Mrs. P. hesitated, but at last, gathering strength from my confidence,
says:
"Well, I believe I will go, after all."
"Almost train time," the landlady informs us, and we all go down to the
depot to meet it. The night is clear and frosty, and the moon just
rising.
The train stopped for some time, and we talked of colony matters until
our friends left us, insisting that we should stop on our return, and
spend Sunday at Long Pine.
I turn my seat, and read the few passengers. Just at my back a fat,
fatherly looking old gentleman bows his head in sleep. That gentleman
back of Mrs. P. looks so thoughtful. How attentive that gentleman
across the aisle is to that aged lady! Suppose she is his dear old
mother!
"Why there is 'Mr. Agent!' and there--well, I scarcely know what that
is in the back seat." A bushy head rests against the window, and a pair
of red shoes swings in the aisle from over the arm of the seat. But
while I look at the queer picture, and wonder what it is, it spits a
great splash of tobacco juice into the aisle, and the query is solved,
it's only a man. Always safe in saying there is a man about when you
see tobacco juice flying like that. Overalls of reddish brown, coat of
gray, face to match the overalls in color, and hair to match the coat
in gray, while a shabby cap crowns the picture that forms our
background.
Mr. Agent tells the thoughtful man a funny story. The old lady wakes
up, and the fatherly old gent rouses.
"You ladies belong to the colony from Pennsylvania, do you not?" he
asked.
"I am a member of the colony," I replied.
"I am glad to have an opportunity to enquire about them; how are they
getting along?"
I gave him all the information I could, and soon all were conversing as
lonely travelers will, without waiting for any ceremonial introductions.
But soon "Ainsworth" is called out, and the agent leaves us with a
pleasant "good evening" to all. The elderly man proves to be J. Wesley
Tucker, Receiver at the United States Land office, at Valentine, but
says it is too rough and bad to take his family there, and tells
stories of the wild shooting, and of the cow-boy. The thoughtful man is
Rev. Joseph Herbert, of Union Park Seminary, Chicago, who will spend
his vacation in preaching at Ainsworth and Valentine, and this is his
first visit to Valentine, and is the first minister that has been bold
enough to attempt to hold services there. He asks; "Is the colony
supplied with a minister? The superintendent of our mission talks of
sending one to them if they would wish it."
"They have no minister, and are feeling quite lost without preaching,
as nearly all are members of some church, and almost every denomination
is represented; but I scarcely know where services could be held; no
church and no school house nearer than three miles."
"Oh! we hold services in log or sod houses, anywhere we can get the
people together."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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