We came to Memphis about nine A.M. Court is in session, several friends
and acquaintances, who are attending court, came to the wagons to
say good-bye. Mother’s brother, Uncle Zack, was among them, he said,
“Remember, when you wish yourselves back here, that _I_ told you not to
go.”
“Yes, we will when that times comes and send you a vote of thanks for
your good advice,” I replied.
Cash, Neelie and I have been riding our ponies all day. We are stopping
in a beautiful place for camping, near the farmhouse of a Mr. and Mrs.
Fifer. They are very pleasant elderly people, who have raised a family
of six children, who are all married, and gone to homes of their own.
It is a delightfully homey home, yet it seems sad that they should be
left alone in their old age. We will sleep in the house again to-night,
I shall be glad when we get to where there are no houses to sleep in,
for it does not seem like camping out when we sleep in houses. Cash and
Neelie want to sleep in the tent, but their father says no, and his
word is law in this camp.
* * * * *
Wednesday, May 3.
Brother Hillhouse discovered very early this morning that the tire on
one of the wheels of the ox-wagon was broken. He started off ahead of
the rest of the wagons to find a blacksmith shop and get it mended
by the time we would overtake him. It was ten o’clock when we came
to the shop, near a flour-mill. There was a very bad piece of road
before we crossed the creek, a deep ditch had been washed out by the
Spring rains. I waited to see the wagons safely over, when some one
came beside my pony with outstretched hand saying, “Good-morning, Miss
Raymond, I see you are in earnest about crossing the plains.”
“Why, how do you do, Mr. Smith? Am glad to see you, of course I am
in earnest about crossing the plains, but where did you come from? I
supposed you would be at the Missouri River before this time, have you
turned back?”
“Oh, no, we are waiting for better roads and good company.”
“Come, go with us, I will promise you good company, and the roads will
improve.”
“Where are Cash and Neelie? I have not seen them.”
“They did not stop, when I waited to see the wagons over the
difficulties.”
“Then I have missed seeing them; was in the mill when they passed.
Remember me to them. We will start again to-morrow, and will overtake
you in a few days, perhaps.”
“Hope you will, good-bye until we meet again.”
“Farewell, may you enjoy as pleasant a trip as you anticipate.”
“Thank you,” and waving him good-bye, I spoke to Dick, and he cantered
up the hill past the mill and the wagons. I soon caught up with Cash
and Neelie.
“Guess who I saw at the mill?”
“Did you see any one we know?”
“Yes, an especial friend of yours, Cash, Bob Smith, of Liberty.”
“Oh, dear, I wish I had seen him. Was Thad Harper with him? Are they
going back home?”
“No; they are waiting for better roads and good company. I did not see
Thad Harper. Bob said they will overtake us in a few days.”
“I hope they will, they would be quite an addition to our party.”