University of Virginia Library

21. CHAPTER XXI.

How sweetly time passes when with
those we love. Moment then follows moment
in unbroken succession, and commingling
like drops of water, forms the
great stream of Time, which, flowing past
flowery banks and lulling us with its gentle
murmur, glides swiftly and evenly
away, bearing us on its broad bosom to
the boundless and fathomless ocean of
Eternity. It is when in sweet and constant
communion with those we love, we
forget the jars and discords of our past
life, in the enrapturing harmony of the
present. We then lose sight of the world
as it is, and only behold it through that

magic glass of inner joy, which shows all
its beauties, but conceals its defects. These
moments of earthly beatitude are most
precious and evanescent. They are as so
many golden sunbeams, streaming upon
the otherwise gloomy path of the traveler,
and showing him a thousand beauties, of
whose existence so near him he had previously
no conception.

Thus it was with myself and friends.
Time rolled away almost unnoted, and ere
we had prepared ourselves to bid old hoary-headed
Winter adieu, we found, to our surprise,
he had gone, and that light-footed
Spring was gaily tripping and smiling in
his place.

Although far in the wilderness, Oregon
City was not without its attractions. Of
the settlers, many were young people, who
had been well brought up in the East, and
had come hither to try their fortunes.
They did not believe in renouncing all
their former amusements; and in consequence,
gay parties, festivities, and balls
succeeded one another in rapid succession.
To these myself and friends were always
invited, and a number of them we attended.
They were rude in comparison to
some in older settlements, it is true; but
being in general conducted with great
propriety, often proved very agreeable pastimes,
and enlivened the otherwise rather
dull monotony of the village.

As spring advanced, we began gradually
to prepare for our journey. The real
estate previously purchased by Mrs. Huntly,
was readily sold for cash, and the receipts
doubled the purchase money. As
we designed taking nothing with us but
what was absolutely necessary, the furniture
of both Mrs. Huntly and Madame
Mortimer was also disposed of—possession
to be given so soon as the premises should
be vacated.

As our party of itself was not strong,
and as there were many here who designed
going East—some to procure goods,
some to remain, and others, who had come
here in advance, to bring on their families
— we decided to join them, and thus
journey in comparative security.

Great was the delight of Lilian and Eva,
as the time drew near for our departure.
In fact, toward the last, they could think
of nothing, talk of nothing, but the plea
sure of quitting their present abode, and
what they would do when they should
safely arrive at their destination.

With Evaline it was different. In this
journey she only saw a change of life and
scene—which, if truth must be told, she
rather regretted than rejoiced at — and a
sad parting from her Indian friends. Where
Lilian and Eva saw welcome faces and a
thousand fascinations in the haunts of civilization,
she beheld nothing but the cold
gaze of strangers and the gossiping speculations
of the worldly-minded. She was
beautiful and fascinating in her personal
appearance—refined, polished, and graceful
in her manners—but withal, so excessively
modest as to underrate her own
powers, and fancy herself an awkward
forest maiden, unfitted for the society in
which she was destined more or less to
mingle. Both Charles and I, as also the
others, ever strove to eradicate this un
pleasant impression, and we in part succeeded.
But still she was diffident, sober
minded, and without a particle of that en
thusiasm so strongly manifested by her
sister and Lilian.

The Indian companions of Evaline had
remained in the village through the winter,
and by their quiet, unobtrusive manners,
their steady, upright mode of life—
so different from the drunken, brawling
natives of the neighboring tribes, who occasionally
visited the village—had won the
respect and regard of the citizens, and, in
fact, become decided favorites with all.
While the former were sought for, the latter
were shunned; and the widest distinction
in all cases was ever drawn between
the Wahsochees and their red brethren of
other nations. But notwithstanding this
partiality, the Wahsochees were evidently
not contented in their present situation.
To them, civilized customs had less attraction
than the more rude and simple ones
of their own tribe; and they were now
anxious to depart and join their friends.
It was arranged that all should proceed in
company as far as Fort Laramie, whence
Evaline could either accompany the Indians
home, or let them go in advance to
herald her approach, as circumstances
might determine.

