or Samantha Allen _ever_ provoked. It took us a +whole week to go and come. We camped out, of course, for in the whole +sixty miles there was but one house, and going in that direction there +is not a tree to be seen, nothing but sage, sand, and sheep. About noon +the first day out we came near a sheep-wagon, and stalking along ahead +of us was a lanky fellow, a herder, going home for dinner. Suddenly it +seemed to me I should starve if I had to wait until we got where we had +planned to stop for dinner, so I called out to the man, "Little +Bo-Peep, have you anything to eat? If you have, we'd like to find it." +And he answered, "As soon as I am able it shall be on the table, if +you'll but trouble to get behind it." Shades of Shakespeare! Songs of +David, the Shepherd Poet! What do you think of us? Well, we got behind +it, and a more delicious "it" I never tasted. Such coffee! And out of +_such_ a pot! I promised Bo-Peep that I would send him a crook with +pink ribbons on it, but I suspect he thinks I am a crook without the +ribbons. + +The sagebrush is so short in some places that it is not large enough to +make a fire, so we had to drive until quite late before we camped that +night. After driving all day over what seemed a level desert of sand, +we came about sundown to a beautiful canon, down which we had to drive +for a couple of miles before we could cross. In the canon the shadows +had already fallen, but when we looked up we could see the last shafts +of sunlight on the tops of the great bare buttes. Suddenly a great wolf +started from somewhere and galloped along the edge of the canon, +outlined black and clear by the setting sun. His curiosity overcame him +at last, so he sat down and waited to see what manner of beast we +were. I reckon he was disappointed for he howled most dismally. I +thought of Jack London's "The Wolf." + +After we quitted the canon I saw the most beautiful sight. It seemed as +if we were driving through a golden haze. The violet shadows were +creeping up between the hills, while away back of us the snow-capped +peaks were catching the sun's last rays. On every side of us stretched +the poor, hopeless desert, the sage, grim and determined to live in +spite of starvation, and the great, bare, desolate buttes. The +beautiful colors turned to amber and rose, and then to the general +tone, dull gray. Then we stopped to camp, and such a scurrying around +to gather brush for the fire and to get supper! Everything tasted so +good! Jerrine ate like a man. Then we raised the wagon tongue and +spread the wagon sheet over it and made a bedroom for us women. We made +our beds on the warm, soft sand and went to bed. + +It was too beautiful a night to sleep, so I put my head out to look and +to think. I saw the moon come up and hang for a while over the mountain +as if it were discouraged with the prospect, and the big white stars +flirted shamelessly with the hills. I saw a coyote come trotting along +and I felt sorry for him, having to hunt food in so barren a place, but +when presently I heard the whirr of wings I felt sorry for the sage +chickens he had disturbed. At length a cloud came up and I went to +sleep, and next morning was covered several inches with snow. It didn't +hurt us a bit, but while I was struggling with stubborn corsets and +shoes I communed with myself, after the manner of prodigals, and said: +"How much better that I were down in Denver, even at Mrs. Coney's, +digging with a skewer into the corners seeking dirt which _might_ be +there, yea, even eating codfish, than that I should perish on this +desert--of imagination." So I turned the current of my imagination and +fancied that I was at home before the fireplace, and that the backlog +was about to roll down. My fancy was in such good working trim that +before I knew it I kicked the wagon wheel, and I certainly got as warm +as the most "sot" Scientist that ever read Mrs. Eddy could possibly +wish. + +After two more such days I "arrived." When I went up to the office +where I was to file, the door was open and the most taciturn old man +sat before a desk. I hesitated at the door, but he never let on. I +coughed, yet no sign but a deeper scowl. I stepped in and modestly +kicked over a chair. He whirled around like I had shot him. "Well?" he +interrogated. I said, "I am powerful glad of it. I was afraid you were +sick, you looked in such pain." He looked at me a minute, then grinned +and said he thought I was a book-agent. Fancy me, a fat, comfortable +widow, trying to sell books! + +Well, I filed and came home. If you will believe me, the Scot was glad +to see me and didn't herald the Campbells for two hours after I got +home. I'll tell you, it is mighty seldom any one's so much appreciated. + +No, we have no rural delivery. It is two miles to the office, but I go +whenever I like. It is really the jolliest kind of fun to gallop down. +We are sixty miles from the railroad, but when we want anything we send +by the mail-carrier for it, only there is nothing to get. + +I know this is an inexcusably long letter, but it is snowing so hard +and you know how I like to talk. I am sure Jerrine will enjoy the cards +and we will be glad to get them. Many things that are a comfort to us +out here came from dear Mrs. ----. Baby has the rabbit you gave her last +Easter a year ago. In Denver I was afraid my baby would grow up devoid +of imagination. Like all the kindergartners, she depended upon others +to amuse her. I was very sorry about it, for my castles in Spain have +been real homes to me. But there is no fear. She has a block of wood +she found in the blacksmith shop which she calls her "dear baby." A +spoke out of a wagon wheel is "little Margaret," and a barrel-stave is +"bad little Johnny." + +Well, I must quit writing before you vote me a nuisance. With lots of +love to you, + + Your sincere friend, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +III + +A BUSY, HAPPY SUMMER + + + _September 11, 1909._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +This has been for me the busiest, happiest summer I can remember. I +have worked very hard, but it has been work that I really enjoy. Help +of any kind is very hard to get here, and Mr. Stewart had been too +confident of getting men, so that haying caught him with too few men to +put up the hay. He had no man to run the mower and he couldn't run both +the mower and the stacker, so you can fancy what a place he was in. + +I don't know that I ever told you, but my parents died within a year of +each other and left six of us to shift for ourselves. Our people +offered to take one here and there among them until we should all have +a place, but we refused to be raised on the halves and so arranged to +stay at Grandmother's and keep together. Well, we had no money to hire +men to do our work, so had to learn to do it ourselves. Consequently I +learned to do many things which girls more fortunately situated don't +even know have to be done. Among the things I learned to do was the way +to run a mowing-machine. It cost me many bitter tears because I got +sunburned, and my hands were hard, rough, and stained with machine oil, +and I used to wonder how any Prince Charming could overlook all that in +any girl he came to. For all I had ever read of the Prince had to do +with his "reverently kissing her lily-white hand," or doing some other +fool trick with a hand as white as a snowflake. Well, when my Prince +showed up he didn't lose much time in letting me know that "Barkis was +willing," and I wrapped my hands in my old checked apron and took him +up before he could catch his breath. Then there was no more mowing, and +I almost forgot that I knew how until Mr. Stewart got into such a +panic. If he put a man to mow, it kept them all idle at the stacker, +and he just couldn't get enough men. I was afraid to tell him I could +mow for fear he would forbid me to do so. But one morning, when he was +chasing a last hope of help, I went down to the barn, took out the +horses, and went to mowing. I had enough cut before he got back to show +him I knew how, and as he came back manless he was delighted as well as +surprised. I was glad because I really like to mow, and besides that, I +am adding feathers to my cap in a surprising way. When you see me again +you will think I am wearing a feather duster, but it is only that I +have been said to have almost as much sense as a "mon," and that is an +honor I never aspired to, even in my wildest dreams. + +I have done most of my cooking at night, have milked seven cows every +day, and have done all the hay-cutting, so you see I have been working. +But I have found time to put up thirty pints of jelly and the same +amount of jam for myself. I used wild fruits, gooseberries, currants, +raspberries, and cherries. I have almost two gallons of the cherry +butter, and I think it is delicious. I wish I could get some of it to +you, I am sure you would like it. + +We began haying July 5 and finished September 8. After working so hard +and so steadily I decided on a day off, so yesterday I saddled the +pony, took a few things I needed, and Jerrine and I fared forth. Baby +can ride behind quite well. We got away by sunup and a glorious day we +had. We followed a stream higher up into the mountains and the air was +so keen and clear at first we had on our coats. There was a tang of +sage and of pine in the air, and our horse was midside deep in +rabbit-brush, a shrub just covered with flowers that look and smell +like goldenrod. The blue distance promised many alluring adventures, so +we went along singing and simply gulping in summer. Occasionally a +bunch of sage chickens would fly up out of the sagebrush, or a jack +rabbit would leap out. Once we saw a bunch of antelope gallop over a +hill, but we were out just to be out, and game didn't tempt us. I +started, though, to have just as good a time as possible, so I had a +fish-hook in my knapsack. + +Presently, about noon, we came to a little dell where the grass was as +soft and as green as a lawn. The creek kept right up against the hills +on one side and there were groves of quaking asp and cottonwoods that +made shade, and service-bushes and birches that shut off the ugly hills +on the other side. We dismounted and prepared to noon. We caught a few +grasshoppers and I cut a birch pole for a rod. The trout are so +beautiful now, their sides are so silvery, with dashes of old rose and +orange, their speckles are so black, while their backs look as if they +had been sprinkled with gold-dust. They bite so well that it doesn't +require any especial skill or tackle to catch plenty for a meal in a +few minutes. + +In a little while I went back to where I had left my pony browsing, +with eight beauties. We made a fire first, then I dressed my trout +while it was burning down to a nice bed of coals. I had brought a +frying-pan and a bottle of lard, salt, and buttered bread. We gathered +a few service-berries, our trout were soon browned, and with water, +clear, and as cold as ice, we had a feast. The quaking aspens are +beginning to turn yellow, but no leaves have fallen. Their shadows +dimpled and twinkled over the grass like happy children. The sound of +the dashing, roaring water kept inviting me to cast for trout, but I +didn't want to carry them so far, so we rested until the sun was +getting low and then started for home, with the song of the locusts in +our ears warning us that the melancholy days are almost here. We would +come up over the top of a hill into the glory of a beautiful sunset +with its gorgeous colors, then down into the little valley already +purpling with mysterious twilight. So on, until, just at dark, we rode +into our corral and a mighty tired, sleepy little girl was powerfully +glad to get home. + +After I had mailed my other letter I was afraid that you would think me +plumb bold about the little Bo-Peep, and was a heap sorrier than you +can think. If you only knew the hardships these poor men endure. They +go two together and sometimes it is months before they see another +soul, and rarely ever a woman. I wouldn't act so free in town, but +these men see people so seldom that they are awkward and embarrassed. I +like to put them at ease, and it is to be done only by being kind of +hail-fellow-well-met with them. So far not one has ever misunderstood +me and I have been treated with every courtesy and kindness, so I am +powerfully glad you understand. They really enjoy doing these little +things like fixing our dinner, and if my poor company can add to any +one's pleasure I am too glad. + + Sincerely yours, + ELINORE RUPERT. + +Mr. Stewart is going to put up my house for me in pay for my extra +work. + +I am ashamed of my long letters to you, but I am such a murderer of +language that I have to use it all to tell anything. + +Please don't entirely forget me. Your letters mean so much to me and I +will try to answer more promptly. + + + + +IV + +A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND ZEBULON PIKE + + + _September 28, 1909._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Your second card just reached me and I am plumb glad because, although +I answered your other, I was wishing I could write you, for I have had +the most charming adventure. + +It is the custom here for as many women as care to to go in a party +over into Utah to Ashland (which is over a hundred miles away) after +fruit. They usually go in September, and it takes a week to make the +trip. They take wagons and camp out and of course have a good time, +but, the greater part of the way, there isn't even the semblance of a +road and it is merely a semblance anywhere. They came over to invite me +to join them. I was of two minds--I wanted to go, but it seemed a +little risky and a big chance for discomfort, since we would have to +cross the Uinta Mountains, and a snowstorm likely any time. But I +didn't like to refuse outright, so we left it to Mr. Stewart. His +"Ye're nae gang" sounded powerful final, so the ladies departed in awed +silence and I assumed a martyr-like air and acted like a very much +abused woman, although he did only what I wanted him to do. At last, in +sheer desperation he told me the "bairn canna stand the treep," and +that was why he was so determined. I knew why, of course, but I +continued to look abused lest he gets it into his head that he can boss +me. After he had been reduced to the proper plane of humility and had +explained and begged my pardon and had told me to consult only my own +pleasure about going and coming and using his horses, only not to +"expoose" the bairn, why, I forgave him and we were friends once more. + +Next day all the men left for the roundup, to be gone a week. I knew I +never could stand myself a whole week. In a little while the ladies +came past on their way to Ashland. They were all laughing and were so +happy that I really began to wish I was one of the number, but they +went their way and I kept wanting to go _somewhere_. I got reckless and +determined to do something real bad. So I went down to the barn and +saddled Robin Adair, placed a pack on "Jeems McGregor," then Jerrine +and I left for a camping-out expedition. + +It was nine o'clock when we started and we rode hard until about four, +when I turned Robin loose, saddle and all, for I knew he would go home +and some one would see him and put him into the pasture. We had gotten +to where we couldn't ride anyway, so I put Jerrine on the pack and led +"Jeems" for about two hours longer; then, as I had come to a good place +to camp, we stopped. + +While we had at least two good hours of daylight, it gets so cold here +in the evening that fire is very necessary. We had been climbing higher +into the mountains all day and had reached a level tableland where the +grass was luxuriant and there was plenty of wood and water. I unpacked +"Jeems" and staked him out, built a roaring fire, and made our bed in +an angle of a sheer wall of rock where we would be protected against +the wind. Then I put some potatoes into the embers, as Baby and I are +both fond of roasted potatoes. I started to a little spring to get +water for my coffee when I saw a couple of jack rabbits playing, so I +went back for my little shotgun. I shot one of the rabbits, so I felt +very like Leather-stocking because I had killed but one when I might +have gotten two. It was fat and young, and it was but the work of a +moment to dress it and hang it up on a tree. Then I fried some slices +of bacon, made myself a cup of coffee, and Jerrine and I sat on the +ground and ate. Everything smelled and tasted so good! This air is so +tonic that one gets delightfully hungry. Afterward we watered and +restaked "Jeems," I rolled some logs on to the fire, and then we sat +and enjoyed the prospect. + +The moon was so new that its light was very dim, but the stars were +bright. Presently a long, quivering wail arose and was answered from a +dozen hills. It seemed just the sound one ought to hear in such a +place. When the howls ceased for a moment we could hear the subdued +roar of the creek and the crooning of the wind in the pines. So we +rather enjoyed the coyote chorus and were not afraid, because they +don't attack people. Presently we crept under our Navajos and, being +tired, were soon asleep. + +I was awakened by a pebble striking my cheek. Something prowling on the +bluff above us had dislodged it and it struck me. By my Waterbury it +was four o'clock, so I arose and spitted my rabbit. The logs had left a +big bed of coals, but some ends were still burning and had burned in +such a manner that the heat would go both under and over my rabbit. So +I put plenty of bacon grease over him and hung him up to roast. Then I +went back to bed. I didn't want to start early because the air is too +keen for comfort early in the morning. + +The sun was just gilding the hilltops when we arose. Everything, even +the barrenness, was beautiful. We have had frosts, and the quaking +aspens were a trembling field of gold as far up the stream as we could +see. We were 'way up above them and could look far across the valley. +We could see the silvery gold of the willows, the russet and bronze of +the currants, and patches of cheerful green showed where the pines +were. The splendor was relieved by a background of sober gray-green +hills, but even on them gay streaks and patches of yellow showed where +rabbit-brush grew. We washed our faces at the spring,--the grasses that +grew around the edge and dipped into the water were loaded with +ice,--our rabbit was done to a turn, so I made some delicious coffee, +Jerrine got herself a can of water, and we breakfasted. Shortly +afterwards we started again. We didn't know where we were going, but we +were on our way. + +That day was more toilsome than the last, but a very happy one. The +meadowlarks kept singing like they were glad to see us. But we were +still climbing and soon got beyond the larks and sage chickens and up +into the timber, where there are lots of grouse. We stopped to noon by +a little lake, where I got two small squirrels and a string of trout. +We had some trout for dinner and salted the rest with the squirrels in +an empty can for future use. I was anxious to get a grouse and kept +close watch, but was never quick enough. Our progress was now slower +and more difficult, because in places we could scarcely get through the +forest. Fallen trees were everywhere and we had to avoid the branches, +which was powerful hard to do. Besides, it was quite dusky among the +trees long before night, but it was all so grand and awe-inspiring. +Occasionally there was an opening through which we could see the snowy +peaks, seemingly just beyond us, toward which we were headed. But when +you get among such grandeur you get to feel how little you are and how +foolish is human endeavor, except that which reunites us with the +mighty force called God. I was plumb uncomfortable, because all my own +efforts have always been just to make the best of everything and to +take things as they come. + +At last we came to an open side of the mountain where the trees were +scattered. We were facing south and east, and the mountain we were on +sheered away in a dangerous slant. Beyond us still greater wooded +mountains blocked the way, and in the canon between night had already +fallen. I began to get scary. I could only think of bears and +catamounts, so, as it was five o'clock, we decided to camp. The trees +were immense. The lower branches came clear to the ground and grew so +dense that any tree afforded a splendid shelter from the weather, but I +was nervous and wanted one that would protect us against any possible +attack. At last we found one growing in a crevice of what seemed to be +a sheer wall of rock. Nothing could reach us on two sides, and in front +two large trees had fallen so that I could make a log heap which would +give us warmth and make us safe. So with rising spirits I unpacked and +prepared for the night. I soon had a roaring fire up against the logs +and, cutting away a few branches, let the heat into as snug a bedroom +as any one could wish. The pine needles made as soft a carpet as the +wealthiest could afford. Springs abound in the mountains, so water was +plenty. I staked "Jeems" quite near so that the firelight would +frighten away any wild thing that tried to harm him. Grass was very +plentiful, so when he was made "comfy" I made our bed and fried our +trout. The branches had torn off the bag in which I had my bread, so it +was lost in the forest, but who needs bread when they have good, mealy +potatoes? In a short time we were eating like Lent was just over. We +lost all the glory of the sunset except what we got by reflection, +being on the side of the mountain we were, with the dense woods +between. Big sullen clouds kept drifting over and a wind got lost in +the trees that kept them rocking and groaning in a horrid way. But we +were just as cozy as we could be and rest was as good as anything. + +I wish you could once sleep on the kind of bed we enjoyed that night. +It was both soft and firm, with the clean, spicy smell of the pine. The +heat from our big fire came in and we were warm as toast. It was so +good to stretch out and rest. I kept thinking how superior I was since +I dared to take such an outing when so many poor women down in Denver +were bent on making their twenty cents per hour in order that they +could spare a quarter to go to the "show." I went to sleep with a +powerfully self-satisfied feeling, but I awoke to realize that pride +goeth before a fall. + +I could hardly remember where I was when I awoke, and I could almost +hear the silence. Not a tree moaned, not a branch seemed to stir. I +arose and my head came in violent contact with a snag that was not +there when I went to bed. I thought either I must have grown taller or +the tree shorter during the night. As soon as I peered out, the mystery +was explained. + +Such a snowstorm I never saw! The snow had pressed the branches down +lower, hence my bumped head. Our fire was burning merrily and the heat +kept the snow from in front. I scrambled out and poked up the fire; +then, as it was only five o'clock, I went back to bed. And then I began +to think how many kinds of idiot I was. Here I was thirty or forty +miles from home, in the mountains where no one goes in the winter and +where I knew the snow got to be ten or fifteen feet deep. But I could +never see the good of moping, so I got up and got breakfast while Baby +put her shoes on. We had our squirrels and more baked potatoes and I +had delicious black coffee. + +After I had eaten I felt more hopeful. I knew Mr. Stewart would hunt +for me if he knew I was lost. It was true, he wouldn't know which way +to start, but I determined to rig up "Jeems" and turn him loose, for I +knew he would go home and that he would leave a trail so that I could +be found. I hated to do so, for I knew I should always have to be +powerfully humble afterwards. Anyway it was still snowing, great, heavy +flakes; they looked as large as dollars. I didn't want to start "Jeems" +until the snow stopped because I wanted him to leave a clear trail. I +had sixteen loads for my gun and I reasoned that I could likely kill +enough food to last twice that many days by being careful what I shot +at. It just kept snowing, so at last I decided to take a little hunt +and provide for the day. I left Jerrine happy with the towel rolled +into a baby, and went along the brow of the mountain for almost a +mile, but the snow fell so thickly that I couldn't see far. Then I +happened to look down into the canon that lay east of us and saw smoke. +I looked toward it a long time, but could make out nothing but smoke, +but presently I heard a dog bark and I knew I was near a camp of some +kind. I resolved to join them, so went back to break my own camp. + +At last everything was ready and Jerrine and I both mounted. Of all the +times! If you think there is much comfort, or even security, in riding +a pack-horse in a snowstorm over mountains where there is no road, you +are plumb wrong. Every once in a while a tree would unload its snow +down our backs. "Jeems" kept stumbling and threatening to break our +necks. At last we got down the mountain-side, where new danger +confronted us,--we might lose sight of the smoke or ride into a bog. +But at last, after what seemed hours, we came into a "clearing" with a +small log house and, what is rare in Wyoming, a fireplace. Three or +four hounds set up their deep baying, and I knew by the chimney and the +hounds that it was the home of a Southerner. A little old man came +bustling out, chewing his tobacco so fast, and almost frantic about his +suspenders, which it seemed he couldn't get adjusted. + +As I rode up, he said, "Whither, friend?" I said "Hither." Then he +asked, "Air you spying around for one of them dinged game wardens arter +that deer I killed yisteddy?" I told him I had never even seen a game +warden and that I didn't know he had killed a deer. "Wall," he said, +"air you spying around arter that gold mine I diskivered over on the +west side of Baldy?" But after a while I convinced him that I was no +more nor less than a foolish woman lost in the snow. Then he said, +"Light, stranger, and look at your saddle." So I "lit" and looked, and +then I asked him what part of the South he was from. He answered, "Yell +County, by gum! The best place in the United States, or in the world, +either." That was my introduction to Zebulon Pike Parker. + +Only two "Johnny Rebs" could have enjoyed each other's company as +Zebulon Pike and myself did. He was so small and so old, but so +cheerful and so sprightly, and a real Southerner! He had a big, open +fireplace with backlogs and andirons. How I enjoyed it all! How we +feasted on some of the deer killed "yisteddy," and real corn-pone baked +in a skillet down on the hearth. He was so full of happy recollections +and had a few that were not so happy! He is, in some way, a kinsman of +Pike of Pike's Peak fame, and he came west "jist arter the wah" on some +expedition and "jist stayed." He told me about his home life back in +Yell County, and I feel that I know all the "young uns." + +There was George Henry, his only brother; and there were Phoebe and +"Mothie," whose real name is Martha; and poor little Mary Ann, whose +death was described so feelingly that no one could keep back the +tears. Lastly there was little Mandy, the baby and his favorite, but +who, I am afraid, was a selfish little beast since she had to have her +prunellas when all the rest of the "young uns" had to wear shoes that +old Uncle Buck made out of rawhide. But then "her eyes were blue as +morning-glories and her hair was jist like corn-silk, so yaller and +fluffy." Bless his simple, honest heart! His own eyes are blue and +kind, and his poor, thin little shoulders are so round that they almost +meet in front. How he loved to talk of his boyhood days! I can almost +see his father and George Henry as they marched away to the "wah" +together, and the poor little mother's despair as she waited day after +day for some word, that never came. + +Poor little Mary Ann was drowned in the bayou, where she was trying to +get water-lilies. She had wanted a white dress all her life and so, +when she was dead, they took down the white cross-bar curtains and +Mother made the little shroud by the light of a tallow dip. But, being +made by hand, it took all the next day, too, so that they buried her by +moonlight down back of the orchard under the big elm where the children +had always had their swing. And they lined and covered her grave with +big, fragrant water-lilies. As they lowered the poor little home-made +coffin into the grave the mockingbirds began to sing and they sang all +that dewy, moonlight night. Then little Mandy's wedding to Judge +Carter's son Jim was described. She wore a "cream-colored poplin with a +red rose throwed up in it," and the lace that was on Grandma's wedding +dress. There were bowers of sweet Southern roses and honeysuckle and +wistaria. Don't you know she was a dainty bride? + +At last it came out that he had not heard from home since he left it. +"Don't you ever write?" I asked. "No, I am not an eddicated man, +although I started to school. Yes'm, I started along of the rest, but +they told me it was a Yankee teacher and I was 'fraid, so when I got +most to the schoolhouse I hid in the bushes with my spelling-book, so +that is all the learning I ever got. But my mother was an eddicated +woman, yes'm, she could both read and write. I have the Bible she give +me yit. Yes'm, you jist wait and I'll show you." After some rummaging +in a box he came back with a small leather-bound Bible with print so +small it was hard to read. After turning to the record of births and +deaths he handed it to me, his wrinkled old face shining with pride as +he said, "There, my mother wrote that with her own hand." I took the +book and after a little deciphered that "Zebulon Pike Parker was born +Feb. 10, 1830," written in the stiff, difficult style of long ago and +written with pokeberry ink. He said his mother used to read about some +"old feller that was jist covered with biles," so I read Job to him, +and he was full of surprise they didn't "git some cherry bark and some +sasparilly and bile it good and gin it to him." + +He had a side room to his cabin, which was his bedroom; so that night +he spread down a buffalo robe and two bearskins before the fire for +Jerrine and me. After making sure there were no moths in them, I spread +blankets over them and put a sleepy, happy little girl to bed, for he +had insisted on making molasses candy for her because they happened to +be born on the same day of the month. And then he played the fiddle +until almost one o'clock. He played all the simple, sweet, old-time +pieces, in rather a squeaky, jerky way, I am afraid, but the music +suited the time and the place. + +Next morning he called me early and when I went out I saw such a +beautiful sunrise, well worth the effort of coming to see. I had +thought his cabin in a canon, but the snow had deceived me, for a few +steps from the door the mountains seemed to drop down suddenly for +several hundred feet and the first of the snow peaks seemed to lie +right at our feet. Around its base is a great swamp, in which the swamp +pines grow very thickly and from which a vapor was rising that got +about halfway up the snow peak all around. Fancy to yourself a big +jewel-box of dark green velvet lined with silver chiffon, the snow peak +lying like an immense opal in its center and over all the amber light +of a new day. That is what it looked most like. + +Well, we next went to the corral, where I was surprised to find about +thirty head of sheep. Some of them looked like they should have been +sold ten years before. "Don't you ever