ILLS OE PIONEER LIEE. 
67 
be there as quickly as possible, as he had no medicine. Friends 
in the East knew nothing of the evils which lie around the path 
of the new settler when sickness comes. Surrounded by the aids 
which science has brought to bear against disease, and by all the 
blessings of a thickly settled community, they cannot realize how 
death stares one in the face often in these isolated spots, when the 
case is urgent, and help far away. 
In this instance the husband had left home, early in the evening, 
to attend a meeting in Lawrence, some two miles distant, leaving 
with his wife, who was but just recovering from illness, a young 
friend. Over-exertion during the day had somewhat prostrated 
her, and now cramps and the most urgent symptoms of cholera 
came upon her with fearful severity. What could be done ? 
They were a full half-mile from any neighbor. It was night, and 
there was no one to send for help. Every remedy which the 
house afforded was tried, with poor success, the patient losing 
courage with her loss of strength. At ten o’clock her husband 
returned, and, seeing at a glance the need of instant relief, started 
for a neighbor, who went for a physician. 
1.1 th. — The doctor brought up a nice side-saddle from town, 
and, upon my asking whose it was, he replied, “ It is a present 
for Mrs. B.” To my question, “ From whom ? ” he said, “ From 
him who gets her the most of her things.” 
“ Old Gray ” was soon saddled, and I was on his back to find 
my way over the prairies to spend another day with sickness. 
Towards evening, as the horse was saddled, and I was ready to 
return home, we noticed some threatening clouds, and a shower 
just upon us. As it promised to be but slight, and of short dura¬ 
tion, I concluded to remain until it had passed, in preference to a 
drenching, and two miles’ ride in it. The shower once commenced, 
there seemed no end to it; and, when an hour had passed away, 
the wind was still blowing in unabated fury, the rain falling in 
“ rivers of waters,” while there was one incessant peal and crash 
of thunders, and the whole heavens a perfect blaze of dazzling 
light. I abandoned all hope of seeing home that night; and the 
question now was, how could we avoid being wet by the rain, 
which came boisterously in from the north ? For a while 1 sat 
