Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/412

402 He had turned his head for the twenty-first time to see that all was right in the canvass domicile behind, when he discerned that Mrs. Robbins was yielding to the weakness of her bosom at the separation of the last link that bound her to the associations of early youth, and to the ties of friends and home. The husband kissed away the tears that were tumbling over her full and rosy cheek, spoke a word of encouragement in her ear, and then with a moistened eye himself, turned hastily to his place, brought the whip sharply down, set his features as rigid as a decemvir's, and rattled off at a pace that soon jolted off every vestige of sadness or depression, amid the cheers of a large circle of friends and well-wishers, who had gathered to see us off, and whose benisons floated after us upon the air as if they were unwilling to resign this living evidence of their continual guardianship.

Wilkes continues in this strain through some seven closely printed pages, when he brings in the following incident (it occurred in connection with the meeting for organization held at Big Spring, May 20th):

"The strange assemblage was gathered from various sections of the country; they were agitated with various views, and naturally separated into various cliques. Most of them had their favorite plans already cut and dried, and their nominees were all ready to wear the chieftain's mantle. A stormy session was the consequence, and it was evident that the question of commandership would not be decided this day. In the middle of the uproar of the first hour Dumberton, who had given his hair an extra intellectual rush from the front, and arranged the snuff-colored garments in style of superlative finish, managed to obtain the ear of the assemblage. After having waved the crowd into profound silence, he commenced an eulogium on the character of Washington; made patriotic allusions to the Revolution, and the late war; touched on the battle of New Orleans; apostrophised the American eagle, and then wound up his introduction with a very meaning sentiment leveled with great force and earnestness at the "iron arm of despotism." Imagining that he had fairly taken captive the admiration of his audience, Mr. Dumberton, of Big Pigeon, came to the point of his address, and gravely proposed that the emigration should adopt the criminal laws of Missouri and Tennessee for its future government.

No sooner had the speaker delivered himself of his proposition than McFarley, who had been chafing like a stung bull for the last half hour, sprang up, and remarked that since the gentleman from Big Pigeon had found out that we had robbers and thieves among us, he (McFarley) would move that a penitentiary be engaged to travel in company if his proposal should pass."