sell any of your sheep?" I +asked. "No'm. There was a feller come here once and wanted to buy some +of my wethers, but I wouldn't sell any because I didn't need any +money." Then he went from animal to animal, caressing each and talking +to them, calling them each by name. He milked his one cow, fed his two +little mules, and then we went back to the house to cook breakfast. We +had delicious venison steak, smoking hot, and hoe-cakes and the +"bestest" coffee, and honey. + +After breakfast we set out for home. Our pack transferred to one of the +little mules, we rode "Jeems," and Mr. Parker rode the other mule. He +took us another way, down canon after canon, so that we were able to +ride all the time and could make better speed. We came down out of the +snow and camped within twelve miles of home in an old, deserted ranch +house. We had grouse and sage chicken for supper. I was so anxious to +get home that I could hardly sleep, but at last I did and was only +awakened by the odor of coffee, and barely had time to wash before +Zebulon Pike called breakfast. Afterwards we fixed "Jeems's" pack so +that I could still ride, for Zebulon Pike was very anxious to get back +to his "critters." + +Poor, lonely, childlike little man! He tried to tell me how glad he had +been to entertain me. "Why," he said, "I was plumb glad to see you and +right sorry to have you go. Why, I would jist as soon talk to you as to +a nigger. Yes'm, I would. It has been almost as good as talking to old +Aunt Dilsey." If a Yankee had said the same to me I would have demanded +instant apology, but I know how the Southern heart longs for the dear, +kindly old "niggers," so I came on homeward, thankful for the first +time that I can't talk correctly. + +I got home at twelve and found, to my joy, that none of the men had +returned, so I am safe from their superiority for a while, at least. + +With many apologies for this outrageous letter, I am + + Your ex-Washlady, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +V + +SEDALIA AND REGALIA + + + _November 22, 1909._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +I was dreadfully afraid that my last letter was too much for you and +now I feel plumb guilty. I really don't know how to write you, for I +have to write so much to say so little, and now that my last letter +made you sick I almost wish so many things didn't happen to me, for I +always want to tell you. Many things have happened since I last wrote, +and Zebulon Pike is not done for by any means, but I guess I will tell +you my newest experience. + +I am making a wedding dress. Don't grin; it isn't mine,--worse luck! +But I must begin at the beginning. Just after I wrote you before, there +came a terrific storm which made me appreciate indoor coziness, but as +only Baby and I were at home I expected to be very lonely. The snow was +just whirling when I saw some one pass the window. I opened the door +and in came the dumpiest little woman and two daughters. She asked me +if I was "Mis' Rupit." I told her that she had almost guessed it, and +then she introduced herself. She said she was "Mis' Lane," that she had +heard there was a new stranger in the country, so she had brought her +twin girls, Sedalia and Regalia, to be neighborly. While they were +taking off their many coats and wraps it came out that they were from +Linwood, thirty miles away. I was powerful glad I had a pot roast and +some baked beans. + +After we had put the horses in the barn we had dinner and I heard the +story of the girls' odd names. The mother is one of those "comfy," fat +little women who remain happy and bubbling with fun in spite of hard +knocks. I had already fallen in love with Regalia, she is so jolly and +unaffected, so fat and so plain. Sedalia has a veneer of most +uncomfortable refinement. She was shocked because Gale ate all the +roast she wanted, and if I had been very sensitive I would have been in +tears, because I ate a helping more than Gale did. + +But about the names. It seemed that "Mis' Lane" married quite young, +was an orphan, and had no one to tell her things she should have known. +She lived in Missouri, but about a year after her marriage the young +couple started overland for the West. It was in November, and one night +when they had reached the plains a real blue blizzard struck them. +"Mis' Lane" had been in pain all day and soon she knew what was the +matter. They were alone and it was a day's travel back to the last +house. The team had given out and the wind and sleet were seeing which +could do the most meanness. At last the poor man got a fire started and +a wagon sheet stretched in such a manner that it kept off the sleet. He +fixed a bed under the poor shelter and did all he could to keep the +fire from blowing away, and there, a few hours later, a little girl +baby was born. They melted sleet in the frying-pan to get water to wash +it. "Mis' Lane" kept feeling no better fast, and about the time they +got the poor baby dressed a second little one came. + +That she told me herself is proof she didn't die, I guess, but it is +right hard to believe she didn't. Luckily the fire lasted until the +babies were dressed and the mother began to feel better, for there was +no wood. Soon the wind stopped and the snow fell steadily. It was +warmer, and the whole family snuggled up under the wagon sheet and +slept. + +Mr. Lane is a powerful good husband. He waited two whole days for his +wife to gain strength before he resumed the journey, and on the third +morning he actually carried her to the wagon. Just think of it! Could +more be asked of any man? + +Every turn of the wheels made poor "Mis' Lane" more homesick. Like Mrs. +Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, she had a taste for geographical names, +and "Mis' Lane" is very loyal, so she wanted to call the little +first-born "Missouri." Mr. Lane said she might, but that if she did he +would call the other one "Arkansas." Sometimes homesickness would +almost master her. She would hug up the little red baby and murmur +"Missouri," and then daddy would growl playfully to "Arkansas." It went +on that way for a long time and at last she remembered that Sedalia was +in Missouri, so she felt glad and really named the older baby +"Sedalia." But she could think of nothing to match the name and was in +constant fear the father would name the other baby "Little Rock." + +For three years poor Gale was just "t'other one." Then the Lanes went +to Green River where some lodge was having a parade. They were watching +the drill when a "bystander that was standing by" said something about +the "fine regalia." Instantly "Mis' Lane" thought of her unnamed +child; so since that time Gale has had a name. + +There could be no two people more unlike than the sisters. Sedalia is +really handsome, and she is thin. But she is vain, selfish, shallow, +and conceited. Gale is not even pretty, but she is clean and she is +honest. She does many little things that are not exactly polite, but +she is good and true. They both went to the barn with me to milk. Gale +tucked up her skirts and helped me. She said, "I just love a stable, +with its hay and comfortable, contented cattle. I never go into one +without thinking of the little baby Christ. I almost expect to see a +little red baby in the straw every time I peek into a manger." + +Sedalia answered, "Well, for Heaven's sake, get out of the stable to +preach. Who wants to stand among these smelly cows all day?" + +They stayed with us almost a week, and one day when Gale and I were +milking she asked me to invite her to stay with me a month. She said +to ask her mother, and left her mother and myself much together. But +Sedalia stuck to her mother like a plaster and I just could not stand +Sedalia a whole month. However, I was spared all embarrassment, for +"Mis' Lane" asked me if I could not find work enough to keep Gale busy +for a month or two. She went on to explain that Sedalia was expecting +to be married and that Gale was so "common" she would really spoil the +match. I was surprised and indignant, especially as Sedalia sat and +listened so brazenly, so I said I thought Sedalia would need all the +help she could get to get married and that I should be glad to have +Gale visit me as long as she liked. + +So Gale stayed on with me. One afternoon she had gone to the +post-office when I saw Mr. Patterson ride up. He went into the +bunk-house to wait until the men should come. Now, from something Gale +had said I fancied that Bob Patterson must be the right man. I am +afraid I am not very delicate about that kind of meddling, and while I +had been given to understand that Patterson was the man Sedalia +expected to marry, I didn't think any man would choose her if he could +get Gale, so I called him. We had a long chat and he told me frankly he +wanted Gale, but that she didn't care for him, and that they kept +throwing "that danged Sedalia" at him. Then he begged my pardon for +saying "danged," but I told him I approved of the word when applied to +Sedalia, and broke the news to him that Gale was staying with me. He +fairly beamed. So that night I left Gale to wash dishes and Bob to help +her while I held Mr. Stewart a prisoner in the stable and questioned +him regarding Patterson's prospects and habits. I found both all that +need be, and told Mr. Stewart about my talk with Patterson, and he +said, "Wooman, some day ye'll gang ploom daft." But he admitted he was +glad it was the "bonny lassie, instead of the bony one." When we went +to the house Mr. Stewart said, "Weel, when are you douchy bairns +gangin' to the kirk?" + +They left it to me, so I set Thanksgiving Day, and as there is no "kirk +to gang to," we are going to have a justice of the peace and they are +to be married here. We are going to have the dandiest dinner that I can +cook, and Mr. Stewart went to town next day for the wedding dress, the +gayest plaid outside of Caledonia. But Gale has lots of sense and is +going to wear it. I have it almost finished, and while it doesn't look +just like a Worth model, still it looks plumb good for me to have made. +The boys are going up after Zebulon Pike, and Mr. Stewart is going +after "Mis' Lane." Joy waves are radiating from this ranch and about +Thanksgiving morning one will strike you. + +With lots of love and happy wishes, + + Your ex-Washlady, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +VI + +A THANKSGIVING-DAY WEDDING + + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... I think every one enjoyed our Thanksgiving programme except poor +Gale. She was grieved, I verily believe, because Mr. Patterson is not +Mormon and could not take Sedalia and herself also. I suppose it seemed +odd to her to be unable to give way to Sedalia as she had always done. + +I had cooked and cooked. Gale and Zebulon Pike both helped all they +could. The wedding was to be at twelve o'clock, so at ten I hustled +Gale into my room to dress. I had to lock the door to keep her in, and +I divided my time between the last touches to my dinner and the +finishing touches to Gale's toilet and receiving the people. The Lane +party had not come yet, and I was scared to death lest Sedalia had had +a tantrum and that Mr. Stewart would not get back in time. At last I +left the people to take care of themselves, for I had too much on my +mind to bother with them. Just after eleven Mr. Stewart, Mis' Lane, +Sedalia, and Pa Lane "arriv" and came at once into the kitchen to warm. +In a little while poor, frightened Gale came creeping in, looking +guilty. But she looked lovely, too, in spite of her plaid dress. She +wore her hair in a coronet braid, which added dignity and height, as +well as being simple and becoming. Her mother brought her a wreath for +her hair, of lilies of the valley and tiny pink rosebuds. It might seem +a little out of place to one who didn't see it, but the effect was +really charming. + +Sedalia didn't know that Mr. Stewart had given Gale her dress, so, just +to be nasty, she said, as soon as she saw Gale, "Dear me, when are you +going to dress, Gale? You will hardly have time to get out of that +horse-blanket you are wearing and get into something decent." You see, +she thought it was one of my dresses fixed over for Gale. Presently +Sedalia asked me if I was invited to the "function." She had some kind +of rash on her face and Zebulon Pike noticed the rash and heard the +word "function," so he thought that was the name of some disease and +asked Mr. Stewart if the "function" was "catching." Mr. Stewart had +heard Sedalia, but knew "Zebbie" had not heard all that was said and +how he got the idea he had, so he answered, "Yes, if ye once get the +fever." So Zebulon Pike privately warned every one against getting the +"function" from Sedalia. There are plenty of people here who don't know +exactly what a function is, myself among them. So people edged away +from Sedalia, and some asked her if she had seen the doctor and what he +thought of her case. Poor girl, I'm afraid she didn't have a very +enjoyable time. + +At last the "jestice" of the peace came, and I hope they live happy +ever afterward. That night a dance was given to celebrate the event +and we began to have dinner immediately after the wedding so as to get +through in time to start, for dances are never given in the home here, +but in "the hall." Every settlement has one and the invitations are +merely written announcements posted everywhere. We have what Sedalia +calls "homogenous" crowds. I wouldn't attempt to say what she means, +but as everybody goes no doubt she is right. + +Our dinner was a success, but that is not to be wondered at. Every +woman for miles around contributed. Of course we had to borrow dishes, +but we couldn't think of seating every one; so we set one table for +twenty-four and had three other long tables, on one of which we placed +all the meats, pickles, and sauces, on another the vegetables, soup, +and coffee, and on the third the pie, cakes, ice-cream, and other +desserts. We had two big, long shelves, one above the other, on which +were the dishes. The people helped themselves to dishes and neighbors +took turns at serving from the tables, so people got what they wanted +and hunted themselves a place to sit while they ate. Two of the cowboys +from this ranch waited upon the table at which were the wedding party +and some of their friends. Boys from other ranches helped serve and +carried coffee, cake, and ice-cream. The tablecloths were tolerably +good linen and we had ironed them wet so they looked nice. We had white +lace-paper on the shelves and we used drawn-work paper napkins. As I +said, we borrowed dishes, or, that is, every woman who called herself +our neighbor brought whatever she thought we would need. So after every +one had eaten I suggested that they sort out their dishes and wash +them, and in that way I was saved all that work. We had everything done +and were off to the dance by five o'clock. We went in sleds and +sleighs, the snow was so deep, but it was all so jolly. Zebbie, Mr. +Stewart, Jerrine, and I went in the bobsled. We jogged along at a +comfortable pace lest the "beasties" should suffer, and every now and +then a merry party would fly past us scattering snow in our faces and +yelling like Comanches. We had a lovely moon then and the snow was so +beautiful! We were driving northward, and to the south and back of us +were the great somber, pine-clad Uintah Mountains, while ahead and on +every side were the bare buttes, looking like old men of the +mountains,--so old they had lost all their hair, beard, and teeth. + + + + +VII + +ZEBULON PIKE VISITS HIS OLD HOME + + + _December 28, 1909._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Our Thanksgiving affair was the most enjoyable happening I can remember +for a long time. Zebulon Pike came, but I had as a bait for him two fat +letters from home. As soon as I came back from his place I wrote to +Mrs. Carter and trusted to luck for my letter to reach her. I told her +all I could about her brother and how seldom he left his mountain home. +I asked her to write him all she could in one letter, as the trips +between our place and his were so few and far between. So when she +received my letter she wrote all she could think of, and then sent her +letter and mine to Mothie and Phoebe, who are widows living in the +old home. They each took turns writing, so their letters are a complete +record of the years "Zebbie" has been gone. The letters were addressed +to me along with a cordial letter from Mrs. Carter asking me to see +that he got them and to use my judgment in the delivering. I couldn't +go myself, but I wanted to read the letters to him and to write the +answers; so I selected one piece of news I felt would bring him to hear +the rest without his knowing how much there was for him. + +Well, the boys brought him, and a more delighted little man I am sure +never lived. I read the letters over and over, and answers were hurried +off. He was dreadfully homesick, but couldn't figure on how he could +leave the "critters," or how he could trust himself on a train. Mr. +Stewart became interested, and he is a very resourceful man, so an old +Frenchman was found who had no home and wanted a place to stay so he +could trap. He was installed at Zebulon Pike's with full instructions +as to each "critter's" peculiarities and needs. Then one of the boys, +who was going home for Christmas to Memphis, was induced to wait for +Mr. Parker and to see him safe to Little Rock. His money was banked for +him, and Mr. Stewart saw that he was properly clothed and made +comfortable for the trip. Then he sent a telegram to Judge Carter, who +met Zebulon Pike at Little Rock, and they had a family reunion in Yell +County. I have had some charming letters from there, but that only +proves what I have always said, that I am the luckiest woman in finding +really lovely people and having really happy experiences. Good things +are constantly happening to me. I wish I could tell you about my happy +Christmas, but one of my New Year's resolutions was to stop loading you +down with two-thousand-word letters. + +From something you wrote I think I must have written boastingly to you +at some time. I have certainly not intended to, and you must please +forgive me and remember how ignorant I am and how hard it is for me to +express myself properly. I felt after I had written to Mr. Parker's +people that I had taken a liberty, but luckily it was not thought of in +that way by them. If you only knew how far short I fall of my own hopes +you would know I could _never_ boast. Why, it keeps me busy making over +mistakes just like some one using old clothes. I get myself all ready +to enjoy a success and find that I have to fit a failure. But one +consolation is that I generally have plenty of material to cut +generously, and many of my failures have proved to be real blessings. + +I do hope this New Year may bring to you the desire of your heart and +all that those who love you best most wish for you. + +With lots and lots of love from baby and myself. + + Your ex-washlady, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +VIII + +A HAPPY CHRISTMAS + + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +My happy Christmas resulted from the ex-sheriff of this county being +snowbound here. It seems that persons who come from a lower altitude to +this country frequently become bewildered, especially if in poor +health, leave the train at any stop and wander off into the hills, +sometimes dying before they are found. The ex-sheriff cited a case, +that of a young German who was returning from the Philippines, where he +had been discharged after the war. He was the only child of his widowed +mother, who has a ranch a few miles from here. No one knew he was +coming home. One day the cook belonging to the camp of a construction +gang went hunting and came back running, wild with horror. He had found +the body of a man. The coroner and the sheriff were notified, and next +morning went out for the body, but the wolves had almost destroyed it. +High up in a willow, under which the poor man had lain down to die, +they saw a small bundle tied in a red bandanna and fast to a branch. +They found a letter addressed to whoever should find it, saying that +the body was that of Benny Louderer and giving them directions how to +spare his poor old mother the awful knowledge of how he died. Also +there was a letter to his mother asking her not to grieve for him and +to keep their days faithfully. "Their days," I afterward learned, were +anniversaries which they had always kept, to which was added "Benny's +day." + +Poor boy! When he realized that death was near his every thought was +for the mother. Well, they followed his wishes, and the casket +containing the bare, gnawed bones was sealed and never opened. And to +this day poor Mrs. Louderer thinks her boy died of some fever while yet +aboard the transport. The manner of his death has been kept so secret +that I am the only one who has heard it. + +I was so sorry for the poor mother that I resolved to visit her the +first opportunity I had. I am at liberty to go where I please when +there is no one to cook for. So, when the men left, a few days later, I +took Jerrine and rode over to the Louderer ranch. I had never seen Mrs. +Louderer and it happened to be "Benny's day" that I blundered in upon. +I found her to be a dear old German woman living all alone, the people +who do the work on the ranch living in another house two miles away. +She had been weeping for hours when I got there, but in accordance with +her custom on the many anniversaries, she had a real feast prepared, +although no one had been bidden. + +She says that God always sends her guests, but that was the first time +she had had a little girl. She had a little daughter once herself, +little Gretchen, but all that was left was a sweet memory and a +pitifully small mound on the ranch, quite near the house, where Benny +and Gretchen are at rest beside "der fader, Herr Louderer." + +She is such a dear old lady! She made us so welcome and she is so +entertaining. All the remainder of the day we listened to stories of +her children, looked at her pictures, and Jerrine had a lovely time +with a wonderful wooden doll that they had brought with them from +Germany. Mrs. Louderer forgot to weep in recalling her childhood days +and showing us her treasures. And then our feast,--for it was verily a +feast. We had goose and it was _so_ delicious. I couldn't tell you half +the good things any more than I could have eaten some of all of them. + +We sat talking until far into the night, and she asked me how I was +going to spend Christmas. I told her, "Probably in being homesick." She +said that would never do and suggested that we spend it together. She +said it was one of their special days and that the only happiness left +her was in making some one else happy; so she had thought of cooking +some nice things and going to as many sheep camps as she could, taking +with her the good things to the poor exiles, the sheep-herders. I liked +the plan and was glad to agree, but I never dreamed I should have so +lovely a time. When the queer old wooden clock announced two we went to +bed. + +I left quite early the next morning with my head full of Christmas +plans. You may not know, but cattle-men and sheep-men cordially hate +each other. Mr. Stewart is a cattle-man, and so I didn't mention my +Christmas plans to him. I saved all the butter I could spare for the +sheep-herders; they never have any. That and some jars of gooseberry +jelly was all I could give them. I cooked plenty for the people here, +and two days before Christmas I had a chance to go down to Mrs. +Louderer's in a buggy, so we went. We found her up to her ears in +cooking, and such sights and smells I could never describe. She was so +glad I came early, for she needed help. I never worked so hard in my +life or had a pleasanter time. + +Mrs. Louderer had sent a man out several days before to find out how +many camps there were and where they were located. There were twelve +camps and that means twenty-four men. We roasted six geese, boiled +three small hams and three hens. We had besides several meat-loaves and +links of sausage. We had twelve large loaves of the _best_ rye bread; a +small tub of doughnuts; twelve coffee-cakes, more to be called +fruit-cakes, and also a quantity of little cakes with seeds, nuts, and +fruit in them,--so pretty to look at and _so_ good to taste. These had +a thick coat of icing, some brown, some pink, some white. I had +thirteen pounds of butter and six pint jars of jelly, so we melted the +jelly and poured it into twelve glasses. + +The plan was, to start real early Christmas Eve morning, make our +circuit of camps, and wind up the day at Frau O'Shaughnessy's to spend +the night. Yes, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is Irish,--as Irish as the pigs in +Dublin. Before it was day the man came to feed and to get our horses +ready. We were up betimes and had breakfast. The last speck was wiped +from the shining stove, the kitchen floor was scrubbed, and the last +small thing put in order. The man had four horses harnessed and hitched +to the sled, on which was placed a wagon-box filled with straw, hot +rocks, and blankets. Our twelve apostles--that is what we called our +twelve boxes--were lifted in and tied firmly into place. Then we +clambered in and away we went. Mrs. Louderer drove, and Tam O'Shanter +and Paul Revere were snails compared to us. We didn't follow any road +either, but went sweeping along across country. No one else in the +world could have done it unless they were drunk. We went careening +along hill-sides without even slacking the trot. Occasionally we struck +a particularly stubborn bunch of sagebrush and even the sled-runners +would jump up into the air. We didn't stop to light, but hit the earth +several feet in advance of where we left it. Luck was with us, though. +I hardly expected to get through with my head unbroken, but not even a +glass was cracked. + +It would have done your heart good to see the sheep-men. They were all +delighted, and when you consider that they live solely on canned corn +and tomatoes, beans, salt pork, and coffee, you can fancy what they +thought of their treat. They have mutton when it is fit to eat, but +that is certainly not in winter. One man at each camp does the cooking +and the other herds. It doesn't make any difference if the cook never +cooked before, and most of them never did. At one camp, where we +stopped for dinner, they had a most interesting collection of fossils. +After delivering our last "apostle," we turned our faces toward Frau +O'Shaughnessy's, and got there just in time for supper. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is a widow, too, and has quite an interesting story. +She is a dumpy little woman whose small nose seems to be smelling the +stars, it is so tip-tilted. She has the merriest blue eyes and the +quickest wit. It is really worth a severe bumping just to be welcomed +by her. It was so warm and cozy in her low little cabin. She had her +table set for supper, but she laid plates for us and put before us a +beautifully roasted chicken. Thrifty Mrs. Louderer thought it should +have been saved until next day, so she said to Frau O'Shaughnessy, "We +hate to eat your hen, best you save her till tomorrow." But Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy answered, "Oh, 't is no mather, 't is an ould hin she was +annyway." So we enjoyed the "ould hin," which was brown, juicy, and +tender. + +When we had finished supper and were drinking our "tay," Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy told our fortunes with the tea-leaves. She told mine +first and said I would die an old maid. I said it was rather late for +that, but she cheerfully replied, "Oh, well, better late than niver." +She predicted for Mrs. Louderer that she should shortly catch a beau. +"'T is the next man you see that will come coortin' you." Before we +left the table some one knocked and a young man, a sheep-herder, +entered. He belonged to a camp a few miles away and is out from Boston +in search of health. He had been into town and his horse was lamed so +he could not make it into camp, and he wanted to stay overnight. He was +a stranger to us all, but Mrs. O'Shaughnessy made him at home and fixed +such a tempting supper for him that I am sure he was glad of the chance +to stay. He was very decidedly English, and powerfully proud of it. He +asked Mrs. O'Shaughnessy if she was Irish and she said, "No, ye +haythen, it's Chinese Oi am. Can't yez tell it be me Cockney accint?" +Mr. Boutwell looked very much surprised. I don't know which was the +funnier, the way he looked or what she said. + +We had a late breakfast Christmas morning, but before we were through +Mr. Stewart came. We had planned to spend the day with Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, but he didn't approve of our going into the sheep +district, so when he found where we had gone he came after us. Mrs. +Louderer and he are old acquaintances and he bosses her around like he +tries to boss me. Before we left, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's married daughter +came, so we knew she would not be lonely. + +It was almost one o'clock when we got home, but all hands helped and I +had plenty cooked anyway, so we soon had a good dinner on the table. +Mr. Stewart had prepared a Christmas box for Jerrine and me. He doesn't +approve of white waists in the winter. I had worn one at the wedding +and he felt personally aggrieved. For me in the box were two dresses, +that is, the material to make them. One is a brown and red checked, and +the other green with a white fleck in, both outing flannel. For Jerrine +there was a pair of shoes and stockings, both stockings full of candy +and nuts. He is very bluff in manner, but he is really the kindest +person. + +Mrs. Louderer stayed until New Year's day. My Christmas was really a +very happy one. + + Your friend, + ELINORE RUPERT. + +... An interesting day on this ranch is the day the cattle are named. +If Mr. Stewart had children he would as soon think of leaving them +unnamed as to let a "beastie" go without a name. + +On the day they vaccinated he came into the kitchen and told me he +would need me to help him name the "critters." So he and I "assembled" +in a safe place and took turns naming the calves. As fast as a calf was +vaccinated it was run out of the chute and he or I called out a name +for it and it was booked that way. + +The first two he named were the "Duke of Monmouth" and the "Duke of +Montrose." I called my first "Oliver Cromwell" and "John Fox." The poor +"mon" had to have revenge, so the next ugly, scrawny little beast he +called the "Poop of Roome." And it was a heifer calf, too. + +This morning I had the startling news that the "Poop" had eaten too +much alfalfa and was all "swellit oop," and, moreover, he had "stealit +it." I don't know which is the more astonishing, that the Pope has +stolen alfalfa, or that he has eaten it. + +We have a swell lot of names, but I am not sure I could tell you which +is "Bloody Mary," or which is "Elizabeth," or, indeed, which is which +of any of them. + + E.R. + + + +IX + +A CONFESSION + + + _April 5, 1910._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I find upon re-reading your letter that I did not answer it at all when +I wrote you. You must think me very indifferent, but I really don't +mean to be. + +My house joins on to Mr. Stewart's house. It was built that way so that +I could "hold down" my land and job at the same time. I see the wisdom +of it now, though at first I did not want it that way. My boundary +lines run within two feet of Mr. Stewart's house, so it was quite easy +to build on. + +I think the Pattersons' ranch is about twenty-five miles from us. I am +glad to tell you they are doing splendidly. Gale is just as thrifty as +she can be and Bobby is steady and making money fast. Their baby is +the dearest little thing. I have heard that Sedalia is to marry a +Mormon bishop, but I doubt it. She puts on very disgusting airs about +"our Bobby," and she patronizes Gale most shamefully; but Gale, bless +her unconscious heart, is so happy in her husband and son that she +doesn't know Sedalia is insulting. + +My dear old grandmother whom I loved so much has gone home to God. I +used to write long letters to her. I should like a few addresses of old +persons who are lonely as she was, who would like letters such as I +write. You know I can't be brief. I have tried and cannot. If you know +of any persons who would not tire of my long accounts and would care to +have them, you will be doing me a favor to let me know. + +I have not treated you quite frankly about something you had a right to +know about. I am ashamed and I regret very much that I have not told +you. I so dread the possibility of losing your friendship that I will +_never_ tell you unless you promise me beforehand to forgive me. I +know that is unfair, but it is the only way I can see out of a +difficulty that my foolish reticence has led me into. Few people, +perhaps, consider me reticent, but in some cases I am afraid I am even +deceitful. Won't you make it easy to "'fess" so I may be happy again? + + Truly your friend, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + _June 16, 1910._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +Your card just to hand. I wrote you some time ago telling you I had a +confession to make and have had no letter since, so thought perhaps you +were scared I had done something too bad to forgive. I am suffering +just now from eye-strain and can't see to write long at a time, but I +reckon I had better confess and get it done with. + +The thing I have done is to marry Mr. Stewart. It was such an +inconsistent thing to do that I was ashamed to tell you. And, too, I +was afraid you would think I didn't need your friendship and might +desert me. Another of my friends thinks that way. + +I hope my eyes will be better soon and then I will write you a long +letter. + +Your old friend with a new name, + + ELINORE STEWART. + + + + +X + +THE STORY OF CORA BELLE + + + _August 15, 1910._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... Grandma Edmonson's birthday is the 30th of May, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy suggested that we give her a party. I had never seen +Grandma, but because of something that happened in her family years ago +which a few narrow-heads whom it didn't concern in the least cannot +forgive or forget, I had heard much of her. The family consists of +Grandma, Grandpa, and little Cora Belle, who is the sweetest little bud +that ever bloomed upon the twigs of folly. + +The Edmonsons had only one child, a daughter, who was to have married a +man whom her parents objected to solely because he was a sheep-man, +while their sympathies were with the cattle-men, although they owned +only a small bunch. To gain their consent the young man closed out his +interest in sheep, at a loss, filed on a splendid piece of land near +them, and built a little home for the girl he loved. Before they could +get to town to be married Grandpa was stricken with rheumatism. Grandma +was already almost past going on with it, so they postponed the +marriage, and as that winter was particularly severe, the young man +took charge of the Edmonson stock and kept them from starving. As soon +as he was able he went for the license. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and a neighbor were hunting some cattle that had +wandered away and found the poor fellow shot in the back. He was not +yet dead and told them it was urgently necessary for them to hurry him +to the Edmonsons' and to get some one to perform the marriage ceremony +as quickly as possible, for he could not live long. They told him such +haste meant quicker death because he would bleed more; but he +insisted, so they got a wagon and hurried all they could. But they +could not outrun death. When he knew he could not live to reach home, +he asked them to witness all he said. Everything he possessed he left +to the girl he was to have married, and said he was the father of the +little child that was to come. He begged them to befriend the poor girl +he had to leave in such a condition, and to take the marriage license +as evidence that he had tried to do right. The wagon was stopped so the +jolting would not make death any harder, and there in the shadow of the +great twin buttes he died. + +They took the body to the little home he had made, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy went to the Edmonsons' to do what she could there. Poor +Cora Jane didn't know how terrible a thing wounded pride is. She told +her parents her misdeeds. They couldn't see that they were in any way +to blame. They seemed to care nothing for her terrible sorrow nor for +her weakened condition. All they could think of was that the child +they had almost worshiped had disgraced them; so they told her to go. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy took her to the home that had been prepared for her, +where the poor body lay. Some way they got through those dark days, and +then began the waiting for the little one to come. Poor Cora Jane said +she would die then, and that she wanted to die, but she wanted the baby +to know it was loved,--she wanted to leave something that should speak +of that love when the child should come to understanding. So Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy said they would make all its little clothes with every +care, and they should tell of the love. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is the +daintiest needleworker I have ever seen; she was taught by the nuns at +St. Catherine's in the "ould country." She was all patience with poor, +unskilled Cora Jane, and the little outfit that was finally finished +was dainty enough for a fairy. Little Cora Belle is so proud of it. + +At last the time came and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went after the parents. +Long before, they had repented and were only too glad to go. The poor +mother lived one day and night after the baby came. She laid the tiny +thing in her mother's arms and told them to call her Cora Belle. She +told them she gave them a pure little daughter in place of the sinful +one they had lost. + +That was almost twelve years ago, and the Edmonsons have lived in the +new house all this time. The deed to the place was made out to Cora +Belle, and her grandfather is her guardian.... + +If you traveled due north from my home, after about nine hours' ride +you would come into an open space in the butte lands, and away between +two buttes you would see the glimmer of blue water. As you drew nearer +you would be able to see the fringe of willows around the lake, and +presently a low, red-roofed house with corrals and stables. You would +see long lines of "buck" fence, a flock of sheep near by, and cattle +scattered about feeding. This is Cora Belle's home. On the long, low +porch you would see two old folks rocking. The man is small, and has +rheumatism in his legs and feet so badly that he can barely hobble. The +old lady is large and fat, and is also afflicted with rheumatism, but +has it in her arms and shoulders. They are both cheerful and hopeful, +and you would get a cordial welcome.... + +When you saw Cora Belle you would see a stout, square-built little +figure with long flaxen braids, a pair of beautiful brown eyes and the +longest and whitest lashes you ever saw, a straight nose, a short upper +lip, a broad, full forehead,--the whole face, neither pretty nor ugly, +plentifully sown with the brownest freckles. She is very truly the head +of the family, doing all the housework and looking after the stock, +winter and summer, entirely by herself. Three years ago she took things +into her own hands, and since that time has managed altogether. Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, however, tells her what to do. + +The sheep, forty in number, are the result of her individual efforts. +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy told her there was more money in raising lambs than +in raising chickens, so she quit the chickens as a business and went to +some of the big sheep-men and got permission to take the "dogie" lambs, +which they are glad to give away. She had plenty of cows, so she milked +cows and fed lambs all day long all last year. This year she has forty +head of nice sheep worth four dollars each, and she doesn't have to +feed them the year round as she would chickens, and the wolves are no +worse to kill sheep than they are to kill chickens. When shearing-time +came she went to a sheep-man and told him she would help cook for his +men one week if he would have her sheep sheared with his. She said her +work was worth three dollars, that is what one man would get a day +shearing, and he could easily shear her sheep in one day. That is how +she got her sheep sheared. The man had her wool hauled to town with +his, sold it for her, and it brought sixty dollars. She took her money +to Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. She wanted some supplies ordered before she went +home, because, as she gravely said, "the rheumatiz would get all the +money she had left when she got home,"--meaning that her grandparents +would spend what remained for medicine. + +The poor old grandparents read all the time of wonderful cures that +different dopes accomplish, and they spend every nickel they can get +their hands on for nostrums. They try everything they read of, and have +to buy it by the case,--horrid patent stuff! They have rolls of +testimonials and believe every word, so they keep on trying and hoping. +When there is any money they each order whatever medicine they want to +try. If Mrs. Edmonson's doesn't seem to help her, Grandpa takes it and +she takes his,--that is their idea of economy. They would spend hours +telling you about their different remedies and would offer you spoonful +after spoonful of vile-looking liquid, and be mildly grieved when you +refused to take it. Grandma's hands are so bent and twisted that she +can't sew, so dear old Grandpa tries to do it. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy told me that she helped out when she could. Three +years ago she made them all a complete outfit, but the "rheumatiz" has +been getting all the spare money since then, so there has been nothing +to sew. A peddler sold them a piece of gingham which they made up for +Cora Belle. It was broad pink and white stripes, and they wanted some +style to "Cory's" clothes, so they cut a gored skirt. But they had no +pattern and made the gores by folding a width of the goods biasly and +cutting it that way. It was put together with no regard to matching the +stripes, and a bias seam came in the center behind, but they put no +stay in the seam and the result was the most outrageous affair +imaginable. + +Well, we had a large room almost empty and Mr. Stewart liked the idea +of a party, so Mrs. Louderer, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, and myself planned +for the event. It was to be a sewing-bee, a few good neighbors invited, +and all to sew for Grandma.... So Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went to Grandma's +and got all the material she had to make up. I had saved some +sugar-bags and some flour-bags. I knew Cora Belle needed underwear, so +I made her some little petticoats of the larger bags and some drawers +of the smaller. I had a small piece of white lawn that I had no use +for, and of that I made a dear little sunbonnet with a narrow edging of +lace around, and also made a gingham bonnet for her. Two days before +the time, came Mrs. Louderer, laden with bundles, and Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, also laden. We had all been thinking of Cora Belle. Mr. +Stewart had sent by mail for her a pair of sandals for everyday wear +and a nice pair of shoes, also some stockings. Mrs. Louderer brought +cloth for three dresses of heavy Dutch calico, and gingham for three +aprons. She made them herself and she sews so carefully. She had bought +patterns and the little dresses were stylishly made, as well as well +made. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy brought a piece of crossbar with a tiny +forget-me-not polka dot, and also had goods and embroidery for a suit +of underwear. My own poor efforts were already completed when the rest +came, so I was free to help them. + +Late in the afternoon of the 29th a funny something showed up. Fancy a +squeaky, rickety old wagon without a vestige of paint. The tires had +come off and had been "set" at home; that is done by heating the tires +red-hot and having the rims of the wheels covered with several layers +of burlap, or other old rags, well wet; then the red-hot tire is put on +and water hurriedly poured on to shrink the iron and to keep the burlap +from blazing. Well, whoever had set Cora Belle's tires had forgotten to +cut away the surplus burlap, so all the ragtags were merrily waving in +the breeze. + +Cora Belle's team would bring a smile to the soberest face alive. Sheba +is a tall, lanky old mare. Once she was bay in color, but the years +have added gray hair until now she is roan. Being so long-legged she +strides along at an amazing pace which her mate, Balaam, a little +donkey, finds it hard to keep up with. Balaam, like Sheba, is full of +years. Once his glossy brown coat was the pride of some Mexican's +heart, but time has added to his color also, and now he is blue. His +eyes are sunken and dim, his ears no longer stand up in true donkey +style, but droop dejectedly. He has to trot his best to keep up with +Sheba's slowest stride. About every three miles he balks, but little +Cora Belle doesn't call it balking, she says Balaam has stopped to +rest, and they sit and wait till he is ready to trot along again. That +is the kind of layout which drew up before our door that evening. Cora +Belle was driving and she wore her wonderful pink dress which hung +down in a peak behind, fully six inches longer than anywhere else. The +poor child had no shoes. The winter had tried the last pair to their +utmost endurance and the "rheumatiz" had long since got the last +dollar, so she came with her chubby little sunburned legs bare. Her +poor little scarred feet were clean, her toe-nails full of nicks almost +into the quick, broken against rocks when she had been herding her +sheep. In the back of the wagon, flat on the bottom, sat Grandma and +Grandpa, such bundles of coats and blankets I can't describe. After a +great deal of trouble we got them unloaded and into the house. Then +Mrs. Louderer entertained them while Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I prepared +supper and got a bath ready for Cora Belle. We had a T-bone steak, +mashed potatoes, hominy, hot biscuits and butter, and stewed prunes. +Their long ride had made them hungry and I know they enjoyed their +meal. + +After supper Cora Belle and I washed the dishes while Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy laid out the little clothes. Cora Belle's clothes were to +be a surprise. The postmistress here also keeps a small store and has +ribbon, and when she heard of our plans from Mr. Stewart she sent up a +couple of pairs of hair-ribbon for Cora Belle. Soon Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +called us, and Cora Belle and I went into the bedroom where she was. I +wish you could have seen that child! Poor little neglected thing, she +began to cry. She said, "They ain't for me, I know they ain't. Why, it +ain't my birthday, it's Granny's." Nevertheless, she had her arms full +of them and was clutching them so tightly with her work-worn little +hands that we couldn't get them. She sobbed so deeply that Grandma +heard her and became alarmed. She hobbled to the door and pounded with +her poor twisted hands, calling all the while, "Cory, Cory Belle, what +ails you?" She got so excited that I opened the door, but Cora Belle +told her to go away. She said, "They ain't for you, Granny, and they +ain't for me either." ... + +People here observe Decoration Day faithfully, and Cora Belle had +brought half a wagon-load of iris, which grows wild here. Next morning +we were all up early, but Cora Belle's flowers had wilted and she had +to gather more, but we all hurried and helped. She said as she was +going to see her mother she wanted to wear her prettiest dress, so Gale +and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy helped her to get ready. The cemetery is only +about two miles away, so we were all down quite early. We were obliged +to hurry because others were coming to help sew. Cora Belle went at +once to the graves where her parents lie side by side, and began +talking to her mother just as though she saw her. "You didn't know me, +did you, Mother, with my pretty new things? But I am your little girl, +Mamma. I am your little Cora Belle." After she had talked and had +turned every way like a proud little bird, she went to work. And, oh, +how fast she worked! Both graves were first completely covered with +pine boughs. It looked like sod, so closely were the little twigs laid. +Next she broke the stems off the iris and scattered the blossoms over, +and the effect was very beautiful. Then we hurried home and everybody +got busy. The men took Grandpa off to another part of the ranch where +they were fanning oats to plant, and kept him all day. That was good +for him because then he could be with the men all day and he so seldom +has a chance to be with men. Several ladies came and they all made +themselves at home and worked like beavers, and we all had a fine +time.... + +Sedalia was present and almost caused a riot. She says she likes +unusual words because they lend distinction to conversation. Well, they +do--sometimes. There was another lady present whose children are very +gifted musically, but who have the bad name of taking what they want +without asking. The mother can neither read nor write, and she is very +sensitive about the bad name her children have. While we were all busy +some one made a remark about how smart these children were. Sedalia +thought that a good time to get in a big word, so she said, "Yes, I +have always said Lula was a progeny." Mrs. Hall didn't know what she +meant and thought that she was casting reflections on her child's +honesty, so with her face scarlet and her eyes blazing she said, +"Sedalia Lane, I won't allow you nor nobody else to say my child is a +progeny. You can take that back or I will slap you peaked." Sedalia +took it back in a hurry, so I guess little Lula Hall is not a progeny. + +Every one left about four except Gale, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, Mrs. +Louderer, and the Edmonsons. They had farthest to go, so they stayed +over night again. We worked until ten o'clock that night over Grandma's +clothes, but everything was thoroughly finished. Every button was on, +every thread-end knotted and clipped, and some tired workers lay down +to rest, as did a very happy child and a very thankful old lady. + +Every one got away by ten o'clock the next morning. The last I saw of +little Cora Belle was when they had reached the top of a long slope and +Balaam had "stopped to rest." The breeze from the south was playfully +fluttering the rags on the wheels. Presently I heard a long "hee-haw, +hee-haw," and I knew Balaam had rested and had started. + +I have been a very busy woman since I began this letter to you several +days ago. A dear little child has joined the angels. I dressed him and +helped to make his casket. There is no minister in this whole country +and I could not bear the little broken lily-bud to be just carted away +and buried, so I arranged the funeral and conducted the services. I +know I am unworthy and in no way fitted for such a mission, but I did +my poor best, and if no one else is comforted, I am. I know the message +of God's love and care has been told once, anyway, to people who have +learned to believe more strongly in hell than in heaven. + +Dear friend, I do hope that this New Year will bring you and yours +fuller joys than you have ever known. If I had all the good gifts in my +hands you should certainly be blessed. + + Your sincere friend, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XI + +ZEBBIE'S STORY + + + _September 1, 1910._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +It was just a few days after the birthday party and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +was with me again. We were down at the barn looking at some new pigs, +when we heard the big corral gates swing shut, so we hastened out to +see who it could be so late in the day. + +It was Zebbie. He had come on the stage to Burnt Fork and the driver +had brought him on here.... There was so much to tell, and he whispered +he had something to tell me privately, but that he was too tired then; +so after supper I hustled him off to bed.... + +Next morning ... the men went off to their work and Zebbie and I were +left to tell secrets. When he was sure we were alone he took from his +trunk a long, flat box. Inside was the most wonderful shirt I have +ever seen; it looked like a cross between a nightshirt and a +shirt-waist. It was of homespun linen. The bosom was ruffled and +tucked, all done by hand,--such tiny stitches, such patience and skill. +Then he handed me an old daguerreotype. I unfastened the little golden +hook and inside was a face good to see and to remember. It was dim, yet +clear in outline, just as if she were looking out from the mellow +twilight of long ago. The sweet, elusive smile,--I couldn't tell where +it was, whether it was the mouth or the beautiful eyes that were +smiling. All that was visible of her dress was the Dutch collar, just +like what is being worn now. It was pinned with an ugly old brooch +which Zebbie said was a "breast-pin" he had given her. Under the glass +on the other side was a strand of faded hair and a slip of paper. The +writing on the paper was so faded it was scarcely readable, but it +said: "Pauline Gorley, age 22, 1860." + +Next he showed me a note written by Pauline, simply worded, but it held +a world of meaning for Zebbie. It said, "I spun and wove this cloth at +Adeline's, enough for me a dress and you a shirt, which I made. It is +for the wedding, else to be buried in. Yours, Pauline." The shirt, the +picture, and the note had waited for him all these years in Mothie's +care. And now I will tell you the story. + +Long, long ago some one did something to some one else and started a +feud. Unfortunately the Gorleys were on one side and the Parkers on the +other. That it all happened before either Zebbie or Pauline was born +made no difference. A Gorley must hate a Parker always, as also a +Parker must hate a Gorley. Pauline was the only girl, and she had a +regiment of big brothers who gloried in the warfare and wanted only the +slightest pretext to shoot a Parker. So they grew up, and Zebbie often +met Pauline at the quiltings and other gatherings at the homes of +non-partisans. He remembers her so perfectly and describes her so +plainly that I can picture her easily. She had brown eyes and hair. She +used to ride about on her sorrel palfrey with her "nigger" boy Caesar on +behind to open and shut plantation gates. She wore a pink calico +sunbonnet, and Zebbie says "she was just like the pink hollyhocks that +grew by mother's window." Isn't that a sweet picture? + +Her mother and father were both dead, and she and her brothers lived on +their plantation. Zebbie had never dared speak to her until one day he +had driven over with his mother and sisters to a dinner given on a +neighboring plantation. He was standing outside near the wall, when +some one dropped a spray of apple blossoms down upon him from an upper +window. He looked up and Pauline was leaning out smiling at him. After +that he made it a point to frequent places where he might expect her, +and things went so well that presently Caesar was left at home lest he +should tell the brothers. She was a loyal little soul and would not +desert, although he urged her to, even promising to go away, "plumb +away, clean to Scott County if she would go." She told him that her +brothers would go even as far as that to kill him, so that they must +wait and hope. Finally Zebbie got tired of waiting, and one day he +boldly rode up to the Gorley home and formally asked for Pauline's +hand. The bullet he got for his presumption kept him from going to the +war with his father and brother when they marched away. + +Some time later George Gorley was shot and killed from ambush, and +although Zebbie had not yet left his bed the Gorleys believed he did +it, and one night Pauline came through a heavy rainstorm, with only +Caesar, to warn Zebbie and to beg him, for her sake, to get away as fast +as he could that night. She pleaded that she could not live if he were +killed and could never marry him if he killed her brothers, so she +persuaded him to go while they were all innocent. + +Well, he did as she wished and they never saw each other again. He +never went home again until last Thanksgiving, and dear little Pauline +had been dead for years. She herself had taken her little gifts for +Zebbie to Mothie to keep for him. Some years later she died and was +buried in the dress she mentioned. It was woven at Adeline Carter's, +one of the bitterest enemies of the Gorleys, but the sacrifice of her +pride did her no good because she was long at rest before Zebbie knew. +He had been greatly grieved because no stone marked her grave, only a +tangle of rose-briers. So he bought a stone, and in the night before +Decoration Day he and two of Uncle Buck's grandsons went to the Gorley +burying-ground and raised it to the memory of sweet Pauline. Some of +the Gorleys still live there, so he came home at once, fearing if they +should find out who placed the stone above their sister they would take +vengeance on his poor, frail body. + +After he had finished telling me his story, I felt just as I used to +when Grandmother opened the "big chist" to air her wedding clothes and +the dress each of her babies wore when baptized. It seemed almost like +smelling the lavender and rose-leaves, and it was with reverent fingers +that I folded the shirt, the work of love, yellow with age, and laid it +in the box.... + +Well, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy returned, and early one morning we started +with a wagon and a bulging mess-box for Zebbie's home. We were going a +new and longer route in order to take the wagon. Dandelions spread a +carpet of gold. Larkspur grew waist-high with its long spikes of blue. +The service-bushes and the wild cherries were a mass of white beauty. +Meadowlarks and robins and bluebirds twittered and sang from every +branch, it almost seemed. A sky of tenderest blue bent over us and +fleecy little clouds drifted lazily across.... Soon we came to the +pineries, where we traveled up deep gorges and canons. The sun shot +arrows of gold through the pines down upon us and we gathered our arms +full of columbines. The little black squirrels barked and chattered +saucily as we passed along, and we were all children together. We +forgot all about feuds and partings, death and hard times. All we +remembered was that God is good and the world is wide and beautiful. We +plodded along all day. Next morning there was a blue haze that Zebbie +said meant there would be a high wind, so we hurried to reach his home +that evening. + +The sun was hanging like a great red ball in the smoky haze when we +entered the long canon in which is Zebbie's cabin. Already it was dusky +in the canons below, but not a breath of air stirred. A more delighted +man than Zebbie I never saw when we finally drove up to his low, +comfortable cabin. Smoke was slowly rising from the chimney, and +Gavotte, the man in charge, rushed out and the hounds set up a joyful +barking. Gavotte is a Frenchman, and he was all smiles and +gesticulations as he said, "Welcome, welcome! To-day I am rejoice you +have come. Yesterday I am despair if you have come because I am scrub, +but to-day, behold, I am delight." + +I have heard of clean people, but Gavotte is the cleanest man I ever +saw. The cabin floor was so white I hated to step upon it. The windows +shone, and at each there was a calico curtain, blue-and-white check, +unironed but newly washed. In one window was an old brown pitcher, +cracked and nicked, filled with thistles. I never thought them pretty +before, but the pearly pink and the silvery green were so pretty and +looked so clean that they had a new beauty. Above the fireplace was a +great black eagle which Gavotte had killed, the wings outspread and a +bunch of arrows in the claws. In one corner near the fire was a +washstand, and behind it hung the fishing-tackle. Above one door was a +gun-rack, on which lay the rifle and shotgun, and over the other door +was a pair of deer-antlers. In the center of the room stood the square +home-made table, every inch scrubbed. In the side room, which is the +bedroom, was a wide bunk made of pine plank that had also been +scrubbed, then filled with fresh, sweet pine boughs, and over them was +spread a piece of canvas that had once been a wagon sheet, but Gavotte +had washed it and boiled and pounded it until it was clean and sweet. +That served for a sheet. + +Zebbie was beside himself with joy. The hounds sprang upon him and +expressed their joy unmistakably. He went at once to the corrals to see +the "critters," and every one of them was safely penned for the night. +"Old Sime," an old ram (goodness knows _how_ old!), promptly butted him +over, but he just beamed with pleasure. "Sime knows me, dinged if he +don't!" was his happy exclamation. We went into the cabin and left him +fondling the "critters." + +Gavotte did himself proud getting supper. We had trout and the most +delicious biscuit. Each of us had a crisp, tender head of lettuce with +a spoonful of potato salad in the center. We had preserves made from +canned peaches, and the firmest yellow butter. Soon it was quite dark +and we had a tiny brass lamp which gave but a feeble light, but it was +quite cool so we had a blazing fire which made it light enough. + +When supper was over, Zebbie called us out and asked us if we could +hear anything. We could hear the most peculiar, long-drawn, sighing +wail that steadily grew louder and nearer. I was really frightened, but +he said it was the forerunner of the windstorm that would soon strike +us. He said it was wind coming down Crag Canon, and in just a few +minutes it struck us like a cold wave and rushed, sighing, on down the +canon. We could hear it after it had passed us, and it was perfectly +still around the cabin. Soon we heard the deep roaring of the coming +storm, and Zebbie called the hounds in and secured the door. The sparks +began to fly up the chimney. Jerrine lay on a bearskin before the +fire, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I sat on the old blue "settle" at one +side. Gavotte lay on the other side of the fire on the floor, his hands +under his head. Zebbie got out his beloved old fiddle, tuned up, and +began playing. Outside the storm was raging, growing worse all the +time. Zebbie played and played. The worse the tumult, the harder the +storm, the harder he played. I remember I was holding my breath, +expecting the house to be blown away every moment, and Zebbie was +playing what he called "Bonaparte's Retreat." It all seemed to flash +before me--I could see those poor, suffering soldiers staggering along +in the snow, sacrifices to one man's unholy ambition. I verily believe +we were all bewitched. I shouldn't have been surprised to have seen +witches and gnomes come tumbling down the chimney or flying in at the +door, riding on the crest of the storm. I glanced at Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy. She sat with her chin in her hand, gazing with unseeing +eyes into the fire. Zebbie seemed possessed; he couldn't tire. + +It seemed like hours had passed and the tumult had not diminished. I +felt like shrieking, but I gathered Jerrine up into my arms and carried +her in to bed. