I remember hearing father tell him over and over again to be careful,
which he promised by crossing himself; being a Catholic he took that way
to express himself and let father know he meant to be faithful. Bob was
also told to watch over us children, which he understood. At last they
were ready to start, all bundled up in heavy, warm clothing. We two
smaller children were crying and hanging on to them when mother said,
"Now listen children, be good and mind all that grandpa tells you. Don't
you know poor John has no one with him, his mother is dead?" We were
quiet, but sorrowful. Oh, how little we children could realize or
understand the awful, dangerous trip our father and mother were about to
undertake! Grandpa realized it and tried so hard to keep them from
going. The snow was very deep, weather extremely cold, with bears and
wolves to be encountered at every step as soon as darkness came on.