A slight improvement was soon noticeable in the sick man, and by the 30th of June, 1856, he was able to be carried to the home of his father-in-law. His leg was still discharging, and there were nine holes just above the knee; the limb was also crooked, and the cords so rigid that it was feared he would never be able to straighten it again, even if he were permitted to recover. Under these circumstances, and while his wife was weak and careworn after her long and anxious siege of watching over him day and night, and without proper nourishment or comfortable surroundings, she gave birth July 1, 1856, to Emma her second child, and, to the surprise of all concerned, she and the babe got along wonderfully well; which was a proof to the household that the Lord had not forgotten them. On the 3rd of July, 1856, after Thomas had been taken back home, and when he was barely able to sit up, his father-in-law called and announced that he was going to town (Whitewater) the next day, to see his daughters, who were in service there. Thomas expressed a desire to go with him, as he was anxious to see his sister, who was also working there. Their only means of conveyance was an ordinary dump cart, drawn by a yoke of steers. A start was made the next morning, Thomas lying upon a mattress in the cart, and the father-in-law driving. Thomas fainted twice from pain before they had proceeded far, and each time, after he had been revived, the proposition was made to return home with him, but he was determined to proceed, and they continued on. His sister was overjoyed at seeing him, and arranged with the family she was working for to return with him, for a short visit. On the return journey the steers became frightened and ran away, and Father Kirkham, thinking he could outrun them, jumped off the cart and tried to get ahead of them, to stop them, but was soon left far in the rear. The end gate was lost in the race, and Thomas, lying upon the mattress, slid backward, and would have fallen out had not his sister, who was seated beside him, gripped the front of the cart with one hand and Thomas' collar by the other, and thus held him. After running frantically quite a long distance, the steers were finally stopped by a man who was along the road in front of them. The incident ended without any serious results, but it was a narrow escape for Thomas, who was as helpless, bodily, as a child, and who was partially hanging from the cart when it came to a halt. He couldn't help feeling that the devil was trying to execute his threat against him, and that a higher power had preserved him.