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy came with us. She touched my elbow +and said, "Child, don't look toward the window, the banshees are out +to-night." We knelt together beside the bed and said our beads; then, +without undressing save pulling off our shoes, we crawled under our +blankets and lay on the sweet, clean pine. We were both perfectly worn +out, but we could not sleep. There seemed to be hundreds of different +noises of the storm, for there are so many canons, so many crooks and +turns, and the great forest too. The wind was shrieking, howling, and +roaring all at once. A deep boom announced the fall of some giant of +the forest. I finally dozed off even in that terrible din, but Zebbie +was not so frenzied as he had been. He was playing "Annie Laurie," and +that song has always been a favorite of mine. The storm began gradually +to die away and "Annie Laurie" sounded so beautiful. I was thinking of +Pauline and, I know, to Zebbie, Annie Laurie and Pauline Gorley are one +and the same. + +I knew no more until I heard Zebbie call out, "Ho, you sleepy-heads, +it's day." Mrs. O'Shaughnessy turned over and said she was still +sleepy. My former visit had taught me what beauty the early morning +would spread before me, so I dressed hastily and went outdoors. Zebbie +called me to go for a little walk. The amber light of the new day was +chasing the violet and amethyst shadows down the canons. It was all +more beautiful than I can tell you. On one side the canon-walls were +almost straight up. It looked as if we might step off into a very world +of mountains. Soon Old Baldy wore a crown of gleaming gold. The sun was +up. We walked on and soon came to a brook. We were washing our faces +in its icy waters when we heard twigs breaking, so we stood perfectly +still. From out the undergrowth of birch and willows came a deer with +two fawns. They stopped to drink, and nibbled the bushes. But soon they +scented strangers, and, looking about with their beautiful, startled +eyes, they saw us and away they went like the wind. We saw many great +trees uptorn by the storm. High up on the cliffs Zebbie showed me where +the eagles built every year.... We turned homeward and sat down upon +the trunk of a fallen pine to rest and take another look at the +magnificent view. Zebbie was silent, but presently he threw a handful +of pebbles down the canon wall. "I am not sorry Pauline is dead. I have +never shed a tear. I know you think that is odd, but I have never +wanted to mourn. I am glad that it is as it is. I am happy and at peace +because I know she is mine. The little breeze is Pauline's own voice; +she had a little caressing way just like the gentlest breeze when it +stirs your hair. There is something in everything that brings back +Pauline: the beauty of the morning, the song of a bird or the flash of +its wings. The flowers look like she did. So I have not lost her, she +is mine more than ever. I have always felt so, but was never quite sure +until I went back and saw where they laid her. I know people think I am +crazy, but I don't care for that. I shall not hate to die. When you get +to be as old as I am, child, everything will have a new meaning to +you." + +At last we slowly walked back to the cabin, and at breakfast Zebbie +told of the damage the storm had done. He was so common-place that no +one ever would have guessed his strange fancy.... + +I shall never forget Zebbie as I last saw him. It was the morning we +started home. After we left the bench that Zebbie lives on, our road +wound down into a deeper canon. Zebbie had followed us to where a turn +in the canon should hide us from view. I looked back and saw him +standing on the cliffs, high above us, the early morning sun turning +his snowy hair to gold, the breeze-fingers of Pauline tossing the +scanty locks. I shall always remember him so, a living monument to a +dead past. + + ELINORE STEWART. + + + + +XII + +A CONTENTED COUPLE + + + _October 6, 1911._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... I once "heared" Sedalia Lane telling some of her experiences, and +she said she "surreptitiously stole along." One day, when I thought the +coast was clear, I was surreptitiously examining the contents of the +tool-chest with a view toward securing to myself such hammers, saws, +and what else I might need in doing some carpentry work I had planned. +The tool-chest is kept in the granary; both it and the granary are +usually kept locked. Now the "gude mon" has an idea that a "wooman" +needs no tools, and the use and misuse of his tools have led to numbers +of inter-household wars. I was gloating over my opportunity, and also +making the best of it, when a medley of burring Scotch voices brought +me to a quick realization that discretion is the better part of valor. +So I went into seclusion behind a tall oat-bin. It seemed that two +neighbors whom I had never seen were preparing to go to town, and had +come to get some tools and to see if the Stewart would lend them each a +team. Now Mr. Stewart must be very righteous, because he certainly +regardeth his beast, although he doesn't always love his neighbor as +himself. He was willing, however, for friends Tam Campbell and Archie +McEttrick to use his teams, but he himself would take a lighter rig and +go along, so as to see that his horses were properly cared for, and to +help out in case of need. + +They made their plans, set the day, and went their ways. As soon as I +could, I made myself scarce about the granary and very busy about the +house, and, like Josiah Allen, I was in a very "happyfied" state of +mind. There is nothing Mr. Stewart likes better than to catch me +unprepared for something. I had been wanting to go to town, and he had +said I might go with him next time he went, if I was ready when he was. +I knew I would not hear one word about the proposed trip, but that only +added to the fun. I had plenty of time to make all preparations; so the +day before they were to start found me with all in readiness. It was +quite early in the spring and the evenings were quite chilly. We had +just finished supper, when we heard a great rumbling, and I knew +neighbors Campbell and McEttrick had arrived on their way to town; so I +began to prepare supper for them. I hadn't expected a woman, and was +surprised when I saw the largest, most ungainly person I have ever met +come shambling toward me. + +She was Aggie McEttrick. She is tall and raw-boned, she walks with her +toes turned out, she has a most peculiar lurching gait like a camel's. +She has skin the color of a new saddle, and the oddest straggly +straw-colored hair. She never wears corsets and never makes her waists +long enough, so there is always a streak of gray undershirt visible +about her waist. Her skirts are never long enough either, and she knits +her own stockings. Those inclined can always get a good glimpse of +blue-and-white striped hose. She said, "I guess you are the Missus." +And that was every word she said until I had supper on the table. The +men were busy with their teams, and she sat with her feet in my oven, +eyeing my every movement. I told her we had just had our supper, but +she waited until I had theirs ready before she announced that neither +she nor Archie ate hot biscuits or steak, that they didn't take tea for +supper, preferred coffee, and that neither of them could eat peaches or +honey. So all of my supper was ruled off except the butter and cream. +She went down to their wagons and brought up what she wanted, so Tam +Campbell was the only one who ate my honey and biscuit. + +Tam is just a Scot with an amazingly close fist, and he is very +absent-minded. I had met Annie, his wife, and their six children. She +told me of his absent-mindedness. Her remedy for his trouble when it +came to household needs was to repeat the article two or three times in +the list. People out like we are buy a year's supply at a time. So a +list of needed things is made up and sent into town. Tam always managed +to forget a great many things. + +Well, bedtime came. I offered to show them to their room, but Aggie +said, "We'll nae sleep in your bed. We'll jest bide in the kitchen." I +could not persuade her to change her mind. Tam slept at the barn in +order to see after the "beasties," should they need attention during +the night. As I was preparing for bed, Aggie thrust her head into my +room and announced that she would be up at three o'clock. I am not an +early bird, so I thought I would let Aggie get her own breakfast, and I +told her she would find everything in the pantry. As long as I was +awake I could hear Archie and Aggie talking, but I could not imagine +what about. I didn't know their habits so well as I came to later. Next +morning the rumbling of their wagons awakened me, but I turned over and +slept until after six. + +There are always so many things to do before leaving that it was nine +o'clock before we got started. We had only gotten about two miles, when +Mr. Stewart remembered he had not locked the granary, so back we +trotted. We nooned only a few miles from home. We knew we could not +catch the wagons before camping-time unless we drove very hard, so Mr. +Stewart said we would go by the Edmonsons' and spend the night there. I +enjoy even the memory of that drive through the short spring +afternoon,--the warm red sand of the desert; the Wind River Mountains +wrapped in the blue veil of distance; the sparse gray-green sage, ugly +in itself, but making complete a beautiful picture; the occasional +glimpse we had of shy, beautiful wild creatures. So much happiness can +be crowded into so short a time. I was glad, though, when Cora Belle's +home became a part of our beautiful picture. It is situated among great +red buttes, and there is a blue lake back of the house. Around the lake +is a fringe of willows. Their house is a low, rambling affair, with a +long, low porch and a red clay roof. Before the house is a cotton-wood +tree, its gnarled, storm-twisted branches making it seem to have the +"rheumatiz." There is a hop-vine at one end of the porch. It had not +come out when we were there, but the dead vine clung hopelessly to its +supports. + +Little Cora Belle just bubbled with delight, and her grandparents were +scarcely better than she. Spring house-cleaning was just finished, and +they have company so seldom that they made us feel that we were doing +them a favor by stopping. Poor old "Pa" hobbled out to help put the +team away, and when they came back, Cora Belle asked me out to help +prepare supper, so I left Mr. Stewart with "Granny" and "Pa" to listen +to their recitals and to taste their many medicines. Cora Belle is +really an excellent housekeeper. Her cooking would surprise many +people. Her bread was delicious, and I am sure I never tasted anything +better than the roasted leg of lamb she gave us for supper. I am +ashamed to tell you how much I ate of her carrot jam. From where I sat +I had a splendid view of the sunset across the lake. Speaking of things +singly, Wyoming has nothing beautiful to offer. Taken altogether, it is +grandly beautiful, and at sunrise and sunset the "heavens declare His +glory." + +Cora Belle is so animated and so straightforward, so entirely clean in +all her thoughts and actions, that she commands love and respect at one +and the same time. After supper her grandfather asked her to sing and +play for us. Goodness only knows where they got the funny little old +organ that Cora Belle thinks so much of. It has spots all over it of +medicine that has been spilled at different times, and it has, as Cora +Belle said, lost its voice in spots; but that doesn't set back Cora +Belle at all, she plays away just as if it was all right. Some of the +keys keep up a mournful whining and groaning, entirely outside of the +tune. Cora Belle says they play themselves. After several "pieces" had +been endured, "Pa" said, "Play my piece, Cory Belle"; so we had "Bingen +on the Rhine" played and sung from A to izzard. Dear old "Pa," his +pain-twisted old face just beamed with pride. I doubt if heaven will +have for him any sweeter music than his "baby's" voice. Granny's +squeaky, trembly old voice trailed in after Cora Belle's, always a word +or two behind. "Tell my friends and companions when they meet and +_scrouge_ around"; that is the way they sang it, but no one would have +cared for that, if they had noticed with what happy eagerness the two +sang together. The grandparents would like to have sat up all night +singing and telling of things that happened in bygone days, but poor +tired little Cora Belle began to nod, so we retired. As we were +preparing for bed it suddenly occurred to Mr. Stewart that I had not +been surprised when going to town was mentioned, so he said, "Wooman, +how did it happen that you were ready when I was to gae to the toone?" +"Oh," I said, "I knew you were going." "Who tell it ye?" "A little +bird." "'T was some fool wooman, mayhap." I didn't feel it necessary to +enlighten him, and I think he is still wondering how I knew. + +Next morning we were off early, but we didn't come up with the wagons +until almost camping-time. The great heavily-loaded wagons were +creaking along over the heavy sands. The McEttricks were behind, +Aggie's big frame swaying and lurching with every jolt of the wagon. +They never travel without their German socks. They are great thick +things to wear on the outside of their shoes. As we came up behind +them, we could see Aggie's big socks dangling and bobbing beside +Archie's from where they were tied on the back part of the wagon. We +could hear them talking and see them gesticulating. When we came +nearer, we found they were quarreling, and they kept at it as long as I +was awake that night. After the men had disposed of their loads, they +and Mr. Stewart were going out of town to where a new coal-mine was +being opened. I intended to go on the train to Rock Springs to do some +shopping. Aggie said she was going also. I suggested that we get a room +together, as we would have to wait several hours for the train, but she +was suspicious of my motives. She is greatly afraid of being "done," so +she told me to get my own room and pay for it. We got into town about +three o'clock in the afternoon, and the train left at midnight. + +I had gone to my room, and Jerrine and myself were enjoying a good rest +after our fatiguing drive, when my door was thrown open and a very +angry Aggie strode in. They asked us fifty cents each for our rooms. +Aggie paid hers under protest and afterward got to wondering how long +she was entitled to its use. She had gone back to the clerk about it, +and he had told her for that night only. She argued that she should +have her room for a quarter, as she would only use it until midnight. +When that failed, she asked for her money back, but the clerk was out +of patience and refused her that. Aggie was angry all through. She +vowed she was being robbed. After she had berated me soundly for +submitting so tamely, she flounced back to her own room, declaring she +would get even with the robbers. I had to hurry like everything that +night to get myself and Jerrine ready for the train, so I could spare +no time for Aggie. She was not at the depot, and Jerrine and I had to +go on to Rock Springs without her. It is only a couple of hours from +Green River to Rock Springs, so I had a good nap and a late breakfast. +I did my shopping and was back at Green River at two that afternoon. +The first person I saw was Aggie. She sat in the depot, glowering at +everybody. She had a basket of eggs and a pail of butter, which she had +been trying to sell. She was waiting for the night train, the only one +she could get to Rock Springs. I asked her had she overslept. "No, I +didna," she replied. Then, she proceeded to tell me that, as she had +paid for a whole night's use of a room, she had stayed to get its use. +That it had made her plans miscarry didn't seem to count. + +After all our business was attended to, we started for home. The wagons +were half a day ahead of us. When we came in sight, we could see Aggie +fanning the air with her long arms, and we knew they were quarreling. I +remarked that I could not understand how persons who hated each other +so could live together. Clyde told me I had much to learn, and said +that really he knew of no other couple who were actually so devoted. He +said to prove it I should ask Aggie into the buggy with me and he would +get in with Archie, and afterwards we would compare notes. He drove up +alongside of them, and Aggie seemed glad to make the exchange. As we +had the buggy, we drove ahead of the wagons. It seems that Archie and +Aggie are each jealous of the other. Archie is as ugly a little monkey +as it would be possible to imagine. She bemeaned him until at last I +asked her why she didn't leave him, and added that I would not stand +such crankiness for one moment. Then she poured out the vials of her +wrath upon my head, only I don't think they were vials but barrels. + +About sundown we made it to where we intended to camp and found that +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had established a sheep-camp there, and was out with +her herd herself, having only Manny, a Mexican boy she had brought up +herself, for a herder. She welcomed us cordially and began supper for +our entire bunch. Soon the wagons came, and all was confusion for a few +minutes getting the horses put away for the night. Aggie went to her +wagon as soon as it stopped and made secure her butter and eggs +against a possible raid by Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. Having asked too high a +price for them, she had failed to sell them and was taking them back. +After supper we were sitting around the fire, Tam going over his +account and lamenting that because of his absent-mindedness he had +bought a whole hundred pounds of sugar more than he had intended, Aggie +and Archie silent for once, pouting I suspect. Clyde smiled across the +camp-fire at me and said, "Gin ye had sic a lass as I hae, ye might +blither." "Gin ye had sic a mon as mine--" I began, but Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy said, "Gin ye had sic a mon as I hae." Then we all three +laughed, for we had each heard the same thing, and we knew the +McEttricks wouldn't fight each other. They suspected us of laughing at +them, for Archie said to Aggie, "Aggie, lass, is it sport they are +making of our love?" "'T is daft they be, Archie, lad; we'll nae mind +their blither." She arose and shambled across to Archie and hunkered +her big self down beside him. We went to bed and left them peaceable +for once. + +I am really ashamed of the way I have treated you, but I know you will +forgive me. I am not strong yet, and my eyes are still bothering me, +but I hope to be all right soon now, and I promise you a better letter +next time. Jerrine is very proud of her necklace. I think they are so +nice for children. I can remember how proud I was of mine when I was a +child. Please give your brother our thanks, and tell him his little +gift made my little girl very happy. + +I am afraid this letter will seem rather jumbled. I still want the +address of your friend in Salem or any other. I shall find time to +write, and I am not going to let my baby prevent me from having many +enjoyable outings. We call our boy Henry Clyde for his father. He is a +dear little thing, but he is a lusty yeller for baby's rights. + + With much love, + JERRINE AND HER MAMMA. + + + + +XIII + +PROVING UP + + + _October 14, 1911._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I think you must be expecting an answer to your letter by now, so I +will try to answer as many of your questions as I remember. Your letter +has been mislaid. We have been very much rushed all this week. We had +the thresher crew two days. I was busy cooking for them two days before +they came, and have been busy ever since cleaning up after them. Clyde +has taken the thresher on up the valley to thresh for the neighbors, +and all the men have gone along, so the children and I are alone. No, I +shall not lose my land, although it will be over two years before I can +get a deed to it. The five years in which I am required to "prove up" +will have passed by then. I couldn't have held my homestead if Clyde +had also been proving up, but he had accomplished that years ago and +has his deed, so I am allowed my homestead. Also I have not yet used my +desert right, so I am still entitled to one hundred and sixty acres +more. I shall file on that much some day when I have sufficient money +of my own earning. The law requires a cash payment of twenty-five cents +per acre at the filing, and one dollar more per acre when final proof +is made. I should not have married if Clyde had not promised I should +meet all my land difficulties unaided. I wanted the fun and the +experience. For that reason I want to earn every cent that goes into my +own land and improvements myself. Sometimes I almost have a brain-storm +wondering how I am going to do it, but I know I shall succeed; other +women have succeeded. I know of several who are now where they can +laugh at past trials. Do you know?--I am a firm believer in laughter. I +am real superstitious about it. I think if Bad Luck came along, he +would take to his heels if some one laughed right loudly. + +I think Jerrine must be born for the law. She always threshes out +questions that arise, to her own satisfaction, if to no one else's. She +prayed for a long time for her brother; also she prayed for some +puppies. The puppies came, but we didn't let her know they were here +until they were able to walk. One morning she saw them following their +mother, so she danced for joy. When her little brother came she was +plainly disappointed. "Mamma," she said, "did God really make the +baby?" "Yes, dear." "Then He hasn't treated us fairly, and I should +like to know why. The puppies could walk when He finished them; the +calves can, too. The pigs can, and the colt, and even the chickens. +What is the use of giving us a half-finished baby? He has no hair, and +no teeth; he can't walk or talk, nor do anything else but squall and +sleep." + +After many days she got the question settled. She began right where +she left off. "I know, Mamma, why God gave us such a half-finished +baby; so he could learn our ways, and no one else's, since he must live +with us, and so we could learn to love him. Every time I stand beside +his buggy he laughs and then I love him, but I don't love Stella nor +Marvin because they laugh. So that is why." Perhaps that is the reason. + +Zebbie's kinsfolk have come and taken him back to Yell County. I should +not be surprised if he never returned. The Lanes and the Pattersons +leave shortly for Idaho, where "our Bobbie" has made some large +investments. + +I hope to hear from you soon and that you are enjoying every minute. +With much love, + + Your friend, + ELINORE STEWART. + + + + +XIV + +THE NEW HOUSE + + + _December 1, 1911._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I feel just like visiting to-night, so I am going to "play like" you +have come. It is so good to have you to chat with. Please be seated in +this low rocker; it is a present to me from the Pattersons and I am +very proud of it. I am just back from the Patterson ranch, and they +have a dear little boy who came the 20th of November and they call him +Robert Lane. + +I am sure this room must look familiar to you, for there is so much in +it that was once yours. I have two rooms, each fifteen by fifteen, but +this one on the south is my "really" room and in it are my treasures. +My house faces east and is built up against a side-hill, or should I +say hillside? Anyway, they had to excavate quite a lot. I had them +dump the dirt right before the house and terrace it smoothly. I have +sown my terrace to California poppies, and around my porch, which is +six feet wide and thirty long, I have planted wild cucumbers. + +Every log in my house is as straight as a pine can grow. Each room has +a window and a door on the east side, and the south room has two +windows on the south with space between for my heater, which is one of +those with a grate front so I can see the fire burn. It is almost as +good as a fireplace. The logs are unhewed outside because I like the +rough finish, but inside the walls are perfectly square and smooth. The +cracks in the walls are snugly filled with "daubing" and then the walls +are covered with heavy gray building-paper, which makes the room very +warm, and I really like the appearance. I had two rolls of wall-paper +with a bold rose pattern. By being very careful I was able to cut out +enough of the roses, which are divided in their choice of color as to +whether they should be red, yellow, or pink, to make a border about +eighteen inches from the ceiling. They brighten up the wall and the +gray paper is fine to hang pictures upon. Those you have sent us make +our room very attractive. The woodwork is stained a walnut brown, oil +finish, and the floor is stained and oiled just like it. In the corners +by the stove and before the windows we take our comfort. + +From some broken bamboo fishing-rods I made frames for two screens. +These I painted black with some paint that was left from the buggy, and +Gavotte fixed the screens so they will stay balanced, and put in +casters for me. I had a piece of blue curtain calico and with +brass-headed tacks I put it on the frame of Jerrine's screen, then I +mixed some paste and let her decorate it to suit herself on the side +that should be next her corner. She used the cards you sent her. Some +of the people have a suspiciously tottering appearance, perhaps not so +very artistic, but they all mean something to a little girl whose +small fingers worked patiently to attain satisfactory results. She has +a set of shelves on which her treasures of china are arranged. On the +floor is a rug made of two goatskins dyed black, a present from +Gavotte, who heard her admiring Zebbie's bearskin. She has a tiny red +rocking-chair which she has outgrown, but her rather dilapidated family +of dolls use it for an automobile. For a seat for herself she has a +small hassock that you gave me, and behind the blue screen is a world +apart. + +My screen is made just like Jerrine's except that the cover is cream +material with sprays of wild roses over it. In my corner I have a cot +made up like a couch. One of my pillows is covered with some checked +gingham that "Dawsie" cross-stitched for me. I have a cabinet bookcase +made from an old walnut bedstead that was a relic of the Mountain +Meadow Massacre. Gavotte made it for me. In it I have my few books, +some odds and ends of china, all gifts, and a few fossil curios. For a +floor-covering I have a braided rug of blue and white, made from old +sheets and Jerrine's old dresses. In the center of my room is a square +table made of pine and stained brown. Over it is a table-cover that you +gave me. Against the wall near my bed is my "dresser." It is a box with +shelves and is covered with the same material as my screen. Above it I +have a mirror, but it makes ugly faces at me every time I look into it. +Upon the wall near by is a match-holder that you gave me. It is the +heads of two fisher-folk. The man has lost his nose, but the old lady +still thrusts out her tongue. The material on my screen and "dresser" I +bought for curtains, then decided to use some white crossbar I had. But +I wish I had not, for every time I look at them I think of poor little +Mary Ann Parker. + +I am going to make you a cup of tea and wonder if you will see anything +familiar about the teapot. You should, I think, for it is another of +your many gifts to me. Now I feel that you have a fairly good idea of +what my house looks like, on the inside anyway. The magazines and +Jerrine's cards and Mother Goose book came long ago, and Jerrine and I +were both made happy. I wish I could do nice things for you, but all I +can do is to love you. + + Your sincere friend, + ELINORE RUPERT. + + + + +XV + +THE "STOCKING-LEG" DINNER + + + _February, 1912._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... This time I want to tell you about a "stocking-leg" dinner which I +attended not long ago. It doesn't sound very respectable, but it was +one of the happiest events I ever remember. + +Mrs. Louderer was here visiting us, and one afternoon we were all in +the kitchen when Gavotte came skimming along on the first pair of +snowshoes I ever saw. We have had lots of snow this winter, and many of +the hollows and gullies are packed full. Gavotte had no difficulty in +coming, and he had come for the mail and to invite us to a feast of "ze +hose." I could not think what kind of a dinner it could be, and I did +not believe that Mr. Stewart would go, but after Gavotte had explained +how much easier it was now than at any other time because the +hard-packed snow made it possible to go with bobsleds, I knew he would +go. I can't say I really wanted to go, but Mrs. Louderer took it for +granted that it would be delightful, so she and Mr. Stewart did the +planning. Next morning Gavotte met Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and invited her. +Then, taking the mail, he went on ahead to blaze a trail we should +follow with the sleds. We were to start two days later. They planned we +could easily make the trip in a day, as, with the gulches filled with +snow, short cuts were possible, and we could travel at a good pace, as +we would have a strong team. To me it seemed dangerous, but +dinner-parties have not been so plenty that I could miss one. So, when +the day came on which we were to start, we were up betimes and had a +mess-box packed and Mr. Stewart had a big pile of rocks hot. We all +wore our warmest clothes, and the rest carried out hot rocks and +blankets while I put the kitchen in such order that the men left to +feed the stock would have no trouble in getting their meals. Mr. +Stewart carried out the mess-box, and presently we were off. We had a +wagon-box on bobsleds, and the box was filled with hay and hot rocks +with blankets on top and more to cover us. Mr. Stewart had two big bags +of grain in front, feed for the horses, and he sat on them. + +It was a beautiful day and we jogged along merrily. We had lots of fun, +and as we went a new way, there was much that was new to Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy and myself, and it was all new to the rest. Gavotte had +told us where we should noon, and we reached the place shortly after +twelve. Mr. Stewart went to lift out the mess-box,--but he had +forgotten to put it in! Oh, dear! We were a disappointed lot. I don't +think I was ever so hungry, but there was nothing for it but to grin +and bear it. It did me some good, though, to remember how a man misses +his dinner. The horses had to be fed, so we walked about while they +were eating. We went up a canon that had high cliffs on one side, and +came to a place where, high up on the rock wall, in great black +letters, was this legend: "Dick fell off of this here clift and died." +I should think there would be no question that