Sunday, May 21.
Mr. Thatcher and his wife came to call upon Gus this afternoon, and
invited her to their home in Platsmouth to stay until she takes the
steamboat for home. Mr. Thatcher and Mr. Milburn have been friends for
years. She accepted their invitation and will go there to-morrow.
As the people from different camps were sitting around an immense
camp-fire, not far from our wagons, someone proposed music. Some of the
men in Mr. Clark’s camp are fine musicians, they brought their violin
and flute, and gave several instrumental pieces, then some familiar
songs were sung and someone started “Just Before the Battle, Mother.”
They had sung two verses when I heard a shriek from Gus’s wagon. I
hastened to see what was the matter. “Oh, Sallie, tell them to please
not sing that, I cannot bear it. Dear Brother John used to sing it so
much. It breaks my heart to hear it now.”
I sent Winthrop, who had followed me, to ask them to stop singing. Poor
Gus, she was more overcome than I have seen her since her bereavement.
* * * * *
Monday, May 22.
Mr. Kerfoot, Cash, Neelie, Ezra and I came with Gus to Platsmouth. She
said good-bye to mother, Mrs. Kerfoot and the others this morning. All
were sorry to part with her. She has become very dear to us all. Gus’s
freight was brought over in the wagon and sold at public auction and
brought good figures, thanks to Mr. Thatcher, who, when he saw anything
going below its real value, bid it in himself. He has a grocery store.
He and Mr. Kerfoot have attended to all business transactions for Gus,
so that she has not been bothered at all, and have done better for her
than they could have done for themselves.
We have had a quiet, pleasant day with Gus at Mrs. Thatcher’s home.
She is very kind, and has invited us girls to stay with Gus until she
takes the boat for home, and Gus begged us to stay with her as long
as possible; so Cash and I are staying all night, and will see her on
board the boat to-morrow morning. Neelie has returned to camp with her
father and Ezra.
Ernest is a great care and worries his auntie. He will not stay in
the house, and she cannot bear to have him out of her sight for fear
something will happen to him; she has just now undressed him, heard his
little prayer, and put him to bed in the next room. So I hope we can
have uninterrupted quiet for awhile.
* * * * *
Tuesday, May 23.
Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher, Cash and I came with Gus and Ernest to the
steamboat. We parted with them about nine o’clock on board the “Sioux
City.” Dear friend, I have become greatly attached to her, in the three
weeks we have been so intimately associated. May God grant her a quick
and safe journey home. We cannot hope it will be a happy one.
NOTE.--Miss Milburn and her lover were married about six months
after her return, and have lived happily, etc.
Cash and I came directly to camp, after saying good-bye to Gus; found
every one busy getting ready for an early start to-morrow. We have been
here almost a week, yet I have not had time to try the fine swing the
boys put up the next day after we came here until this afternoon. The
camps that were here over Sunday are all gone except those that will
travel with us. It is probable there will be half a dozen more camps
here before night. It is surprising to see what a great number of
people are going west this Spring.
We hope to start very early to-morrow morning. I trust our party will
not be so much like a funeral procession as it has been since the 15th.
Vain regrets cannot remedy the past, and I believe it is our duty to be
as cheerful and happy as possible in this life.