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| come quick Eliza has come back she has been to heaven she wants to talk to you." My dad walked out tears falling from his cheeks. Got on his horse rode fast and soon arrived to the place where She lay. Looking up she said Joe I've come back to talk to you. I've been among the angels Tis true I've seen those Heavenly mansions we read about in the Bible John 14. "It is beautiful there No sin No sorrow No harm nor pain It's all true Joe! "Jesus is preparing a place for us there I came back to tell you Joe I want you to meet me there I'm going back I would never want to live here again. The crystle sea the green pastures the flowers nothing to mar this home he has promised- "So now I must go" she said. As several had gathered around to hear these words some had left the room to call the Doctor when he arrived rushed in thinking she might live but No She refused to take any medicine or one thing to save her life. She said I only came back to give Joe my message. She closed her eyes saying the angels are calling me "Farewell Joe" meet me over on the other shore. My dad walked slowly away. I wonder sometimes what he was thinking all these years as he went on But Now Since the night we all went to Big Bend he made his decision once and for all from that time he never drank any more he never swore and instead he was an ardent reader of the Bible He loved to sing and pray-for us all to keep well and happy and good. Sometimes I think if any of us have gone through those heavenly gates we aught to call back. |
| As in this little poem - "Call back- If you have gone a little way ahead of me "Call back" - T'will cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track. And if per chance Faiths light is dim because the oil is low Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go Dear one call back, Call back and tell me for I cannot see your face. They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race. But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim and I cannot see the glory, tho' I long for words of Him If you have gone a little way agead "Call Back" T'will cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.-- Selected. |
| Now since my dad has told us this story and It is very ture he said it had haunted him all those years untill he gave his heart to God. How could anyone doubt that there is life after death. I am convinced through this story that our Lord is preparing a place for us and as we go on its beautiful to walk in the steps of our Saviour. Chapter 9 Off for Jimtown and Salem Leaving off with that meeting at the Big Bend My dads story of life after death. as he had described to mother. Well he felt that he was well on his way to better things orking hard and always trying to make us happy as we trudeged along. It was nearing the time in late August I bleieve now and as we were all ready to take our trip. that long looked for moment came round. Our Uncle Enoch drove up to the house with his wagon to take us to train. Pa had gotten us pretty well organized Floyd with his bird cage and rabbits Den with his trantular Jace and Harry with their carpet bags and guitar while Ma carried little Joe Jace and Harry and Den decided to take their musical instruments as Pa said there's nothing like good music where ever you go Den was a lover of the Jews harp while Jace played the quitar Harry the rattle bones and harmonica as he could dance knew all the fancy steps jigs and what have you they entertained as they rode along Pa could sing by note and very good bass So he always joined in on the chorus We had no dull moments then. He Pa promised he take us by St. Louis to see the Union Station it was the talk of the whole country. He said "Now if you'll all keep step and don't get lost obey my whistle I'll take you through St. Louis. Well as Uncle Enoch drove us down the road to Greeley everything loaded early My! what a happy bunch I'll never forget Ma and Pa looked so nice her gold locket and bangs curled her new hat Pa with his new sizzor tail coat button shoes bow-tie and his mustash curled and shiney- As we drive into Greeley Pa looked at his watch said Ma there's a picture gallery over there I think while we all Look so nice and have a few minutes left we'd better have our pictures taken. Well Mother was afraid we'd miss the train but she said. "Pa we'll have to hurry So he said to my Uncle Enoch. You drive us up to that picture taking place and we'll have'em took. Sp up to the hitchin rack. All Out! into the gallery kids he yelled- and Jace Harry and Floyd in the background Here comes a man with a big black sheet throwed it over his head. Den got excited as he was the jumpin jack of the bunch he took on so many responsibilities The one responsibility was keepin Eudes thumb out of his mouth as Pa told him that would be his job on the trip I'd say a hard one too- Jace Floyd and Harry in background Now Den stood by Eude trying to look after his job. I Stood by Ma and Elsie by Pa little Joe on his knee. Well in a few minutes the picture was took. At first Pa had quite an argument with the older boys as they tho't they would look nicer with their hats on but Pa lowed they would look better holding their hats at their sides or in front of them Pa said to the man "do you think they'll be good Well he said its too late to worry now you should have tho't of that. But they can't be anything else with such a fine family- Now we heard the train whistle Pa yelled out we've got 10 minutes to catch that train! All out in front kids. What a scramble as the train pulled into Greeley the Conductor yelled out "All abord we all knew what that meant. When we all got on the train pulled out we got set guess one side of the coach was pretty well filled up with the Cooks My! it was beautiful red plush cushions bright lightes brussells carpet down the isle Pa got us placed in seats all in pairs pretty soon the Conductor come along ounchin tickets he stopped (he was quite an old man) I remember he looked up and down the coach as my dad handed him 2 full fares and two halves. he stood there looking us over his glasses then he sid If this aint the damdest biggest family I ever saw ridin' on 2 full fares and 2 halves. My dad smiled Said look at 'em aint they the finest lot of kids you ever looked at by that time we were all smilin' right back at him Now we tho't everything dad said was the truth. the Conductor stood there a thinkin lookin over his glasses. Pa kept right on talking said what do you think of our baby? and look at them rabbits don't you think our kinfolks will be glad to see us and learn just what we've been doing out here in the west. Eude had got settled back lookin up at the bright lightes all at once he took his thumb out of his mouth long enough tp Say. O Gosh! Ma! "Aint this fine ridin'? The conductor begin to smile and went on The first Harvy house Pa got off purchased a jug of milk a pot of coffee while Ma begin to pour the ten cups. My what a nice lunch fryed chicken cake cookies the neighbors helped to fix As I guess they felt sorry for mother. The first thing on program Den and Floyd got locked in the little booth at the end of the coach P tried to call to them to turn the latch the other way but they didn't understand. Ma got excited said she was afraid they would try to crawl out some other way Ma said. Pa you keep talkin to them untill we get it open guess Den had tryed to investigate the lock and got scared after he saw the were locked in. So at last Pa called the porter. He said got there in time Mr 'Yo sho goin to hav to watch them boys." after that Pa kept pretty close watch on them. |
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