any one who fell from +that place on to the boulders below _would_ die. + +Soon we started again, and if not quite so jolly as we were before, at +least we looked forward to our supper with a keen relish and the horses +were urged faster than they otherwise would have been. The beautiful +snow is rather depressing, however, when there is snow everywhere. The +afternoon passed swiftly and the horses were becoming jaded. At four +o'clock it was almost dark. We had been going up a deep canon and came +upon an appalling sight. There had been a snow-slide and the canon was +half-filled with snow, rock, and broken trees. The whole way was +blocked, and what to do we didn't know, for the horses could hardly be +gotten along and we could not pass the snow-slide. We were twenty-five +miles from home, night was almost upon us, and we were almost starved. +But we were afraid to stay in that canon lest more snow should slide +and bury us, so sadly we turned back to find as comfortable a place as +we could to spend the night. The prospects were very discouraging, and +I am afraid we were all near tears, when suddenly there came upon the +cold air a clear blast from a horn. Mrs. Louderer cried, "Ach, der +reveille!" Once I heard a lecturer tell of climbing the Matterhorn and +the calls we heard brought his story to mind. No music could have been +so beautiful. It soon became apparent that we were being signaled; so +we drove in the direction of the sound and found ourselves going up a +wide canon. We had passed the mouth of it shortly before we had come to +the slide. Even the tired horses took new courage, and every few +moments a sweet, clear call put new heart into us. Soon we saw a light. +We had to drive very slowly and in places barely crept. The bugler +changed his notes and we knew he was wondering if we were coming, so +Mr. Stewart helloed. At once we had an answer, and after that we were +steadily guided by the horn. Many times we could not see the light, but +we drove in the right direction because we could hear the horn. + +At last, when it was quite dark and the horses could go no farther, we +drew up before the fire that had been our beacon light. It was a +bonfire built out upon a point of rock at the end of the canon. Back +from it among the pines was a 'dobe house. A dried-up mummy of a man +advanced from the fire to meet us, explaining that he had seen us +through his field-glasses and, knowing about the snow-slide, had +ventured to attract us to his poor place. Carlota Juanita was within, +prepared for the _senoras_, if they would but walk in. If they would! +More dead than alive, we scrambled out, cold-stiffened and hungry. +Carlota Juanita threw open the low, wide door and we stumbled into +comfort. She hastened to help us off with our wraps, piled more wood on +the open fire, and busied herself to make us welcome and comfortable. +Poor Carlota Juanita! Perhaps you think she was some slender, +limpid-eyed, olive-cheeked beauty. She was fat and forty, but not fair. +She had the biggest wad of hair that I ever saw, and her face was so +fat that her eyes looked beady. She wore an old heelless pair of +slippers or sandals that would hardly stay on, and at every step they +made the most exasperating sliding noise, but she was all kindness and +made us feel very welcome. The floor was of dirt, and they had the +largest fireplace I have ever seen, with the widest, cleanest hearth, +which was where they did their cooking. All their furniture was +home-made, and on a low bench near the door were three water-jars +which, I am sure, were handmade. Away back in a corner they had a small +altar, on which was a little statue of Mary and the Child. Before it, +suspended by a wire from the rafters, was a cow's horn in which a piece +of punk was burning, just as the incense is kept burning in churches. +Supper was already prepared and was simmering and smoking on the +hearth. As soon as the men came in, Carlota Juanita put it on the +table, which was bare of cloth. I can't say that I really like Mexican +bread, but they certainly know how to cook meat. They had a most +wonderful pot-roast with potatoes and corn dumplings that were +delicious. The roast had been slashed in places and small bits of +garlic, pepper, bacon, and, I think, parsley, inserted. After it and +the potatoes and the dumplings were done, Carlota had poured in a can +of tomatoes. You may not think that was good, but I can assure you it +was and that we did ample justice to it. After we had eaten until we +were hardly able to swallow, Carlota Juanita served a queer Mexican +pie. It was made of dried buffalo-berries, stewed and made very sweet. +A layer of batter had been poured into a deep baking-dish, then the +berries, and then more batter. Then it was baked and served hot with +plenty of hard sauce; and it was powerful good, too. She had very +peculiar coffee with goat's milk in it. I took mine without the milk, +but I couldn't make up my mind that I liked the coffee. We sat around +the fire drinking it, when Manuel Pedro Felipe told us it was some he +had brought from Mexico. I didn't know they raised it there, but he +told us many interesting things about it. He and Carlota Juanita both +spoke fairly good English. They had lived for many years in their +present home and had some sheep, a few goats, a cow or two, a few pigs, +and chickens and turkeys. They had a small patch of land that Carlota +Juanita tilled and on which was raised the squaw corn that hung in +bunches from the rafters. Down where we live we can't get sweet corn to +mature, but here, so much higher up, they have a sheltered little nook +where they are able to raise many things. Upon a long shelf above the +fire was an ugly old stone image, the bottom broken off and some +plaster applied to make it set level. The ugly thing they had brought +with them from some old ruined temple in Mexico. We were all so very +tired that soon Carlota Juanita brought out an armful of the thickest, +brightest rugs and spread them over the floor for us to sleep upon. The +men retired to a lean-to room, where they slept, but not before Manuel +Pedro Felipe and Carlota had knelt before their altar for their +devotions. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and myself and Jerrine, knowing the +rosary, surprised them by kneeling with them. It is good to meet with +kindred faith away off in the mountains. It seems there could not +possibly be a mistake when people so far away from creeds and doctrines +hold to the faith of their childhood and find the practice a pleasure +after so many years. The men bade us good-night, and we lost no time in +settling ourselves to rest. Luckily we had plenty of blankets. + +Away in the night I was awakened by a noise that frightened me. All was +still, but instantly there flashed through my mind tales of murdered +travelers, and I was almost paralyzed with fear when again I heard that +stealthy, sliding noise, just like Carlota Juanita's old slippers. The +fire had burned down, but just then the moon came from behind a cloud +and shone through the window upon Carlota Juanita, who was asleep with +her mouth open. I could also see a pine bough which was scraping +against the wall outside, which was perhaps making the noise. I turned +over and saw the punk burning, which cast a dim light over the serene +face of the Blessed Virgin, so all fear vanished and I slept as long as +they would let me in the morning. After a breakfast of _tortillas_, +cheese, and rancid butter, and some more of the coffee, we started +again for the stocking-leg dinner. Carlota Juanita stood in the door, +waving to us as long as we could see her, and Manuel P.F. sat with Mr. +Stewart to guide us around the snow-slide. Under one arm he carried the +horn with which he had called us to him. It came from some long-horned +cow in Mexico, was beautifully polished, and had a fancy rim of silver. +I should like to own it, but I could not make it produce a sound. When +we were safe on our way our guide left us, and our spirits ran high +again. The horses were feeling good also, so it was a merry, laughing +party that drew up before Zebbie's two hours later. + +Long before I had lent Gavotte a set of the Leather-Stocking Tales, +which he had read aloud to Zebbie. Together they had planned a +Leather-Stocking dinner, at which should be served as many of the +viands mentioned in the Tales as possible. We stayed two days and it +was one long feast. We had venison served in half a dozen different +ways. We had antelope; we had porcupine, or hedgehog, as Pathfinder +called it; and also we had beaver-tail, which he found toothsome, but +which I did _not_. We had grouse and sage hen. They broke the ice and +snared a lot of trout. In their cellar they had a barrel of trout +prepared exactly like mackerel, and they were more delicious than +mackerel because they were finer-grained. I had been a little +disappointed in Zebbie after his return from home. It seemed to me that +Pauline had spoiled him. I guess I was jealous. This time he was the +same little old Zebbie I had first seen. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy +our visit, and I am sure we each had the time of our lives. We made it +home without mishap the same day we started, all of us sure life held +something new and enjoyable after all. + +If nothing happens there are some more good times in store for me this +summer. Gavotte once worked under Professor Marsden when he was out +here getting fossils for the Smithsonian Institution, and he is very +interesting to listen to. He has invited us to go with him out to the +Bad-Land hills in the summer to search for fossils. The hills are only +a few miles from here and I look forward to a splendid time. + + + + +XVI + +THE HORSE-THIEVES + + + [No date.] + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +... I am so afraid that you will get an overdose of culture from your +visit to the Hub and am sending you an antidote of our sage, sand, and +sunshine. + +Mrs. Louderer had come over to see our boy. Together we had prepared +supper and were waiting for Clyde, who had gone to the post-office. +Soon he came, and after the usual friendly wrangling between him and +Mrs. Louderer we had supper. Then they began their inevitable game of +cribbage, while I sat near the fire with Baby on my lap. Clyde was +telling us of a raid on a ranch about seventy-five miles away, in which +the thieves had driven off thirty head of fine horses. There were only +two of the thieves, and the sheriff with a large posse was pursuing +them and forcing every man they came across into the chase, and a +regular man-hunt was on. It was interesting only because one of the +thieves was a noted outlaw then out on parole and known to be +desperate. We were in no way alarmed; the trouble was all in the next +county, and somehow that always seems so far away. We knew if the men +ever came together there would be a pitched battle, with bloodshed and +death, but there seemed little chance that the sheriff would ever +overtake the men. + +I remember I was feeling sorry for the poor fellows with a price on +their heads,--the little pink man on my lap had softened my heart +wonderfully. Jerrine was enjoying the pictures in a paper illustrating +early days on the range, wild scenes of roping and branding. I had +remarked that I didn't believe there were any more such times, when Mrs +Louderer replied, "Dot yust shows how much it iss you do not know. You +shall come to mine house and when away you come it shall be wiser as +when you left." I had kept at home very closely all summer, and a +little trip seemed the most desirable thing I could think of, +particularly as the baby would be in no way endangered. But long ago I +learned that the quickest way to get what I want is not to want it, +outwardly, at least. So I assumed an indifference that was not very +real. The result was that next morning every one was in a hurry to get +me started,--Clyde greasing the little old wagon that looks like a twin +to Cora Belle's, and Mrs. Louderer, who thinks no baby can be properly +brought up without goose-grease, busy greasing the baby "so as he shall +not some cold take yet." Mrs. Louderer had ridden over, so her saddle +was laid in the wagon and her pony, Bismarck, was hitched in with Chub, +the laziest horse in all Wyoming. I knew Clyde could manage very well +while I should be gone, and there wasn't a worry to interfere with the +pleasure of my outing. + +We jogged along right merrily, Mrs. Louderer devoting her entire +attention to trying to make Chub pull even with Bismarck, Jerrine and +myself enjoying the ever-changing views. I wish I could lay it all +before you. Summer was departing with reluctant feet, unafraid of +Winter's messengers, the chill winds. That day was especially +beautiful. The gleaming snow peaks and heavy forest south and at our +back; west, north, and east, long, broken lines of the distant +mountains with their blue haze. Pilot Butte to the north, one hundred +miles away, stood out clear and distinct as though we could drive there +in an hour or two. The dull, neutral-colored "Bad Land" hills nearer us +are interesting only because we know they are full of the fossil +remains of strange creatures long since extinct. + +For a distance our way lay up Henry's Fork valley; prosperous little +ranches dotted the view, ripening grain rustled pleasantly in the warm +morning sunshine, and closely cut alfalfa fields made bright spots of +emerald against the dun landscape. The quaking aspens were just +beginning to turn yellow; everywhere purple asters were a blaze of +glory except where the rabbit-bush grew in clumps, waving its feathery +plumes of gold. Over it all the sky was so deeply blue, with little, +airy, white clouds drifting lazily along. Every breeze brought scents +of cedar, pine, and sage. At this point the road wound along the base +of cedar hills; some magpies were holding a noisy caucus among the +trees, a pair of bluebirds twittered excitedly upon a fence, and high +overhead a great black eagle soared. All was so peaceful that +horse-thieves and desperate men seemed too remote to think about. + +Presently we crossed the creek and headed our course due north toward +the desert and the buttes. I saw that we were not going right to reach +Mrs. Louderer's ranch, so I asked where we were supposed to be going. +"We iss going to the mouth of Dry Creek by, where it goes Black's Fork +into. Dere mine punchers holdts five huntert steers. We shall de camp +visit and you shall come back wiser as when you went." + +Well, we both came away wiser. I had thought we were going only to the +Louderer ranch, so I put up no lunch, and there was nothing for the +horses either. But it was too beautiful a time to let such things annoy +us. Anyway, we expected to reach camp just after noon, so a little +delay about dinner didn't seem so bad. We had entered the desert by +noon; the warm, red sands fell away from the wheels with soft, hissing +sounds. Occasionally a little horned toad sped panting along before us, +suddenly darting aside to watch with bright, cunning eyes as we passed. +Some one had placed a buffalo's skull beside a big bunch of sage and on +the sage a splendid pair of elk's antlers. We saw many such scattered +over the sands, grim reminders of a past forever gone. + +About three o'clock we reached our destination, but no camp was there. +We were more disappointed than I can tell you, but Mrs. Louderer merely +went down to the river, a few yards away, and cut an armful of willow +sticks wherewith to coax Chub to a little brisker pace, and then we +took the trail of the departed mess-wagon. Shortly, we topped a low +range of hills, and beyond, in a cuplike valley, was the herd of sleek +beauties feeding contentedly on the lush green grass. I suppose it +sounds odd to hear desert and river in the same breath, but within a +few feet of the river the desert begins, where nothing grows but sage +and greasewood. In oasis-like spots will be found plenty of grass where +the soil is nearer the surface and where sub-irrigation keeps the roots +watered. In one of these spots the herd was being held. When the grass +became short they would be moved to another such place. + +It required, altogether, fifteen men to take care of the herd, because +many of the cattle had been bought in different places, some in Utah, +and these were always trying to run away and work back toward home, so +they required constant herding. Soon we caught the glimmer of white +canvas, and knew it was the cover of the mess-wagon, so we headed that +way. + +The camp was quite near the river so as to be handy to water and to +have the willows for wood. Not a soul was at camp. The fire was out, +and even the ashes had blown away. The mess-box was locked and Mrs. +Louderer's loud calls brought only echoes from the high rock walls +across the river. However, there was nothing to do but to make the best +of it, so we tethered the horses and went down to the river to relieve +ourselves of the dust that seemed determined to unite with the dust +that we were made of. Mrs. Louderer declared she was "so mat as nodings +and would fire dot Herman so soon as she could see him alreaty." + +Presently we saw the most grotesque figure approaching camp. It was +Herman, the fat cook, on Hunks, a gaunt, ugly old horse, whose days of +usefulness under the saddle were past and who had degenerated into a +workhorse. The disgrace of it seemed to be driving him into a decline, +but he stumbled along bravely under his heavy load. A string of a dozen +sage chickens swung on one side, and across the saddle in front of +Herman lay a young antelope. A volley of German abuse was hurled at +poor Herman, wound up in as plain American as Mrs. Louderer could +speak: "And who iss going to pay de game warden de fine of dot antelope +what you haf shot? And how iss it that we haf come de camp by und so +starved as we iss hungry, and no cook und no food? Iss dat for why you +iss paid?" + +Herman was some Dutch himself, however. "How iss it," he demanded, "dat +you haf not so much sense as you haf tongue? How haf you lived so long +as always in de West und don't know enough to hunt a bean-hole when you +reach your own camp. Hey?" + +Mrs. Louderer was very properly subdued and I delighted when he removed +the stones from where the fire had been, exposing a pit from which, +with a pair of pot-hooks, he lifted pots and ovens of the most +delicious meat, beans, and potatoes. From the mess-box he brought bread +and apricot pie. From a near-by spring he brought us a bright, new pail +full of clear, sparkling water, but Mrs. Louderer insisted upon tea and +in a short time he had it ready for us. The tarpaulin was spread on the +ground for us to eat from, and soon we were showing an astonished cook +just how much food two women and a child could get away with. I ate a +good deal of ashes with my roast beef and we all ate more or less sand, +but fastidiousness about food is a good thing to get rid of when you +come West to camp. + +When the regular supper-time arrived the punchers began to gather in, +and the "boss," who had been to town about some business, came in and +brought back the news of the man-hunt. The punchers sat about the +fire, eating hungrily from their tin plates and eagerly listening to +the recital. Two of the boys were tenderfeet: one from Tennessee called +"Daisy Belle," because he whistled that tune so much and because he had +nose-bleed so much,--couldn't even ride a broncho but his nose would +bleed for hours afterwards; and the other, "N'Yawk," so called from his +native State. N'Yawk was a great boaster; said he wasn't afraid of no +durned outlaw,--said his father had waded in bloody gore up to his neck +and that he was a chip off the old block,--rather hoped the chase would +come our way so he could try his marksmanship. + +The air began to grow chill and the sky was becoming overcast. +Preparations for the night busied everybody. Fresh ponies were being +saddled for the night relief, the hard-ridden, tired ones that had been +used that day being turned loose to graze. Some poles were set up and a +tarpaulin arranged for Mrs. Louderer and me to sleep under. Mrs. +Louderer and Jerrine lay down on some blankets and I unrolled some +more, which I was glad to notice were clean, for Baby and myself. I +can't remember ever being more tired and sleepy, but I couldn't go to +sleep. I could hear the boss giving orders in quick, decisive tones. I +could hear the punchers discussing the raid, finally each of them +telling exploits of his favorite heroes of outlawry. I could hear +Herman, busy among his pots and pans. Then he mounted the tongue of the +mess-wagon and called out, "We haf for breakfast cackle-berries, first +vot iss come iss served, und those vot iss sleep late gets nodings." + +I had never before heard of cackle-berries and asked sleepy Mrs. +Louderer what they were. "Vait until morning and you shall see," was +all the information that I received. + +Soon a gentle, drizzling rain began, and the punchers hurriedly made +their beds, as they did so twitting N'Yawk about making his between +our tent and the fire. "You're dead right, pard," I heard one of them +say, "to make your bed there, fer if them outlaws comes this way +they'll think you air one of the women and they won't shoot you. Just +us _men_ air in danger." + +"Confound your fool tongues, how they goin' to know there's any women +here? I tell you, fellers, my old man waded in bloody gore up to his +neck and I'm just like him." + +They kept up this friendly parleying until I dozed off to sleep, but I +couldn't stay asleep. I don't think I was afraid, but I certainly was +nervous. The river was making a sad, moaning sound; the rain fell +gently, like tears. All nature seemed to be mourning about something, +happened or going to happen. Down by the river an owl hooted dismally. +Half a mile away the night-herders were riding round and round the +herd. One of them was singing,--faint but distinct came his song: "Bury +me not on the lone prairie." Over and over again he sang it. After a +short interval of silence he began again. This time it was, "I'm +thinking of my dear old mother, ten thousand miles away." + +Two punchers stirred uneasily and began talking. "Blast that Tex," I +heard one of them say, "he certainly has it bad to-night. What the +deuce makes him sing so much? I feel like bawling like a kid; I wish +he'd shut up." "He's homesick; I guess we all are too, but they ain't +no use staying awake and letting it soak in. Shake the water off the +tarp, you air lettin' water catch on your side an' it's running into my +ear." + +That is the last I heard for a long time. I must have slept. I remember +that the baby stirred and I spoke to him. It seemed to me that +something struck against the guy-rope that held our tarpaulin taut, but +I wasn't sure. I was in that dozy state, half asleep, when nothing is +quite clear. It seemed as though I had been listening to the tramp of +feet for hours and that a whole army must be filing past, when I was +brought suddenly into keen consciousness by a loud voice demanding, +"Hello! Whose outfit is this?" "This is the 7 Up,--Louderer's," the +boss called back; "what's wanted?" "Is that you, Mat? This is Ward's +posse. We been after Meeks and Murdock all night. It's so durned dark +we can't see, but we got to keep going; their horses are about played. +We changed at Hadley's, but we ain't had a bite to eat and we got to +search your camp." "Sure thing," the boss answered, "roll off and take +a look. Hi, there, you Herm, get out of there and fix these fellers +something to eat." + +We were surrounded. I could hear the clanking of spurs and the sound of +the wet, tired horses shaking themselves and rattling the saddles on +every side. "Who's in the wickiup?" I heard the sheriff ask. "Some +women and kids,--Mrs. Louderer and a friend." + +In an incredibly short time Herman had a fire coaxed into a blaze and +Mat Watson and the sheriff went from bed to bed with a lantern. They +searched the mess-wagon, even, although Herman had been sleeping there. +The sheriff unceremoniously flung out the wood and kindling the cook +had stored there. He threw back the flap of our tent and flashed the +lantern about. He could see plainly enough that there were but the four +of us, but I wondered how they saw outside where the rain made it +worse, the lantern was so dirty. "Yes," I heard the sheriff say, "we've +been pushing them hard. They're headed north, evidently intend to hit +the railroad but they'll never make it. Every ford on the river is +guarded except right along here, and there's five parties ranging on +the other side. My party's split,--a bunch has gone on to the bridge. +If they find anything they're to fire a volley. Same with us. I knew +they couldn't cross the river nowhere but at the bridge or here." + +The men had gathered about the fire and were gulping hot coffee and +cold beef and bread. The rain ran off their slickers in little +rivulets. I was sorry the fire was not better, because some of the men +had on only ordinary coats, and the drizzling rain seemed determined +that the fire should not blaze high. + +Before they had finished eating we heard a shot, followed by a regular +medley of dull booms. The men were in their saddles and gone in less +time than it takes to tell it. The firing had ceased save for a few +sharp reports from the revolvers, like a coyote's spiteful snapping. +The pounding of the horse's hoofs grew fainter, and soon all was still. +I kept my ears strained for the slightest sound. The cook and the boss, +the only men up, hurried back to bed. Watson had risen so hurriedly +that he had not been careful about his "tarp" and water had run into +his bed. But that wouldn't disconcert anybody but a tenderfoot. I kept +waiting in tense silence to hear them come back with dead or wounded, +but there was not a sound. The rain had stopped. Mrs. Louderer struck a +match and said it was three o'clock. Soon she was asleep. Through a +rift in the clouds a star peeped out. I could smell the wet sage and +the sand. A little breeze came by, bringing Tex's song once more:-- + + "Oh, it matters not, so I've been told, + How the body lies when the heart grows cold." + +Oh, dear! the world seemed so full of sadness. I kissed my baby's +little downy head and went to sleep. + +It seems that cowboys are rather sleepy-headed in the morning and it is +a part of the cook's job to get them up. The next I knew, Herman had a +tin pan on which he was beating a vigorous tattoo, all the time +hollering, "We haf cackle-berries und antelope steak for breakfast." +The baby was startled by the noise, so I attended to him and then +dressed myself for breakfast. I went down to the little spring to wash +my face. The morning was lowering and gray, but a wind had sprung up +and the clouds were parting. There are times when anticipation is a +great deal better than realization. Never having seen a cackle-berry, +my imagination pictured them as some very luscious wild fruit, and I +was so afraid none would be left that I couldn't wait until the men +should eat and be gone. So I surprised them by joining the very +earliest about the fire. Herman began serving breakfast. I held out my +tin plate and received some of the steak, an egg, and two delicious +biscuits. We had our coffee in big enameled cups, without sugar or +cream, but it was piping hot and _so_ good. I had finished my egg and +steak and so I told Herman I was ready for my cackle-berries. + +"Listen to her now, will you?" he asked. And then indignantly, "How +many cackle-berries does you want? You haf had so many as I haf cooked +for you." "Why, Herman, I haven't had a single berry," I said. Then +such a roar of laughter. Herman gazed at me in astonishment, and Mr. +Watson gently explained to me that eggs and cackle-berries were one +and the same. + +N'Yawk was not yet up, so Herman walked over to his bed, kicked him a +few times, and told him he would scald him if he didn't turn out. It +was quite light by then. N'Yawk joined us in a few minutes. "What the +deuce was you fellers kicking up such a rumpus fer last night?" he +asked. "You blamed blockhead, don't you know?" the boss answered. "Why, +the sheriff searched this camp last night. They had a battle down at +the bridge afterwards and either they are all killed or else no one is +hurt. They would have been here otherwise. Ward took a shot at them +once yesterday, but I guess he didn't hit; the men got away, anyway. +And durn your sleepy head! you just lay there and snored. Well, I'll be +danged!" Words failed him, his wonder and disgust were so great. + +N'Yawk turned to get his breakfast. His light shirt was blood-stained +in the back,--seemed to be soaked. "What's the matter with your shirt, +it's soaked with blood?" some one asked. "Then that durned Daisy Belle +has been crawling in with me, that's all," he said. "Blame his bleeding +snoot. I'll punch it and give it something to bleed for." + +Then Mr. Watson said, "Daisy ain't been in all night. He took Jesse's +place when he went to town after supper." That started an inquiry and +search which speedily showed that some one with a bleeding wound had +gotten in with N'Yawk. It also developed that Mr. Watson's splendid +horse and saddle were gone, the rope that the horse had been picketed +with lying just as it had been cut from his neck. + +Now all was bustle and excitement. It was plainly evident that one of +the outlaws had lain hidden on N'Yawk's bed while the sheriff was +there, and that afterwards he had saddled the horse and made his +escape. His own horse was found in the willows, the saddle cut loose +and the bridle off, but the poor, jaded thing had never moved. By sunup +the search-party returned, all too worn-out with twenty-four hours in +the saddle to continue the hunt. They were even too worn-out to eat, +but flung themselves down for a few hours' rest. The chase was hopeless +anyway, for the search-party had gone north in the night. The wounded +outlaw had doubtless heard the sheriff talking and, the coast being +clear to the southward, had got the fresh horse and was by that time +probably safe in the heavy forests and mountains of Utah. His getting +in with N'Yawk had been a daring ruse, but a successful one. Where his +partner was, no one could guess. But by that time all the camp +excepting Herman and Mrs. Louderer were so panicky that we couldn't +have made a rational suggestion. + +N'Yawk, white around his mouth, approached Mrs. Louderer. "I want to +quit," he said. "Well," she said, calmly sipping her coffee, "you haf +done it." "I'm sick," he stammered. "I know you iss," she said, "I haf +before now seen men get sick when they iss scared to death." "My old +daddy--" he began. "Yes, I know, he waded the creek vone time und you +has had cold feet effer since." + +Poor fellow, I felt sorry for him. I had cold feet myself just then, +and I was powerfully anxious to warm them by my own fire where a pair +of calm blue eyes would reassure me. + +I didn't get to see the branding that was to have taken place on the +range that day. The boss insisted on taking the trail of his valued +horse. He was very angry. He thought there was a traitor among the +posse. Who started the firing at the bridge no one knew, and Watson +said openly that it was done to get the sheriff away from camp. + +My own home looked mighty good to me when we drove up that evening. I +don't want any more wild life on the range,--not for a while, anyway. + + Your ex-Washlady, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XVII + +AT GAVOTTE'S CAMP + + + _November 16, 1912._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +At last I can write you as I want to. I am afraid you think I am going +to wait until the "bairns" are grown up before writing to my friends, +but indeed I shall not. I fully intend to "gather roses while I may." +Since God has given me two blessings, children and friends, I shall +enjoy them both as I go along. + +I must tell you why I have not written as I should have done. All +summer long my eyes were so strained and painful that I had to let all +reading and writing go. And I have suffered terribly with my back. But +now I am able to be about again, do most of my own work, and my eyes +are much better. So now I shall not treat you so badly again. If you +could only know how kind every one is to me, you would know that even +ill health has its compensations out here. Dear Mrs. Louderer, with her +goose-grease, her bread, and her delicious "kuchens." Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy, with her cheery ways, her tireless friendship, and +willing, capable hands. Gavotte even, with his tidbits of game and +fish. Dear little Cora Belle came often to see me, sometimes bringing +me a little of Grandpa's latest cure, which I received on faith, for, +of course, I could not really swallow any of it. Zebbie's nephew, +Parker Carter, came out, spent the summer with him, and they have now +gone back to Yell County, leaving Gavotte in charge again. + +Gavotte had a most interesting and prosperous summer. He was +commissioned by a wealthy Easterner to procure some fossils. I had had +such a confined summer that Clyde took me out to Gavotte's camp as soon +as I was able to sit up and be driven. We found him away over in the +bad lands camped in a fine little grove. He is a charming man to visit +at any time, and we found him in a particularly happy mood. He had just +begun to quarry a gigantic find; he had piles of specimens; he had +packed and shipped some rare specimens of fossil plants, but his "beeg +find" came later and he was jubilant. To dig fossils successfully +requires great care and knowledge, but it is a work in which Gavotte +excels. He is a splendid cook. I almost believe he could make a Johnny +Reb like codfish, and that night we had a delicious supper and all the +time listening to a learned discourse about prehistoric things. I +enjoyed the meal and I enjoyed the talk, but I could not sleep +peacefully for being chased in my dreams by pterodactyls, dinosaurs, +and iguanodons, besides a great many horrible creatures whose names I +have forgotten. Of course, when the ground begins to freeze and snow +comes, fossil-mining is done for until summer comes, so Gavotte tends +the critters and traps this winter. I shall not get to go to the +mountains this winter. The babies are too small, but there is always +some happy and interesting thing happening, and I shall have two +pleasures each time, my own enjoyment, and getting to tell you of +them. + + + + +XVIII + +THE HOMESTEADER'S MARRIAGE AND A LITTLE FUNERAL + + + _December 2, 1912._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Every time I get a new letter from you I get a new inspiration, and I +am always glad to hear from you. + +I have often wished I might tell you all about my Clyde, but have not +because of two things. One is I could not even begin without telling +you what a good man he is, and I didn't want you to think I could do +nothing but brag. The other reason is the haste I married in. I am +ashamed of that. I am afraid you will think me a Becky Sharp of a +person. But although I married in haste, I have no cause to repent. +That is very fortunate because I have never had one bit of leisure to +repent in. So I am lucky all around. The engagement was powerfully +short because both agreed that the trend of events and ranch work +seemed to require that we be married first and do our "sparking" +afterward. You see, we had to chink in the wedding between times, that +is, between planting the oats and other work that must be done early or +not at all. In Wyoming ranchers can scarcely take time even to be +married in the springtime. That having been settled, the license was +sent for by mail, and as soon as it came Mr. Stewart saddled Chub and +went down to the house of Mr. Pearson, the justice of the peace and a +friend of long standing. I had never met any of the family and +naturally rather dreaded to have them come, but Mr. Stewart was firm in +wanting to be married at home, so he told Mr. Pearson he wanted him and +his family to come up the following Wednesday and serve papers on the +"wooman i' the hoose." They were astonished, of course, but being such +good friends they promised him all the assistance they could render. +They are quite the dearest, most interesting family! I have since +learned to love them as my own. + +Well, there was no time to make wedding clothes, so I had to "do up" +what I did have. Isn't it queer how sometimes, do what you can, work +will keep getting in the way until you can't get anything done? That is +how it was with me those few days before the wedding; so much so that +when Wednesday dawned everything was topsy-turvy and I had a very +strong desire to run away. But I always did hate a "piker," so I stood +pat. Well, I had most of the dinner cooked, but it kept me hustling to +get the house into anything like decent order before the old dog +barked, and I knew my moments of liberty were limited. It was blowing a +perfect hurricane and snowing like midwinter. I had bought a beautiful +pair of shoes to wear on that day, but my vanity had squeezed my feet a +little, so while I was so busy at work I had kept on a worn old pair, +intending to put on the new ones later; but when the Pearsons drove up +all I thought about was getting them into the house where there was +fire, so I forgot all about the old shoes and the apron I wore. + +I had only been here six weeks then, and was a stranger. That is why I +had no one to help me and was so confused and hurried. As soon as the +newcomers were warm, Mr. Stewart told me I had better come over by him +and stand up. It was a large room I had to cross, and how I did it +before all those strange eyes I never knew. All I can remember very +distinctly is hearing Mr. Stewart saying, "I will," and myself chiming +in that I would, too. Happening to glance down, I saw that I had +forgotten to take off my apron or my old shoes, but just then Mr. +Pearson pronounced us man and wife, and as I had dinner to serve right +away I had no time to worry over my odd toilet. Anyway the shoes were +comfortable and the apron white, so I suppose it could have been +worse; and I don't think it has ever made any difference with the +Pearsons, for I number them all among my most esteemed friends. + +It is customary here for newlyweds to give a dance and supper at the +hall, but as I was a stranger I preferred not to, and so it was a long +time before I became acquainted with all my neighbors. I had not +thought I should ever marry again. Jerrine was always such a dear +little pal, and I wanted to just knock about foot-loose and free to see +life as a gypsy sees it. I had planned to see the Cliff-Dwellers' home; +to live right there until I caught the spirit of the surroundings +enough to live over their lives in imagination anyway. I had planned to +see the old missions and to go to Alaska; to hunt in Canada. I even +dreamed of Honolulu. Life stretched out before me one long, happy +jaunt. I aimed to see all the world I could, but to travel unknown +bypaths to do it. But first I wanted to try homesteading. + +But for my having the grippe, I should never have come to Wyoming. Mrs. +Seroise, who was a nurse at the institution for nurses in Denver while +I was housekeeper there, had worked one summer at Saratoga, Wyoming. It +was she who told me of the pine forests. I had never seen a pine until +I came to Colorado; so the idea of a home among the pines fascinated +me. At that time I was hoping to pass the Civil-Service examination, +with no very definite idea as to what I would do, but just to be +improving my time and opportunity. I never went to a public school a +day in my life. In my childhood days there was no such thing in the +Indian Territory part of Oklahoma where we lived, so I have had to try +hard to keep learning. Before the time came for the examination I was +so discouraged because of the grippe that nothing but the mountains, +the pines, and the clean, fresh air seemed worth while; so it all came +about just as I have written you. + +So you see I was very deceitful. Do you remember, I wrote you of a +little baby boy dying? That was my own little Jamie, our first little +son. For a long time my heart was crushed. He was such a sweet, +beautiful boy. I wanted him so much. He died of erysipelas. I held him +in my arms till the last agony was over. Then I dressed the beautiful +little body for the grave. Clyde is a carpenter; so I wanted him to +make the little coffin. He did it every bit, and I lined and padded it, +trimmed and covered it. Not that we couldn't afford to buy one or that +our neighbors were not all that was kind and willing; but because it +was a sad pleasure to do everything for our little first-born +ourselves. + +As there had been no physician to help, so there was no minister to +comfort, and I could not bear to let our baby leave the world without +leaving any message to a community that sadly needed it. His little +message to us had been love, so I selected a chapter from John and we +had a funeral service, at which all our neighbors for thirty miles +around were present. So you see, our union is sealed by love and +welded by a great sorrow. + +Little Jamie was the first little Stewart. God has given me two more +precious little sons. The old sorrow is not so keen now. I can bear to +tell you about it, but I never could before. When you think of me, you +must think of me as one who is truly happy. It is true, I want a great +many things I haven't got, but I don't want them enough to be +discontented and not enjoy the many blessings that are mine. I have my +home among the blue mountains, my healthy, well-formed children, my +clean, honest husband, my kind, gentle milk cows, my garden which I +make myself. I have loads and loads of flowers which I tend myself. +There are lots of chickens, turkeys, and pigs which are my own special +care. I have some slow old gentle horses and an old wagon. I can load +up the kiddies and go where I please any time. I have the best, kindest +neighbors and I have my dear absent friends. Do you wonder I am so +happy? When I think of it all, I wonder how I can crowd all my joy into +one short life. I don't want you to think for one moment that you are +bothering me when I write you. It is a real pleasure to do so. You're +always so good to let me tell you everything. I am only afraid of +trying your patience too far. Even in this long letter I can't tell you +all I want to; so I shall write you again soon. Jerrine will write too. +Just now she has very sore fingers. She has been picking gooseberries, +and they have been pretty severe on her brown little paws. + +With much love to you, I am + + "Honest and truly" yours, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XIX + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE + + + _January 6, 1913._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +I have put off writing you and thanking you for your thought for us +until now so that I could tell you of our very happy Christmas and our +deer hunt all at once. + +To begin with, Mr. Stewart and Junior have gone to Boulder to spend the +winter. Clyde wanted his mother to have a chance to enjoy our boy, so, +as he had to go, he took Junior with him. Then those of my dear +neighbors nearest my heart decided to prevent a lonely Christmas for +me, so on December 21st came Mrs. Louderer, laden with an immense plum +pudding and a big "_wurst_," and a little later came Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +on her frisky pony, Chief, her scarlet sweater making a bright bit of +color against our snow-wrapped horizon. Her face and ways are just as +bright and cheery as can be. When she saw Mrs. Louderer's pudding and +sausage she said she had brought nothing because she had come to get +something to eat herself, "and," she continued, "it is a private +opinion of mine that my neighbors are so glad to see me that they are +glad to feed me." Now wouldn't that little speech have made her welcome +anywhere? + +Well, we were hilariously planning what Mrs. O'Shaughnessy called a +"widdy" Christmas and getting supper, when a great stamping-off of snow +proclaimed a newcomer. It was Gavotte, and we were powerfully glad to +see him because the hired man was going to a dance and we knew Gavotte +would contrive some unusual amusement. He had heard that Clyde was +going to have a deer-drive, and didn't know that he had gone, so he had +come down to join the hunt just for the fun, and was very much +disappointed to find there was going to be no hunt. After supper, +however, his good humor returned and he told us story after story of +big hunts he had had in Canada. He worked up his own enthusiasm as well +as ours, and at last proposed that we have a drive of our own for a +Christmas "joy." He said he would take a station and do the shooting if +one of us would do the driving. So right now I reckon I had better tell +you how it is done. + +There are many little parks in the mountains where the deer can feed, +although now most places are so deep in snow that they can't walk in +it. For that reason they have trails to water and to the different +feeding-grounds, and they can't get through the snow except along these +paths. You see how easy it would be for a man hidden on the trail to +get one of the beautiful creatures if some one coming from another +direction startled them so that they came along that particular path. + +So they made their plans. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy elected herself driver. +Two miles away is a huge mountain called Phillipeco, and deer were +said to be plentiful up there. At one time there had been a sawmill on +the mountain, and there were a number of deserted cabins in which we +could make ourselves comfortable. So it was planned that we go up the +next morning, stay all night, have the hunt the following morning, and +then come home with our game. + +Well, we were all astir early the next morning and soon grain, bedding, +and chuck-box were in the wagon. Then Mrs. Louderer, the _kinder_, and +myself piled in; Mrs. O'Shaughnessy bestrode Chief, Gavotte stalked on +ahead to pick our way, and we were off. + +It was a long, tedious climb, and I wished over and over that I had +stayed at home; but it was altogether on Baby's account. I was so +afraid that he would suffer, but he kept warm as toast. The day was +beautiful, and the views many times repaid us for any hardship we had +suffered. It was three o'clock before we reached the old mill camp. +Soon we had a roaring fire, and Gavotte made the horses comfortable in +one of the cabins. They were bedded in soft, dry sawdust, and were +quite as well off as if they had been in their own stalls. Then some +rough planks were laid on blocks, and we had our first meal since +breakfast. We called it supper, and we had potatoes roasted in the +embers, Mrs. Louderer's _wurst_, which she had been calmly carrying +around on her arm like a hoop and which was delicious with the bread +that Gavotte toasted on long sticks; we had steaming coffee, and we +were all happy; even Baby clapped his hands and crowed at the unusual +sight of an open fire. After supper Gavotte took a little stroll and +returned with a couple of grouse for our breakfast. After dark we sat +around the fire eating peanuts and listening to Gavotte and Mrs. +Louderer telling stories of their different great forests. But soon +Gavotte took his big sleeping-bag and retired to another cabin, warning +us that we must be up early. Our improvised beds were the most +comfortable things; I love the flicker of an open fire, the smell of +the pines, the pure, sweet air, and I went to sleep thinking how blest +I was to be able to enjoy the things I love most. + +It seemed only a short time until some one knocked on our door and we +were all wide awake in a minute. The fire had burned down and only a +soft, indistinct glow from the embers lighted the room, while through a +hole in the roof I could see a star glimmering frostily. It was Gavotte +at the door and he called through a crack saying he had been hearing +queer noises for an hour and he was going to investigate. He had called +us so that we need not be alarmed should we hear the noise and not find +him. We scrambled into our clothes quickly and ran outdoors to listen. + +I can never describe to you the weird beauty of a moonlight night among +the pines when the snow is sparkling and gleaming, the deep silence +unbroken even by the snapping of a twig. We stood shivering and +straining our ears and were about to go back to bed when we heard +faintly a long-drawn wail as if all the suffering and sorrow on earth +were bound up in that one sound. We couldn't tell which way it came +from; it seemed to vibrate through the air and chill our hearts. I had +heard that panthers cried that way, but Gavotte said it was not a +panther. He said the engine and saws had been moved from where we were +to another spring across the canon a mile away, where timber for sawing +was more plentiful, but he supposed every one had left the mill when +the water froze so they couldn't saw. He added that some one must have +remained and was, perhaps, in need of help, and if we were not afraid +he would leave us and go see what was wrong. + +We went in, made up the fire, and sat in silence, wondering what we +should see or hear next. Once or twice that agonized cry came shivering +through the cold moonlight. After an age, we heard Gavotte crunching +through the snow, whistling cheerily to reassure us. He had crossed the +canon to the new mill camp, where he had found two women, loggers' +wives, and some children. One of the women, he said, was "so ver' +seek," 't was she who was wailing so, and it was the kind of "seek" +where we could be of every help and comfort. + +Mrs. Louderer stayed and took care of the children while Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy and I followed after Gavotte, panting and stumbling, +through the snow. Gavotte said he suspected they were short of +"needfuls," so he had filled his pockets with coffee and sugar, took in +a bottle some of the milk I brought for Baby, and his own flask of +whiskey, without which he never travels. + +At last, after what seemed to me hours of scrambling through the snow, +through deepest gloom where pines were thickest, and out again into +patches of white moonlight, we reached the ugly clearing where the new +camp stood. Gavotte escorted us to the door and then returned to our +camp. Entering, we saw the poor, little soon-to-be mother huddled on +her poor bed, while an older woman stood near warning her that the oil +would soon be all gone and they would be in darkness. She told us that +the sick one had been in pain all the day before and much of the night, +and that she herself was worn completely out. So Mrs. O'Shaughnessy +sent her to bed and we took charge. + +Secretly, I felt it all to be a big nuisance to be dragged out from my +warm, comfortable bed to traipse through the snow at that time of the +night. But the moment poor little Molly spoke I was glad I was living, +because she was a poor little Southern girl whose husband is a Mormon. +He had been sent on a mission to Alabama, and the poor girl had fallen +in love with his handsome face and knew nothing of Mormonism, so she +had run away with him. She thought it would be so grand to live in the +glorious West with so splendid a man as she believed her husband to +be. But now she believed she was going to die and she was glad of it +because she could not return to her "folks," and she said she knew her +husband was dead because he and the other woman's husband, both of whom +had intended to stay there all winter and cut logs, had gone two weeks +before to get their summer's wages and buy supplies. Neither man had +come back and there was not a horse or any other way to get out of the +mountains to hunt them, so they believed the men to be frozen somewhere +on the road. Rather a dismal prospect, wasn't it? Molly was just +longing for some little familiar thing, so I was glad I have not yet +gotten rid of my Southern way of talking. No Westerner can ever +understand a Southerner's need of sympathy, and, however kind their +hearts, they are unable to give it. Only a Southerner can understand +how dear are our peculiar words and phrases, and poor little Molly took +new courage when she found I knew what she meant when she said she was +just "honin'" after a friendly voice. + +Well, soon we had the water hot and had filled some bottles and placed +them around our patient, and after a couple of hours the tiny little +stranger came into the world. It had been necessary to have a great +fire in order to have light, so as soon as we got Baby dressed I opened +the door a little to cool the room and Molly saw the morning star +twinkling merrily. "Oh," she said, "that is what I will call my little +girlie,--Star, dear little Star." + +It is strange, isn't it? how our spirits will revive after some great +ordeal. Molly had been sure she was going to die and saw nothing to +live for; now that she had had a cup of hot milk and held her red +little baby close, she was just as happy and hopeful as if she had +never left her best friends and home to follow the uncertain fortunes +of young Will Crosby. So she and I talked of ash-hoppers, smoke-houses, +cotton-patches, goobers, poke-greens, and shoats, until she fell +asleep. + +Soon day was abroad, and so we went outdoors for a fresh breath. The +other woman came out just then to ask after Molly. She invited us into +her cabin, and, oh, the little Mormons were everywhere; poor, half-clad +little things! Some sour-dough biscuit and a can of condensed milk was +everything they had to eat. The mother explained to us that their "men" +had gone to get things for them, but had not come back, so she guessed +they had got drunk and were likely in jail. She told it in a very +unconcerned manner. Poor thing! Years of such experience had taught her +that blessed are they who expect nothing, for they shall not be +disappointed. She said that if Molly had not been sick she would have +walked down out of the mountains and got help. + +Just then two shots rang out in quick succession, and soon Gavotte came +staggering along with a deer across his shoulders. That he left for +the family. From our camp he had brought some bacon and butter for +Molly, and, poor though it may seem, it was a treat for her. Leaving +the woman to dress the venison with her oldest boy's aid, we put out +across the canon for our own breakfast. Beside our much-beaten trail +hung the second venison, and when we reached our camp and had our own +delicious breakfast of grouse, bread, butter, and coffee, Gavotte took +Chub and went for our venison. In a short time we were rolling +homeward. Of course it didn't take us nearly so long to get home +because it was downhill and the road was clearly marked, so in a couple +of hours we were home. + +Gavotte knew the two loggers were in Green River and were then at work +storing ice for the railroad, but he had not known that their wives +were left as they were. The men actually had got drunk, lost their +money, and were then trying to replace it. After we debated a bit we +decided we could not enjoy Christmas with those people in want up +there in the cold. Then we got busy. It is sixty miles to town, +although our nearest point to the railroad is but forty, so you see it +was impossible to get to town to get anything. You should have seen us! +Every old garment that had ever been left by men who have worked here +was hauled out, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's deft fingers soon had a pile +of garments cut. We kept the machine humming until far into the night, +as long as we could keep our eyes open. + +All next day we sewed as hard as we could, and Gavotte cooked as hard +as he could. We had intended to have a tree for Jerrine, so we had a +box of candles and a box of Christmas snow. Gavotte asked for all the +bright paper we could find. We had lots of it, and I think you would be +surprised at the possibilities of a little waste paper. He made +gorgeous birds, butterflies, and flowers out of paper that once wrapped +parcels. Then he asked us for some silk thread, but I had none, so he +told us to comb our hair and give him the combings. We did, and with a +drop of mucilage he would fasten a hair to a bird's back and then hold +it up by the hair. At a few feet's distance it looked exactly as though +the bird was flying. I was glad I had a big stone jar full of +_fondant_, because we had a lot of fun shaping and coloring candies. We +offered a prize for the best representation of a "nigger," and we had +two dozen chocolate-covered things that might have been anything from a +monkey to a mouse. Mrs. Louderer cut up her big plum pudding and put it +into a dozen small bags. These Gavotte carefully covered with green +paper. Then we tore up the holly wreath that Aunt Mary sent me, and put +a sprig in the top of each green bag of pudding. I never had so much +fun in my life as I had preparing for that Christmas. + +At ten o'clock, the morning of the 24th, we were again on our way up +the mountain-side. We took shovels so we could clear a road if need +be. We had dinner at the old camp, and then Gavotte hunted us a way out +to the new, and we smuggled our things into Molly's cabin so the +children should have a real surprise. Poor, hopeless little things! +Theirs was, indeed, a dull outlook. + +Gavotte busied himself in preparing one of the empty cabins for us and +in making the horses comfortable. He cut some pine boughs to do that +with, and so they paid no attention when he cut a small tree. In the +mean time we had cleared everything from Molly's cabin but her bed; we +wanted her to see the fun. The children were sent to the spring to +water the horses and they were all allowed to ride, so that took them +out of the way while Gavotte nailed the tree into a box he had filled +with dirt to hold it steady. + +There were four women of us, and Gavotte, so it was only the work of a +few moments to get the tree ready, and it was the most beautiful one I +ever saw. Your largest bell, dear Mrs. Coney, dangled from the topmost +branch. Gavotte had attached a long, stout wire to your Santa Claus, so +he was able to make him dance frantically without seeming to do so. The +hairs that held the birds and butterflies could not be seen, and the +effect was beautiful. We had a bucket of apples rubbed bright, and +these we fastened to the tree just as they grew on their own branches. +The puddings looked pretty, too, and we had done up the parcels that +held the clothes as attractively as we could. We saved the candy and +the peanuts to put in their little stockings. + +As soon as it was dark we lighted the candles and then their mother +called the children. Oh, if you could have seen them! It was the very +first Christmas tree they had ever seen and they didn't know what to +do. The very first present Gavotte handed out was a pair of trousers +for eight-years-old Brig, but he just stood and stared at the tree +until his brother next in size, with an eye to the main chance, got +behind him and pushed him forward, all the time exclaiming, "Go on, +can't you! They ain't doin' nothin' to you, they's just doin' somethin' +for you." Still Brig would not put out his hand. He just shook his +tousled sandy head and said he wanted a bird. So the fun kept up for an +hour. Santa had for Molly a package of oatmeal, a pound of butter, a +Mason jar of cream, and a dozen eggs, so that she could have suitable +food to eat until something could be done. + +After the presents had all been distributed we put the phonograph on a +box and had a dandy concert. We played "There were Shepherds," "Ave +Maria," and "Sweet Christmas Bells." Only we older people cared for +those, so then we had "Arrah Wanna," "Silver Bells," "Rainbow," "Red +Wing," and such songs. How delighted they were! Our concert lasted two +hours, and by that time the little fellows were so sleepy that the +excitement no longer affected them and they were put to bed, but they +hung up their stockings first, and even Molly hung hers up too. We +filled them with peanuts and candy, putting the lion's share of +"niggers" into Molly's stocking. + +Next morning the happiness broke out in new spots. The children were +all clean and warm, though I am afraid I can't brag on the fit of all +the clothes. But the pride of the wearers did away with the necessity +of a fit. The mother was radiantly thankful for a warm petticoat; that +it was made of a blanket too small for a bed didn't bother her, and the +stripes were around the bottom anyway. Molly openly rejoiced in her new +gown, and that it was made of ugly gray outing flannel she didn't know +nor care. Baby Star Crosby looked perfectly sweet in her little new +clothes, and her little gown had blue sleeves and they thought a white +skirt only added to its beauty. And so it was about everything. We all +got so much out of so little. I will never again allow even the +smallest thing to go to waste. We were every one just as happy as we +could be, almost as delighted as Molly was over her "niggers," and +there was very little given that had not been thrown away or was not +just odds and ends. + +There was never anything more true than that it is more blessed to give +than to receive. We certainly had a delicious dinner too, and we let +Molly have all she wanted that we dared allow her to eat. The roast +venison was so good that we were tempted to let her taste it, but we +thought better of that. As soon as dinner was over we packed our +belongings and betook ourselves homeward. + +It was just dusk when we reached home. Away off on a bare hill a wolf +barked. A big owl hooted lonesomely among the pines, and soon a pack of +yelping coyotes went scampering across the frozen waste. + +It was not the Christmas I had in mind when I sent the card, but it was +a _dandy_ one, just the same. + +With best wishes for you for a happy, _happy_ New Year, + + Sincerely your friend, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XX + +THE JOYS OF HOMESTEADING + + + _January 23, 1913._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I am afraid all my friends think I am very forgetful and that you think +I am ungrateful as well, but I am going to plead not guilty. Right +after Christmas Mr. Stewart came down with _la grippe_ and was so +miserable that it kept me busy trying to relieve him. Out here where we +can get no physician we have to dope ourselves, so that I had to be +housekeeper, nurse, doctor, and general overseer. That explains my long +silence. + +And now I want to thank you for your kind thought in prolonging our +Christmas. The magazines were much appreciated. They relieved some +weary night-watches, and the box did Jerrine more good than the +medicine I was having to give her for _la grippe_. She was content to +stay in bed and enjoy the contents of her box. + +When I read of the hard times among the Denver poor, I feel like urging +them every one to get out and file on land. I am very enthusiastic +about women homesteading. It really requires less strength and labor to +raise plenty to satisfy a large family than it does to go out to wash, +with the added satisfaction of knowing that their job will not be lost +to them if they care to keep it. Even if improving the place does go +slowly, it is that