A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the MormonsWilliams, Elizabeth Whitney
History
A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons
Williams, Elizabeth Whitney
Beaver Island (Mich.); Latter Day Saints -- Michigan; Strang, James Jesse, 1813-1856
hope was the little shanty, which I prayed might be left standing and
that we might reach it in time. I threw down my little bag of tools,
hammer, saw and gun. I took your mother on my back and staggered along
through the storm. It was almost dark and I feared we might miss the
shanty even if it was still there. The howls and barks of the wolves
were very near us now and it was terrible. I knew my own strength could
not hold much longer. I said, 'now keep a sharp lookout for the shanty.'
I heard the growls and snarls of the wolves and could almost feel their
hot breath upon us. I thought of you, my children, and that thought kept
me up. At last your mother said, 'Oh, thank God, here is the shanty!' I
felt her grow heavier and limp and knew that she had fainted. I made one
last effort and reached the door none too soon, the wolves were right at
our heels. I pushed the door open and closed it as soon as possible,
letting your mother drop down upon the floor until I could get the door
safely barred. The snow had drifted in some beside the door. I took some
snow in my hand and rubbed her face with it. After awhile she said,
'Walter, are we safe?' I said, 'yes, mother, thank God we are safe for
awhile.' I left her and began to look for a place to make a fire. I
found a pretty good cook stove with a good pile of wood near which the
fishermen had left for anyone who might be in need and we were the first
that had need of it. I used my flint and soon had a warm fire. I also
found a small tin lamp full of fish oil. I said, 'now mother we are all
right. With the provisions I have we will soon have some supper and warm
tea.' I took up some of the clean snow in a basin and put it to heat on
the stove, where it was soon boiling. I found a bench for your mother to
sit on. I took off most of her wraps and soon we were warm and
comfortable eating our lunch with hot tea. Oh, the howling and
tearing of the wolves was terrible to hear. They would scratch on the
door and try to climb upon the roof. There was one small window near the
door. I was afraid the wolves would break it in their jumping about, and
how I did wish for my gun that I had to throw down with the tools as we
came. There were two large bunks filled with balsam boughs, and I took
some of our wraps and made a bed for your mother. She was soon fast
asleep. I kept a good fire, and about midnight laid down beside her, and
in spite of the howling and barking of the wolves I was soon fast
asleep. At break of day all was quiet, the wolves had gone to the woods.
We had some breakfast and mother felt better. I left her and went to
find my gun and other things I had left in the snow. The wolves had
trampled the snow all down about the door and we could see the marks of
their claws on the door. We were soon started on our way and reached the
little deserted settlement, where I took two boards to carry, as John
had also done, as we needed the lumber to make a coffin. From here we
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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