In enumerating the different personages
who have figured in this narrative, I must

not forget Teddy. For the last five or six
months he had been in his glory; and between
taking care of our horses, spinning
long yarns to the villagers, (whom, by the
way, he ever succeeded in astonishing,)
and making love to Molly Stubbs, he had,
as the phrase goes, had “his hands full.”
Of his success in the last, I must let the
reader judge by the following colloquy,
which took place between us a week or
so previous to the time fixed on for our
departure.

Approaching me with a rather timid
step, hat in hand, and making a low
obeisance, he said:

“The top of the morning to your honor.”

“The same to you, Teddy.”

“Sure, your honor — (a pause and a
rapid twirl of the hat) — sure, and is it
thrue ye're after taking yoursilf and frinds
from these diggins (as the spalpeens call
the likes) in a week for that mather?”

“All true, Teddy, nothing unforeseen
preventing.”

“Troth! and ye'll be missed from this
counthry when the likes of that happens.”

“I trust so, Teddy.”

Another pause, another twirl of the hat,
and a scratching of the head. After some
hesitation—

“Sure, and it's me own mother's son,
Teddy O'Lagherty, as 'ud like to be axing
yees a question?”

“Well, Teddy, say on!”

“Faith! and it's mesilf as has been
long in your honor's sarvice, now.”

“Some three or four years, I believe,
off and on.”

“And it's not a bether masther I'd
iver want, no it isn't.”

“Well?”

“But ye's a-going home, now, and
maybe does n't care for the likes of me
inny longer?”

“I see: you wish to be discharged?”

Another twirl of the hat and scratch of
the head.

“Why, now, your honor—no offence at
all — but — but to spaak the thruth, and
make a claan breast of it, it's that same
I'd ayther be axing for, or doubling the
sarvice, jist.”

“Doubling the service, Teddy? I do
not understand you. You mean I must
double your wages, eh?”

“Will, it's not exactly that—but—but
but—ye sae—(Here the hat fell to the
ground, and Teddy made an unsuccessful
effort to recover it,) — “Murther take the
luck, but I'll say it now if I dies for it
betimes! Ye sae, your honor, I've axed
Molly, and it's all settled, and there's
a-going to be the pair of us, barring that
the two counts one Scripter-wise.”

“So, so—I understand now—you are
about to be married to Molly?”

“Why yes, I may say that's the short
way of saying the likes, your honor.”

“Exactly; and unless I wish to employ
you both, you desire to quit my service?”

“Troth! and your honor's a gintleman
at guessing.”

“Well, Teddy, as I have no use for
Molly at this time, I will give you an honorable
discharge, and a handsome wedding
present for your valuable services
besides.”

“God bless ye for a gintleman, ivery
inch of yees! and it's mesilf as'll niver
forgit ye in me prayers,” was the warmhearted
response, as, grasping my hand, he
shook it heartily, while his eyes filled with
joyful tears. “God bless ye for a noble
heart!” he added, as he turned away to
communicate his success to her with whom
his fortune was about to be linked.

Suffice it here, that I kept my word
with Teddy, who had no reason to regret
having entered my service and secured my
esteem.

The long wished for day of our departure
came at last, and being one of the
brightest and most pleasant of the season,
was hailed with delight as an omen of
prosperity. Everything having been previously
arranged, there was little to do but
take leave of those who remained; and
this being soon over, we were on the move
at an early hour, a goodly company of
thirty souls, two-thirds of whom were of
the sterner sex.

As much of importance is yet to be told,
and as the reader has once or twice followed
me over the ground now traversed,
I will not trouble him with a detail of our
journey from Oregon City to Fort Laramie
Suffice, that we reached the latter place in
safety, though much fatigued, about the

middle of July, Anno Domini 1844, and
some four years subsequent to my former
visit here, when I first beheld the beautiful
Prairie Flower, otherwise Leni Leoti,
now Evaline Mortimer, and soon to be
— But let me not anticipate.