much done to stay done. Whatever is raised is the +homesteader's own, and there is no house-rent to pay. This year Jerrine +cut and dropped enough potatoes to raise a ton of fine potatoes. She +wanted to try, so we let her, and you will remember that she is but six +years old. We had a man to break the ground and cover the potatoes for +her and the man irrigated them once. That was all that was done until +digging time, when they were ploughed out and Jerrine picked them up. +Any woman strong enough to go out by the day could have done every bit +of the work and put in two or three times that much, and it would have +been so much more pleasant than to work so hard in the city and then be +on starvation rations in the winter. + +To me, homesteading is the solution of all poverty's problems, but I +realize that temperament has much to do with success in any +undertaking, and persons afraid of coyotes and work and loneliness had +better let ranching alone. At the same time, any woman who can stand +her own company, can see the beauty of the sunset, loves growing +things, and is willing to put in as much time at careful labor as she +does over the washtub, will certainly succeed; will have independence, +plenty to eat all the time, and a home of her own in the end. + +Experimenting need cost the homesteader no more than the work, because +by applying to the Department of Agriculture at Washington he can get +enough of any seed and as many kinds as he wants to make a thorough +trial, and it doesn't even cost postage. Also one can always get +bulletins from there and from the Experiment Station of one's own State +concerning any problem or as many problems as may come up. I would not, +for anything, allow Mr. Stewart to do anything toward improving my +place, for I want the fun and the experience myself. And I want to be +able to speak from experience when I tell others what they can do. +Theories are very beautiful, but facts are what must be had, and what I +intend to give some time. + +Here I am boring you to death with things that cannot interest you! +You'd think I wanted you to homestead, wouldn't you? But I am only +thinking of the troops of tired, worried women, sometimes even cold and +hungry, scared to death of losing their places to work, who could have +plenty to eat, who could have good fires by gathering the wood, and +comfortable homes of their own, if they but had the courage and +determination to get them. + +I must stop right now before you get so tired you will not answer. With +much love to you from Jerrine and myself, I am + + Yours affectionately, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XXI + +A LETTER OF JERRINE'S + + + _February 26, 1913._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +I think you will excuse my mama for not writing to thank you for black +Beauty when I tell you why. I wanted to thank you myself, and I wanted +to hear it read first so I could very trully thank. Mama always said +horses do not talk, but now she knows they do since she read the Dear +little book. I have known it along time. My own pony told me the story +is very true. Many times I have see men treat horses very badly, but +our Clyde dont, and wont let a workman stay if He hurts stock. I am +very glad. + +Mr Edding came past one day with a load of hay. he had too much load to +pull up hill and there was much ice and snow but he think he can make +them go up so he fighted and sweared but they could not get up. Mama +tried to lend him some horse to help but he was angry and was termined +to make his own pull it but at last he had to take off some hay I wish +he may read my Black Beauty. + +Our Clyde is still away. We were going to visit Stella. Mama was +driving, the horses raned away. We goed very fast as the wind. I almost +fall out Mama hanged on to the lines. if she let go we may all be kill. +At last she raned them into a fence. they stop and a man ran to help so +we are well but mama hands and arms are still so sore she cant write +you yet. My brother Calvin is very sweet. God had to give him to us +because he squealed so much he sturbed the angels. We are not angels so +he Dont sturb us. I thank you for my good little book. and I love you +for it too. + + very speakfully, + JERRINE RUPERT. + + + + +XXII + +THE EFFICIENT MRS. O'SHAUGHNESSY + + + _May 5, 1913._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +Your letter of April 25 certainly was a surprise, but a very welcome +one. We are so rushed with spring work that we don't even go to the +office for the mail, and I owe you letters and thanks. I keep promising +myself the pleasure of writing you and keep putting it off until I can +have more leisure, but that time never gets here. I am so glad when I +can bring a little of this big, clean, beautiful outdoors into your +apartment for you to enjoy, and I can think of nothing that would give +me more happiness than to bring the West and its people to others who +could not otherwise enjoy them. If I could only take them from whatever +is worrying them and give them this bracing mountain air, glimpses of +the scenery, a smell of the pines and the sage,--if I could only make +them feel the free, ready sympathy and hospitality of these frontier +people, I am sure their worries would diminish and my happiness would +be complete. + +Little Star Crosby is growing to be the sweetest little kid. Her mother +tells me that she is going "back yan" when she gets a "little mo' +richer." I am afraid you give me too much credit for being of help to +poor little Molly. It wasn't that I am so helpful, but that "fools rush +in where angels fear to tread." It was Mrs. O'Shaughnessy who was the +real help. She is a woman of great courage and decision and of splendid +sense and judgment. A few days ago a man she had working for her got +his finger-nail mashed off and neglected to care for it. Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy examined it and found that gangrene had set in. She +didn't tell him, but made various preparations and then told him she +had heard that if there was danger of blood-poisoning it would show if +the finger was placed on wood and the patient looked toward the sun. +She said the person who looked at the finger could then see if there +was any poison. So the man placed his finger on the chopping-block and +before he could bat his eye she had chopped off the black, swollen +finger. It was so sudden and unexpected that there seemed to be no +pain. Then Mrs. O'Shaughnessy showed him the green streak already +starting up his arm. The man seemed dazed and she was afraid of shock, +so she gave him a dose of morphine and whiskey. Then with a quick +stroke of a razor she laid open the green streak and immersed the whole +arm in a strong solution of bichloride of mercury for twenty minutes. +She then dressed the wound with absorbent cotton saturated with olive +oil and carbolic acid, bundled her patient into a buggy, and drove +forty-five miles that night to get him to a doctor. The doctor told us +that only her quick action and knowledge of what to do saved the man's +life. + +I was surprised that you have had a letter from Jerrine. I knew she was +writing to you that day, but I was feeling very stiff and sore from the +runaway and had lain down. She kept asking me how to spell words until +I told her I was too tired and wanted to sleep. While I was asleep the +man came for the mail, so she sent her letter. I have your address on +the back of the writing-pad, so she knew she had it right, but I +suspect that was all she had right. She has written you many letters +but I have never allowed her to send them because she misspells, but +that time she stole a march on me. The books you sent her, "Black +Beauty" and "Alice in Wonderland," have given her more pleasure than +anything she has ever had. She just loves them and is saving them, she +says, for her own little girls. She is very confident that the stork +will one day visit her and leave her a "very many" little girls. They +are to be of assorted sizes. She says she can't see why I order all my +babies little and red and squally,--says she thinks God had just as +soon let me have larger ones, especially as I get so many from him. + +One day before long I will get busy and write you of a visit I shall +make to a Mormon bishop's household. Polygamy is still practiced. + + Very truly your friend, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XXIII + +HOW IT HAPPENED + + + _June 12, 1913._ + +Dear Mrs. Coney,-- + +Your letter of the 8th to hand, and in order to catch you before you +leave I'll answer at once and not wait for time. I always think I shall +do better with more time, but with three "bairns," garden, chickens, +cows, and housework I don't seem to find much time for anything. Now +for the first question. My maiden name was Pruitt, so when I am putting +on airs I sign Elinore Pruitt Stewart. I don't think I have ever +written anything that Clyde would object to, so he can still stay on +the pedestal Scotch custom puts him upon and remain "the Stewart." +Indeed, I don't think you are too inquisitive, and I am glad to tell +you how I happened to meet the "gude mon." + +It all happened because I had a stitch in my side. When I was +housekeeper at the Nursery, I also had to attend to the furnace, and, +strange but true, the furnace was built across the large basement from +where the coal was thrown in, so I had to tote the coal over, and my +_modus operandi_ was to fill a tub with coal and then drag it across to +the hungry furnace. Well, one day I felt the catch and got no better +fast. After Dr. F---- punched and prodded, she said, "Why, you have the +grippe." Rev. Father Corrigan had been preparing me to take the +Civil-Service examination, and that afternoon a lesson was due, so I +went over to let him see how little I knew. I was in pain and was so +blue that I could hardly speak without weeping, so I told the Reverend +Father how tired I was of the rattle and bang, of the glare and the +soot, the smells and the hurry. I told him what I longed for was the +sweet, free open, and that I would like to homestead. That was Saturday +evening. He advised me to go straight uptown and put an "ad" in the +paper, so as to get it into the Sunday paper. I did so, and because I +wanted as much rest and quiet as possible I took Jerrine and went +uptown and got a nice quiet room. + +On the following Wednesday I received a letter from Clyde, who was in +Boulder visiting his mother. He was leaving for Wyoming the following +Saturday and wanted an interview, if his proposition suited me. I was +so glad of his offer, but at the same time I couldn't know what kind of +person he was; so, to lessen any risk, I asked him to come to the +Sunshine Mission, where Miss Ryan was going to help me "size him up." +He didn't know that part of it, of course, but he stood inspection +admirably. I was under the impression he had a son, but he hadn't, and +he and his mother were the very last of their race. I am as proud and +happy to-day as I was the day I became his wife. I wish you knew him, +but I suspect I had better not brag too much, lest you think me not +quite sincere. He expected to visit you while he was in Boulder. He +went to the Stock Show, but was with a party, so he planned to go +again. But before he could, the man he left here, and whom I dismissed +for drunkenness, went to Boulder and told him I was alone, so the +foolish thing hurried home to keep me from too hard work. So that is +why he was disappointed. + +Junior can talk quite well, and even Calvin jabbers. The children are +all well, and Jerrine writes a little every day to you. I have been +preparing a set of indoor outings for invalids. Your telling me your +invalid friends enjoyed the letters suggested the idea. I thought to +write of little outings I take might amuse them, but wanted to write +just as I took the little trips, while the impressions were fresh; that +is why I have not sent them before now. Is it too late? Shall I send +them to you? Now this is really not a letter; it is just a reply. I +must say good-night; it is twelve o'clock, and I am so sleepy. + +I do hope you will have a very happy summer, and that you will share +your happiness with me in occasional letters. + + With much love, + ELINORE STEWART. + +In writing I forgot to say that the Reverend Father thought it a good +plan to get a position as housekeeper for some rancher who would advise +me about land and water rights. By keeping house, he pointed out, I +could have a home and a living and at the same time see what kind of a +homestead I could get. + + + + +XXIV + +A LITTLE ROMANCE + + + _October 8, 1913._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +I have had such a happy little peep into another's romance that I think +I should be cheating you if I didn't tell you. Help in this country is +extremely hard to get; so when I received a letter from one Aurelia +Timmons, saying she wanted a job,--three dollars a week and _not_ to be +called "Relie,"--my joy could hardly be described. I could hardly wait +until morning to start for Bridger Bench, where Aurelia held forth. I +was up before the lark next morning. It is more miles to the Bridger +Bench country than the "gude mon" wants his horses driven in a day; so +permission was only given after I promised to curb my impatience and +stay overnight with Mrs. Louderer. Under ordinary circumstances that +would have been a pleasure, but I knew at least a dozen women who would +any of them seize on to Aurelia and wrest her from me, so it was only +after it seemed I would not get to go at all that I promised. + +At length the wagon was greased, some oats put in, a substantial lunch +and the kiddies loaded in, and I started on my way. Perhaps it was the +prospect of getting help that gilded everything with a new beauty. The +great mountains were so majestic, and the day so young that I knew the +night wind was still murmuring among the pines far up on the +mountain-sides. The larks were trying to outdo each other and the +robins were so saucy that I could almost have flicked them with the +willow I was using as a whip. The rabbit-bush made golden patches +everywhere, while purple asters and great pink thistles lent their +charm. Going in that direction, our way lay between a mountain stream +and the foothills. There are many ranches along the stream, and as we +were out so early, we could see the blue smoke curling from each house +we passed. We knew that venison steak, hot biscuit, and odorous coffee +would soon grace their tables. We had not had the venison, for the +"gude mon" holds to the letter of the law which protects deer here, but +we begrudged no one anything; we were having exactly what we wanted. We +jogged along happily, if slowly, for I must explain to you that Chub is +quite the laziest horse in the State, and Bill, his partner, is so old +he stands like a bulldog. He is splay-footed and sway-backed, but he is +a beloved member of our family, so I vented my spite on Chub, and the +willow descended periodically across his black back, I guess as much +from force of habit as anything else. But his hide is thick and his +memory short, so we broke no record that day. + +We drove on through the fresh beauty of the morning, and when the sun +was straight overhead we came to the last good water we could expect +before we reached Mrs. Louderer's; so we stopped for lunch. In Wyoming +quantity has a great deal more to do with satisfaction than does +quality; after half a day's drive you won't care so much what it is +you're going to eat as you will that there is enough of it. That is a +lesson I learned long ago; so our picnic was real. There were no ants +in the pie, but that is accounted for by there being no pie. Our road +had crossed the creek, and we were resting in the shade of a +quaking-asp grove, high up on the sides of the Bad Land hills. For +miles far below lay the valley through which we had come. + +Farther on, the mountains with their dense forests were all wrapped in +the blue haze of the melancholy days. Soon we quitted our enchanted +grove whose quivering, golden leaves kept whispering secrets to us. + +About three o'clock we came down out of the hills on to the bench on +which the Louderer ranch is situated. Perhaps I should explain that +this country is a series of huge terraces, each terrace called a +bench. I had just turned into the lane that leads to the house when a +horseman came cantering toward me. "Hello!" he saluted, as he drew up +beside the wagon. "Goin' up to the house? Better not. Mrs. Louderer is +not at home, and there's no one there but Greasy Pete. He's on a tear; +been drunk two days, I'm tellin' you. He's _full_ of mischief. 'T ain't +safe around old Greasy. I advise you to go some'eres else." "Well," I +asked, "where _can_ I go?" "Danged if I know," he replied, "'lessen it +'s to Kate Higbee's. She lives about six or seven miles west. She ain't +been here long, but I guess you can't miss her place. Just jog along +due west till you get to Red Gulch ravine, then turn north for a couple +of miles. You'll see her cabin up against a cedar ridge. Well, so +'long!" He dug his spurs into his cayuse's side and rode on. + +Tears of vexation so blinded me that I could scarcely see to turn the +team, but ominous sounds and wild yells kept coming from the house, so +I made what haste I could to get away from such an unpleasant +neighborhood. Soon my spirits began to rise. Kate Higbee, I reflected, +was likely to prove to be an interesting person. All Westerners are +likable, with the possible exception of Greasy Pete. I rather looked +forward to my visit. But my guide had failed to mention the buttes; so, +although I jogged as west as I knew how, I found I had to wind around a +butte about ever so often. I crossed a ravine with equal frequency, and +all looked alike. It is not surprising that soon I could not guess +where I was. We could turn back and retrace our tracks, but actual +danger lay there; so it seemed wiser to push on, as there was, perhaps, +no greater danger than discomfort ahead. The sun hung like a big red +ball ready to drop into the hazy distance when we came clear of the +buttes and down on to a broad plateau, on which grass grew plentifully. +That encouraged me because the horses need not suffer, and if I could +make the scanty remnant of our lunch do for the children's supper and +breakfast, we could camp in comfort, for we had blankets. But we must +find water. I stood up in the wagon and, shading my eyes against the +sun's level light, was looking out in the most promising directions +when I noticed that the plateau's farther side was bounded by a cedar +ridge, and, better yet, a smoke was slowly rising, column-like, against +the dun prospect. That, I reasoned, must be my destination. Even the +horses livened their paces, and in a little while we were there. + +But no house greeted our eyes,--just a big camp-fire. A lean old man +sat on a log-end and surveyed us indifferently. On the ground lay a +large canvas-covered pack, apparently unopened. An old saddle lay up +against a cedar-trunk. Two old horses grazed near. I was powerfully +disappointed. You know misery loves company; so I ventured to say, +"Good-evening." He didn't stir, but he grunted, "Hello." I knew then +that he was not a fossil, and hope began to stir in my heart. Soon he +asked, "Are you goin' somewheres or jist travelin'?" I told him I had +started somewhere, but reckoned I must be traveling, as I had not +gotten there. Then he said, "My name is Hiram K. Hull. Whose woman are +you?" I confessed to belonging to the house of Stewart. "Which +Stewart?" he persisted,--"C.R., S.W., or H.C.?" Again I owned up +truthfully. "Well," he continued, "what does he mean by letting you gad +about in such onconsequential style?" + +_Sometimes_ a woman gets too angry to talk. Don't you believe that? No? +Well, they do, I assure you, for I was then. He seemed grown to the +log. As he had made no move to help me, without answering him I +clambered out of the wagon and began to take the horses loose. "Ho!" he +said; "are you goin' to camp here?" "Yes, I am," I snapped. "Have you +any objections?" "Oh, no, none that won't keep," he assured me. It has +always been a theory of mine that when we become sorry for ourselves we +make our misfortunes harder to bear, because we lose courage and can't +think without bias; so I cast about me for something to be glad about, +and the comfort that at least we were safer with a simpleton than near +a drunken Mexican came to me; so I began to view the situation with a +little more tolerance. + +After attending to the horses I began to make the children comfortable. +My unwilling host sat silently on his log, drawing long and hard at his +stubby old pipe. How very little there was left of our lunch! Just for +meanness I asked him to share with us, and, if you'll believe me, he +did. He gravely ate bread-rims and scraps of meat until there was not +one bit left for even the baby's breakfast. Then he drew the back of +his hand across his mouth and remarked, "I should think when you go off +on a ja'nt like this you'd have a well-filled mess-box." Again speech +failed me. + +Among some dwarf willows not far away a spring bubbled. I took the +kiddies there to prepare them for rest. When I returned to the fire, +what a transformation! The pack was unrolled and blankets were spread, +the fire had been drawn aside, disclosing a bean-hole, out of which +Hiram K. was lifting an oven. He took off the lid. Two of the plumpest, +brownest ducks that ever tempted any one were fairly swimming in gravy. +Two loaves of what he called punk, with a box of crackers, lay on a +newspaper. He mimicked me exactly when he asked me to take supper with +him, and I tried hard to imitate him in promptitude when I accepted. +The babies had some of the crackers wet with hot water and a little of +the gravy. We soon had the rest looking scarce. The big white stars +were beginning to twinkle before we were through, but the camp-fire was +bright, and we all felt better-natured. Men are not alone in having a +way to their heart through their stomach. + +I made our bed beneath the wagon, and Hiram K. fixed his canvas +around, so we should be sheltered. I felt so much better and thought so +much better of him that I could laugh and chat gayly. "Now, tell me," +he asked, as he fastened the canvas to a wheel, "didn't you think I was +an old devil at first?" "Yes, I did," I answered. "Well," he said, "I +am; so you guessed right." After I put the children to bed, we sat by +the fire and talked awhile. I told him how I happened to be gadding +about in "such onconsequential" style, and he told me stories of when +the country was new and fit to live in. "Why," he said, in a burst of +enthusiasm, "time was once when you went to bed you were not sure +whether you'd get up alive and with your scalp on or not, the Injins +were that thick. And then there was white men a durned sight worse; +they were likely to plug you full of lead just to see you kick. But +now," he continued mournfully, "a bear or an antelope, maybe an elk, is +about all the excitement we can expect. Them good old days are gone." +I am mighty glad of it; a drunken Pete is bad enough for me. + +I was tired, so soon I went to bed. I could hear him as he cut cedar +boughs for his own fireside bed, and as he rattled around among his +pots and pans. Did you ever eat pork and beans heated in a frying-pan +on a camp-fire for breakfast? Then if you have not, there is one +delight left you. But you must be away out in Wyoming, with the morning +sun just gilding the distant peaks, and your pork and beans must be out +of a can, heated in a disreputable old frying-pan, served with coffee +_boiled_ in a battered old pail and drunk from a tomato-can. You'll +_never_ want iced melons, powdered sugar, and fruit, or sixty-nine +varieties of breakfast food, if once you sit Trilby-wise on Wyoming +sand and eat the kind of breakfast we had that day. + +After breakfast Hiram K. Hull hitched our horses to the wagon, got his +own horses ready, and then said, "'T ain't more 'n half a mile straight +out between them two hills to the stage-road, but I guess I had better +go and show you exactly, or you will be millin' around here all day, +tryin' to find it." In a very few minutes we were on the road, and our +odd host turned to go. "S'long!" he called. "Tell Stewart you seen old +Hikum. Him and me's shared tarps many's the nights. We used to be +punchers together,--old Clyde and me. Tell him old Hikum ain't forgot +him." So saying, he rode away into the golden morning, and we drove +onward, too. + +We stopped for lunch only a few minutes that day, and we reached the +Bridger community about two that afternoon. The much sought Aurelia had +accepted the position of lifetime housekeeper for a sheep-herder who +had no house to keep, so I had to cast about for whatever comfort I +could. The roadhouse is presided over by a very able body of the clan +of Ferguson. I had never met her, but formalities count for very little +in the West. She was in her kitchen, having more trouble, she said, +than a hen whose ducklings were in swimming. I asked her if she could +accommodate the children and myself. "Yes," she said, "I can give you a +bed and grub, but I ain't got no time to ask you nothing. I ain't got +no time to inquire who you are nor where you come from. There's one +room left. You can have that, but you'll have to look out for yourself +and young 'uns." I felt equal to that; so I went out to have the horses +cared for and to unload the kiddies. + +Leaning against the wagon was a man who made annual rounds of all the +homes in our community each summer; his sole object was to see what +kind of flowers we succeeded with. Every woman in our neighborhood +knows Bishey Bennet, but I don't think many would have recognized him +that afternoon. I had never seen him dressed in anything but blue denim +overalls and overshirt to match, but to-day he proudly displayed what +he said was his dove-colored suit. The style must have been one of +years ago, for I cannot remember seeing trousers quite so skimpy. He +wore top-boots, but as a concession to fashion he wore the boot-tops +under the trouser-legs, and as the trousers were about as narrow as a +sheath skirt, they kept slipping up and gave the appearance of being at +least six inches too short. Although Bishey is tall and thin, his coat +was two sizes too small, his shirt was of soft tan material, and he +wore a blue tie. But whatever may have been amiss with his costume was +easily forgotten when one saw his radiant face. He grasped my hand and +wrung it as if it was a chicken's neck. + +"What in the world is the matter with you?" I asked, as I rubbed my +abused paw. "Just you come here and I'll tell you," he answered. There +was no one to hear but the kiddies, but I went around the corner of the +house with him. He put his hand up to his mouth and whispered that +"Miss Em'ly" was coming, would be there on the afternoon stage. I had +never heard of "Miss Em'ly," and said so. "Well, just you go in and +set on the sofy and soon's I see your horses took care of I'll come in +and tell you." I went into my own room, and after I rustled some water +I made myself and the kiddies a little more presentable. Then we went +into the sitting-room and sat on the "sofy." Presently Bishey sauntered +in, trying to look unconcerned and at ease, but he was so fidgety he +couldn't sit down. But he told his story, and a dear one it is. + +It seems that back in New York State he and Miss Em'ly were "young uns" +together. When they were older they planned to marry, but neither +wanted to settle down to the humdrumness that they had always known. +Both dreamed of the golden West; so Bishey had gone to blaze the trail, +and "Miss Em'ly" was to follow. First one duty and then another had +held her, until twenty-five years had slipped by and they had not seen +each other, but now she was coming, that very day. They would be +married that evening, and I at once appointed myself matron of honor +and was plumb glad there was no other candidate. + +I at once took the decorations in hand. Bishey, Jerrine, and myself +went out and gathered armfuls of asters and goldenrod-like +rabbit-brush. From the dump-pile we sorted cans and pails that would +hold water, and we made the sitting-room a perfect bower of purple and +gold beauty. I put on my last clean shirt-waist and the children's last +clean dresses. Then, as there seemed nothing more to do, Bishey +suggested that we walk up the road and meet the stage; but the day had +been warm, and I remembered my own appearance when I had come over that +same road the first time. I knew that journey was trying on any one's +appearance at any time of the year, and after twenty-five years to be +thrust into view covered with alkali dust and with one's hat on awry +would be too much for feminine patience; so I pointed out to Bishey +that he'd better clear out and let Miss Em'ly rest a bit before he +showed up. At last he reluctantly agreed. + +I went out to the kitchen to find what could be expected in the way of +hot water for Miss Em'ly when she should come. I found I could have all +I wanted if I heated it myself. Mrs. Ferguson could not be bothered +about it, because a water company had met there to vote on new canals, +the sheep-men were holding a convention, there was a more than usual +run of transients besides the regular boarders, and supper was ordered +for the whole push. All the help she had was a girl she just knew +didn't have sense enough to pound sand into a rat-hole. Under those +circumstances I was mighty glad to help. I put water on to heat and +then forgot Miss Em'ly, I was enjoying helping so much, until I heard a +door slam and saw the stage drive away toward the barn. + +I hastened to the room I knew was reserved for Miss Em'ly. I rapped on +the door, but it was only opened a tiny crack. I whispered through +that I was a neighbor-friend of Mr. Bennet's, that I had lots of hot +water for her and had come to help her if I might. Then she opened the +door, and I entered. I found a very travel-stained little woman, down +whose dust-covered cheeks tears had left their sign. Her prettiness was +the kind that wins at once and keeps you ever after. She was a strange +mixture of stiff reticence and childish trust. She was in _such_ a +flutter, and she said she was ashamed to own it, but she was so hungry +she could hardly wait. + +After helping her all I could, I ran out to see about the wedding +supper that was to be served before the wedding. I found that no +special supper had been prepared. It seemed to me a shame to thrust +them down among the water company, the convention, the regulars, and +the transients, and I mentally invited myself to the wedding supper and +began to plan how we could have a little privacy. The carpenters were +at work on a long room off the kitchen that was to be used as +storeroom and pantry. They had gone for the day, and their saw-horses +and benches were still in the room. It was only the work of a moment to +sweep the sawdust away. There was only one window, but it was large and +in the west. It took a little time to wash that, but it paid to do it. +When a few asters and sprays of rabbit-brush were placed in a broken +jar on the window-sill, there was a picture worth seeing. Some planks +were laid on the saw-horses, some papers over them, and a clean white +cloth over all. I sorted the dishes myself; the prettiest the house +afforded graced our table. I rubbed the glassware until it shone almost +as bright as Bishey's smile. + +Bishey had come when he could stay away no longer; he and Miss Em'ly +had had their first little talk, so they came out to where I was laying +the