Transcript

. . . in a few days I was ready for the trip and started with Daniel Thompson's train.

I well remember the first ten miles. We came to a pond, four dogs in the middle of it, but we boys layed down and drank all we wanted.

I must say that the father of the little girl repented after his dear ones left and he joined the church. He came to Utah looking for his girl, He had learned that one, Mr. Blair, had cared for her and called on me hoping to see her dear face again. But when I told him I had left her on the banks of the Missouri River, I thought he would faint. However, he found her later and lived with her eleven years. He passed away in full faith in the Gispel [sic], and the joyous hope of reunion of life that comes in the faithful. I later met the dear sister, many years after the episode I have mentioned, the mother of a splendid family. She seemed overcome at meeting me and begged me to relate the story of our trip.

Many things happened on that journey, I remember saving a man from drowning in the Platte River, a close call for both of us, my being only 15 and he a man. But I was spared for other troubles, no doubt. After guarding camp by night and walking by day we reached the Blessed City of the Saints where I met dear friends. I will say I needed them for I was nearly naked, having left London in May and this was October. I had walked a thousand miles, guarded camp twice a week and was never in a bed during the journey. In fact, I was lucky to get under a wagon with an ox yoke for a pillow. 84 wagons with many sick, some dying, and many unable to leave their wagons. Well, the Dear Lord was with us and the poor kid who writes this met friends on every hand, and some of the best. I met Brother John Taylor who later became Pres. of the Church. He was very kind to me, and I had the pleasure of singing to him at evening.