table. They were both beaming. Miss Em'ly took hold at once to +help. "Bishey," she commanded, "do you go at once to where my boxes +are open, the one marked 7; bring me a blue jar you'll find in one +corner." He went to do her bidding, and I to see about the kiddies. +When I came back with them, there was a small willow basket in the +center of our improvised table, heaped high with pears, apples, and +grapes all a little the worse for their long journey from New York +State to Wyoming, but still things of beauty and a joy as long as they +lasted to Wyoming eyes and appetites. We had a perfectly roasted leg of +lamb; we had mint sauce, a pyramid of flaky mashed potatoes, a big dish +of new peas, a plate of sponge-cake I will be long in forgetting; and +the blue jar was full of grape marmalade. Our iced tea was exactly +right; the pieces of ice clinked pleasantly against our glasses. We +took our time, and we were all happy. We could all see the beautiful +sunset, its last rays lingering on Miss Em'ly's abundant auburn hair to +make happy the bride the sun shines on. We saw the wonderful +colors--orange, rose, and violet--creep up and fade into darker shades, +until at last mellow dusk filled the room. Then I took the kiddies to +my room to be put to bed while I should wait until time for the +ceremony. + +Soon the babies were sleeping, and Jerrine and I went into the +sitting-room. They were sitting on the "sofy." She was telling him that +the apples had come from the tree they had played under, the pears from +the tree they had set out, the grapes from the vine over the well. She +told him of things packed in her boxes, everything a part of the past +they both knew. He in turn told her of his struggles, his successes, +and some of what he called his failures. She was a most encouraging +little person, and she'd say to him, "You did well, Bishey. I'll say +_that_ for you: you did well!" Then he told her about the flowers he +had planted for her. I understood then why he acted so queerly about my +flowers. It happens that I am partial to old-time favorites, and I grow +as many of them as I can get to succeed in this altitude; so I have +zinnias, marigolds, hollyhocks, and many other dear old flowers that my +mother loved. Many of them had been the favorites of Miss Em'ly's +childhood, but Bishey hadn't remembered the names; so he had visited us +all, and when he found a flower he remembered, he asked the name and +how we grew it, then he tried it, until at last he had about all. Miss +Em'ly wiped the tears from her eyes as she remarked, "Bishey, you did +well; yes, you did _real_ well." I thought to myself how well we could +_all_ do if we were so encouraged. + +At last the white-haired old justice of the peace came, and said the +words that made Emily Wheeler the wife of Abisha Bennet. A powerfully +noisy but truly friendly crowd wished them well. One polite fellow +asked her where she was from. She told him from New York _State_. +"Why," he asked, "do New Yorkers always say _State_?" "Why, because," +she answered,--and her eyes were big with surprise,--"_no_ one would +want to say they were from New York _City_." + +It had been a trying day for us, so soon Jerrine and I slipped out to +our room. Ours was the first room off the sitting-room, and a long +hallway led past our door; a bench sat against the wall, and it seemed +a favorite roosting-place for people with long discussions. First some +fellows were discussing the wedding. One thought Bishey "cracked" +because he had shipped out an old cooking-stove, one of the first +manufactured, all the way from where he came from, instead of buying a +new one nearer home. They recalled instance after instance in which he +had acted queerly, but to me his behavior was no longer a mystery. I +know the stove belonged somewhere in the past and that his every act +connected past and future. After they had talked themselves tired, two +old fellows took possession of the bench and added a long discussion on +how to grow corn to the general din. Even sweet corn cannot be +successfully grown at this altitude, yet those old men argued pro and +con till I know their throats must have ached. In the sitting-room they +all talked at once of ditches, water-contracts, and sheep. I was _so_ +sleepy. I heard a tired clock away off somewhere strike two. Some +sheep-men had the bench and were discussing the relative values of +different dips. I reckon my ego must have gotten tangled with some +one's else about then, for I found myself sitting up in bed foolishly +saying,-- + + "Two old herders, unshaved and hairy, + Whose old tongues are _never_ weary, + Just outside my chamber-door + Prate of sheep dips for _ever_ more." + +Next morning it was Bishey's cheerful voice that started my day. I had +hoped to be up in time to see them off, but I wasn't. I heard him call +out to Mrs. Bishey, "Miss Em'ly, I've got the boxes all loaded. We can +start _home_ in ten minutes." I heard her clear voice reply, "You've +done well, Bishey. I'll be ready by then." I was hurriedly dressing, +hoping yet to see her, when I heard Bishey call out to bluff old +Colonel Winters, who had arrived in the night and had not known of the +wedding, "Hello! Winters, have you met Miss Em'ly? Come over here and +meet her. I'm a married man now. I married Miss Em'ly last night." The +colonel couldn't have known how apt was his reply when he said, "I'm +glad for you, Bishey. You've done well." I peeked between the curtains, +and saw Bishey's wagon piled high with boxes, with Miss Em'ly, +self-possessed and happy, greeting the colonel. Soon I heard the rattle +of wheels, and the dear old happy pair were on their way to the cabin +home they had waited twenty-five years for. Bless the kind old hearts +of them! I'm sure they've both "done well." + + + + +XXV + +AMONG THE MORMONS + + + _November, 1913._ + +MY DEAR FRIEND,-- + +I have wanted to write you for a long time, but have been so busy. I +have had some visitors and have been on a visit; I think you would like +to hear about it all, so I will tell you. + +I don't think you would have admired my appearance the morning this +adventure began: I was in the midst of fall house-cleaning which +included some papering. I am no expert at the very best, and papering a +wall has difficulties peculiar to itself. I was up on a barrel trying +to get a long, sloppy strip of paper to stick to the ceiling instead of +to me, when in my visitors trooped, and so surprised me that I stepped +off the barrel and into a candy-bucket of paste. At the same time the +paper came off the ceiling and fell over mine and Mrs. Louderer's +head. It was right aggravating, I can tell you, but my visitors were +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and Mrs. Louderer, and no one could stay discouraged +with that pair around. + +After we had scraped as much paste as we could off ourselves they +explained that they had come to take me somewhere. That sounded good to +me, but I could not see how I could get off. However, Mrs. Louderer +said she had come to keep house and to take care of the children while +I should go with Mrs. O'Shaughnessy to E----. We should have two days' +travel by sled and a few hours on a train, then another journey by +sled. I wanted to go powerfully, but the paste-smeared room seemed to +forbid. + +As Mrs. Louderer would stay with the children, Mr. Stewart thought the +trip would be good for me. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy knew I wanted to visit +Bishop D----, a shining light among the Latter-Day Saints, so she +promised we should stay overnight at his house. That settled it; so in +the cold, blue light of the early morning, Mr. Beeler, a new neighbor, +had driven my friends over in Mrs. Louderer's big sled, to which was +hitched a pair of her great horses and his own team. He is a widower +and was going out to the road for supplies, so it seemed a splendid +time to make my long-planned visit to the Bishop. Deep snow came +earlier this year than usual, and the sledding and weather both +promised to be good. It was with many happy anticipations that I +snuggled down among the blankets and bearskins that morning. + +Mr. Beeler is pleasant company, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is so jolly and +bright, and I could leave home without a single misgiving with Mrs. +Louderer in charge. + +The evening sky was blazing crimson and gold, and the mountains behind +us were growing purple when we entered the little settlement where the +Bishop lives. We drove briskly through the scattered, straggling little +village, past the store and the meeting-house, and drew up before the +dwelling of the Bishop. The houses of the village were for the most +part small cabins of two or three rooms, but the Bishop's was more +pretentious. It was a frame building and boasted paint and shutters. A +tithing-office stood near, and back of the house we could see a large +granary and long stacks of hay. A bunch of cattle was destroying one +stack, and Mrs. O'Shaughnessy remarked that the tallow from those +cattle should be used when the olive oil gave out at their anointings, +because it was the Bishop's cattle eating consecrated hay. + +We knocked on the door, but got no answer. Mr. Beeler went around to +the back, but no one answered, so we concluded we would have to try +elsewhere for shelter. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy comforted me by remarking, +"Well, there ain't a penny's worth of difference in a Mormon bishop and +any other Mormon, and D---- is not the only polygamist by a long shot." + +We had just turned out of the gate when a lanky, tow-headed boy about +fourteen years of age rode up. We explained our presence there, and the +boy explained to us that the Bishop and Aunt Debbie were away. The next +best house up the road was his "Maw's," he said; so, as Mr. Beeler +expected to stay with a friend of his, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and I +determined to see if "Maw" could accommodate us for the night. + +Mr. Beeler offered to help the boy get the cattle out, but he said, +"No, Paw said it would not matter if they got into the hay, but that he +had to knock off some poles on another part of the stockyard so that +some horses could get in to eat." + +"But," I asked, "isn't that consecrated hay?--isn't it tithing?" + +"Yes," he said, "but that won't hurt a bit, only that old John Ladd +always pays his tithe with foxtail hay and it almost ruins Paw's +horses' mouths." + +I asked him if his father's stock was supposed to get the hay. + +"No, I guess not," he said, "but they are always getting in accidental +like." + +We left him to fix the fence so the horses could get in "accidental +like," and drove the short distance to "the next best house." + +We were met at the door by a pleasant-faced little woman who hurried us +to the fire. We told her our plight. "Why, certainly you must stay with +me," she said. "I am glad the Bishop and Deb are away. They keep all +the company, and I so seldom have any one come; you see Debbie has no +children and can do so much better for any one stopping there than I +can, but I like company, too, and I am glad of a chance to keep you. +You two can have Maudie's bed. Maud is my oldest girl and she has gone +to Ogden to visit, so we have plenty of room." + +By now it was quite dark. She lighted a lamp and bustled about, +preparing supper. We sat by the stove and, as Mrs. O'Shaughnessy said, +"noticed." + +Two little boys were getting in wood for the night. They appeared to +be about eight years old; they were twins and were the youngest of the +family. Two girls, about ten and twelve years old, were assisting our +hostess; then the boy Orson, whom we met at the gate, and Maud, the +daughter who was away, made up the family. They seemed a happy, +contented family, if one judged by appearance alone. After supper the +children gathered around the table to prepare next day's lessons. They +were bright little folks, but they mingled a great deal of talk with +their studies and some of what they talked was family history. + +"Mamma," said Kittie, the largest of the little girls, "if Aunt Deb +does buy a new coat and you get her old one, then can I have yours?" + +"I don't know," her mother replied; "I should have to make it over if +you did take it. Maybe we can have a new one." + +"No, we can't have a new one, I know, for Aunt Deb said so, but she is +going to give me her brown dress and you her gray one; she said so the +day I helped her iron. We'll have those to make over." + +For the first time I noticed the discontented lines on our hostess's +face, and it suddenly occurred to me that we were in the house of the +Bishop's second wife. Before I knew I was coming on this journey I +thought of a dozen questions I wanted to ask the Bishop, but I could +never ask that care-worn little woman anything concerning their +peculiar belief. However, I was spared the trouble, for soon the +children retired and the conversation drifted around to Mormonism and +polygamy; and our hostess seemed to want to talk, so I just listened, +for Mrs. O'Shaughnessy rather likes to "argufy"; but she had no +argument that night, only her questions started our hostess's story. + +She had been married to the Bishop not long before the manifesto, and +he had been married several years then to Debbie. But Debbie had no +children, and all the money the Bishop had to start with had been his +first wife's; so when it became necessary for him to discard a wife it +was a pretty hard question for him because a little child was coming to +the second wife and he had nothing to provide for her with except what +his first wife's money paid for. The first wife said she would consent +to him starting the second, if she filed on land and paid her back a +small sum every year until it was all paid back. So he took the poor +"second," after formally renouncing her, and helped her to file on the +land she now lives on. He built her a small cabin, and so she started +her career as a "second." I suppose the "first" thought she would be +rid of the second, who had never really been welcome, although the +Bishop could never have married a "second" without her consent. + +"I would _never_ consent," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. + +"Oh, yes, you would if you had been raised a Mormon," said our hostess. +"You see, we were all of us children of polygamous parents. We have +been used to plural marriages all our lives. We believe that such +experience fits us for our after-life, as we are only preparing for +life beyond while here." + +"Do you expect to go to heaven, and do you think the man who married +you and then discarded you will go to heaven too?" asked Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy. + +"Of course I do," she replied. + +"Then," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, "I am afraid if it had been mysilf I'd +have been after raising a little hell here intirely." + +Our hostess was not offended, and there followed a long recital of +earlier-day hard times that you would scarcely believe any one could +live through. It seems the first wife in such families is boss, and +while they do not live in the same homes, still she can very materially +affect the other's comfort. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy asked her if she had married again. + +She said, "No." + +"Then," said Mrs. O'Shaughnessy, "whose children are these?" + +"My own," she replied. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was relentless. "Who is their father?" she asked. + +I was right sorry for the poor little woman as she stammered, "I--I +don't know." + +Then she went on, "Of course I _do_ know, and I don't believe you are +spying to try to stir up trouble for my husband. Bishop D---- is their +father, as he is still my husband, although he had to cast me off to +save himself and me. I love him and I see no wrong in him. All the +Gentiles have against him is he is a little too smart for them. 'T was +their foolish law that made him wrong the children and me, and _not_ +his wishes." + +"But," Mrs. O'Shaughnessy said, "it places your children in such a +plight; they can't inherit, they can't even claim his name, they have +no status legally." + +"Oh, but the Bishop will see to that," the little woman answered. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy asked her if she had still to work as hard as she +used to. + +"No, I don't believe I do," she said, "for since Mr. D---- has been +Bishop, things come easier. He built this house with his own money, so +Deb has nothing to do with it." + +I asked her if she thought she was as happy as "second" as she would be +if she was the _only_ wife. + +"Oh, I don't know," she said, "perhaps not. Deb and me don't always +agree. She is jealous of the children and because I am younger, and I +get to feeling bad when I think she is perfectly safe as a wife and has +no cares. She has everything she wants, and I have to take what I can +get, and my children have to wait upon her. But it will all come right +somewhere, sometime," she ended cheerfully, as she wiped her eyes with +her apron. + +I felt so sorry for her and so ashamed to have seen into her sorrow +that I was really glad next morning when I heard Mr. Beeler's cheerful +voice calling, "All aboard!" + +We had just finished breakfast, and few would ever guess that Mrs. +D---- knew a trial; she was so cheerful and so cordial as she bade us +good-bye and urged us to stop with her every time we passed through. + +About noon that day we reached the railroad. The snow had delayed the +train farther north, so for once we were glad to have to wait for a +train, as it gave us time to get a bite to eat and to wash up a bit. It +was not long, however, till we were comfortably seated in the train. I +think a train ride might not be so enjoyable to most, but to us it was +a delight; I even enjoyed looking at the Negro porter, although I +suspect he expected to be called Mister. I found very soon after coming +West that I must not say "Uncle" or "Aunty" as I used to at home. + +It was not long until they called the name of the town at which we +wanted to stop. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had a few acquaintances there, but +we went to a hotel. We were both tired, so as soon as we had supper we +went to bed. The house we stopped at was warmer and more comfortable +than the average hotel in the West, but the partitions were very thin, +so when a couple of "punchers," otherwise cowboys, took the room next +to ours, we could hear every word they said. + +It appears that one was English and the other a tenderfoot. The +tenderfoot was in love with a girl who had filed on a homestead near +the ranch on which he was employed, but who was then a waitress in the +hotel we were at. She had not seemed kind to the tenderfoot and he was +telling his friend about it. The Englishman was trying to instruct him +as to how to proceed. + +"You need to be _very_ circumspect, Johnny, where females are +concerned, but you mustn't be too danged timid either." + +"I don't know what the devil to say to her; I can barely nod my head +when she asks me will I take tea or coffee; and to-night she mixed it +because I nodded yes when she said, 'tea or coffee,' and it was the +dangdest mess I ever tried to get outside of." + +"Well," the friend counseled, "you just get her into a corner some'eres +and say to 'er, 'Dearest 'Attie, I hoffer you my 'and hand my 'eart.'" + +"But I _can't_," wailed Johnny. "I could never get her into a corner +anyway." + +"If you can't, you're not hold enough to marry then. What the 'ell +would you do with a woman in the 'ouse if you couldn't corner 'er? I +tell 'e, women 'ave to 'ave a master, and no man better tackle that job +until 'e can be sure 'e can make 'er walk the chalk-line." + +"But I don't want her to walk any line; I just want her to speak to +me." + +"Dang me if I don't believe you are locoed. Why, she's got 'e throwed +hand 'og-tied now. What d'e want to make it any worse for?" + +They talked for a long time and the Englishman continued to have +trouble with his _h_'s; but at last Johnny was encouraged to "corner +'er" next morning before they left for their ranch. + +We expected to be astir early anyway, and our curiosity impelled us to +see the outcome of the friend's counsel, so we were almost the first in +the dining-room next morning. A rather pretty girl was busy arranging +the tables, and soon a boyish-looking fellow, wearing great bat-wing +chaps, came in and stood warming himself at the stove. + +I knew at once it was Johnny, and I saw "'Attie" blush. The very +indifference with which she treated him argued well for his cause, but +of course he didn't know that. So when she passed by him and her skirt +caught on his big spurs they both stooped at once to unfasten it; their +heads hit together with such a bump that the ice was broken, although +he seemed to think it was her skull. I am sure there ought to be a thaw +after all his apologies. After breakfast Mrs. O'Shaughnessy went out to +see her friend Cormac O'Toole. He was the only person in town we could +hope to get a team from with which to continue our journey. This is a +hard country on horses at best, and at this time of the year +particularly so; few will let their teams go out at any price, but Mrs. +O'Shaughnessy had hopes, and she is so persuasive that I felt no one +could resist her. There was a drummer at breakfast who kept "cussing" +the country. He had tried to get a conveyance and had failed; so the +cold, the snow, the people, and everything else disgusted him. + +Soon Mrs. O'Shaughnessy returned, and as the drummer was trying to get +out to E----, and that was our destination also, she made her way +toward him, intending to invite him to ride with us. She wore over her +best clothes an old coat that had once belonged to some one of her men +friends. It had once been bearskin, but was now more _bare_ skin, so +her appearance was against her; she looked like something with the +mange. So Mr. Drummer did not wait to hear what she was going to say +but at once exclaimed, "No, madam, I cannot let you ride out with me. I +can't get a rig myself in this beastly place." Then he turned to a man +standing near and remarked, "These Western women are so bold they don't +hesitate to _demand_ favors." + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's eyes fairly snapped, but she said nothing. I think +she took a malicious delight in witnessing the drummer's chagrin when a +few moments later our comfortable sleigh and good strong team appeared. + +We were going to drive ourselves, but we had to drive to the depot for +our suit-cases; but when we got there the ticket-office was not open, +so the agent was probably having his beauty sleep. There was a fire in +the big stove, and we joined the bunch of men in the depot. Among them +we noticed a thin, consumptive-looking fellow, evidently a stranger. + +Very soon some men began talking of some transaction in which a Bishop +B---- was concerned. It seemed they didn't admire the Bishop very much; +they kept talking of his peculiarities and transgressions, and +mentioned his treatment of his wives. His "second," they said, was +blind because of cataracts, and, although abundantly able, he left her +in darkness. She had never seen her two last children. Some one spoke +up and said, "I thought polygamy was no longer practiced." Then the man +explained that they no longer contracted plural marriages, but that +many kept _all_ their wives and B---- still had both of his. He went on +to say that although such practice is contrary to law, it was almost +impossible to make a case against them, for the women would not swear +against their husbands. B---- had been arrested once, but his second +swore that she didn't know who her children's father was, and it cost +the sheriff his office the next election. + +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy spoke to an acquaintance of hers and mentioned where +we were going. In a short while we got our suit-cases and we were off, +but as we drove past the freight depot, the stranger we had noticed +came down the steps and asked us to let him ride out with us. I really +felt afraid of him, but Mrs. O'Shaughnessy thinks herself a match for +any mere man, so she drew up and the man climbed in. He took the lines +and we snuggled down under the robes and listened to the runners, +shrill screeching over the frozen surface. + +We had dinner with a new settler, and about two o'clock that afternoon +we overtook a fellow who was plodding along the road. His name was +B----, he said, and he pointed out to us his broad fields and herds. He +had been overseeing some feeders he had, and his horse had escaped, so +he was walking home, as it was only a couple of miles. He talked a +great deal in that two-mile trip; too much for his own good, it +developed. + +For the first time since B---- climbed into our sleigh, the stranger +spoke. "Can you tell me where Mrs. Belle B---- lives?" he asked. + +"Why, yes," our passenger replied. "She is a member of our little +flock. She is slightly related to me, as you perhaps noticed the name, +and I will show you to her house." + +"Just how is she related to you?" the stranger asked. + +"That," the man replied, "is a matter of protection. I have _given_ her +the protection of my name." + +"Then she is your wife, is she not?" the stranger asked. + +"You must be a stranger in this country," the man evaded. "What is your +name?" + +But the stranger didn't seem to hear, and just then we came opposite +the residence of the Bishop, and the man we had picked up in the road +said, "That is my home, won't you get out and warm? My wife will be +glad to get acquainted with you ladies." + +We declined, as it was only a short distance to the house of the man +Mrs. O'Shaughnessy had come to see, so he stayed in the sleigh to show +the stranger to the house of Mrs. Belle B----. I can't say much for it +as a house, and I was glad I didn't have to go in. The stranger and +B---- got out and entered the house, and we drove away. + +Next morning, as we returned through the little village, it was all +excitement. Bishop B---- had been shot the night before, just as he had +left the house of Mrs. Belle B----, for what reason or by whom no one +knew; and if the Bishop knew he had not told, for he either would not +or could not talk. + +They were going to start with him that day to the hospital, but they +had no hopes of his living. + +When we came to Mrs. Belle's house, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy got out of the +sleigh and went into the house. I could hear her soothing voice, and I +was mighty glad the poor, forlorn woman had such a comforter. + + * * * * * + +I was so _very_ glad to get home. How good it all looked to me! "Poop +o' Roome" has a calf, and as we drove up to the corral Clyde was trying +to get it into the stall with the rest. It is "Poop's" first calf, and +she is very proud of it, and objected to its being put away from her, +so she bunted at Clyde, and as he dodged her, the calf ran between his +feet and he sat down suddenly in the snow. I laughed at him, but I am +powerfully glad he is no follower of old Joseph Smith. + +Mrs. Louderer was enjoying herself immensely, she loves children so +much. She and Clyde hired the "Tackler"--so called because he will +tackle _any_ kind of a job, whether he knows anything about it or +not--to paper the room. He thinks he is a great judge of the fitness of +things and of beauty. The paper has a stripe of roses, so Tackler +reversed every other strip so that some of my roses are standing on +their heads. Roses don't all grow one way, he claims, and so his method +"makes 'em look more nachul like." + +A little thing like wall-paper put on upside down don't bother me; but +what _would_ I do if I were a "second"? + + Your loving friend, + ELINORE RUPERT STEWART. + + + + +XXVI + +SUCCESS + + + _November, 1913._ + +DEAR MRS. CONEY,-- + +This is Sunday and I suppose I ought not to be writing, but I must +write to you and I may not have another chance soon. Both your letters +have reached me, and now that our questions are settled we can proceed +to proceed. + +Now, this is the letter I have been wanting to write you for a long +time, but could not because until now I had not actually proven all I +wanted to prove. Perhaps it will not interest you, but if you see a +woman who wants to homestead and is a little afraid she will starve, +you can tell her what I am telling you. + +I never did like to theorize, and so this year I set out to prove that +a woman could ranch if she wanted to. We like to grow potatoes on new +ground, that is, newly cleared land on which no crop has been grown. +Few weeds grow on new land, so it makes less work. So I selected my +potato-patch, and the man ploughed it, although I could have done that +if Clyde would have let me. I cut the potatoes, Jerrine helped, and we +dropped them in the rows. The man covered them, and that ends the man's +part. By that time the garden ground was ready, so I planted the +garden. I had almost an acre in vegetables. I irrigated and I +cultivated it myself. + +We had all the vegetables we could possibly use, and now Jerrine and I +have put in our cellar full, and this is what we have: one large bin of +potatoes (more than two tons), half a ton of carrots, a large bin of +beets, one of turnips, one of onions, one of parsnips, and on the other +side of the cellar we have more than one hundred heads of cabbage. I +have experimented and found a kind of squash that can be raised here, +and that the ripe ones keep well and make good pies; also that the +young tender ones make splendid pickles, quite equal to cucumbers. I +was glad to stumble on to that, because pickles are hard to manufacture +when you have nothing to work with. Now I have plenty. They told me +when I came that I could not even raise common beans, but I tried and +succeeded. And also I raised lots of green tomatoes, and, as we like +them preserved, I made them all up that way. Experimenting along +another line, I found that I could make catchup, as delicious as that +of tomatoes, of gooseberries. I made it exactly the same as I do the +tomatoes and I am delighted. Gooseberries were very fine and very +plentiful this year, so I put up a great many. I milked ten cows twice +a day all summer; have sold enough butter to pay for a year's supply of +flour and gasoline. We use a gasoline lamp. I have raised enough +chickens to completely renew my flock, and all we wanted to eat, and +have some fryers to go into the winter with. I have enough turkeys for +all of our birthdays and holidays. + +I raised a great many flowers and I worked several days in the field. +In all I have told about I have had no help but Jerrine. Clyde's mother +spends each summer with us, and she helped me with the cooking and the +babies. Many of my neighbors did better than I did, although I know +many town people would doubt my doing so much, but I did it. I have +tried every kind of work this ranch affords, and I can do any of it. Of +course I _am_ extra strong, but those who try know that strength and +knowledge come with doing. I just love to experiment, to work, and to +prove out things, so that ranch life and "roughing it" just suit me. + + +THE END + + + * * * * * + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Letters of a Woman Homesteader +by Elinore Pruitt Stewart + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS OF A WOMAN HOMESTEADER *** + +***** This file should be named 16623.txt or 16623.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/2/16623/ + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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