ON THROUGH THE PAGES..

Five years being apart, and a new baby to bring into this world without Canute being there for comfort...
Sarah was thinking of how good their life had been that summer, and was saddened that they would both have such hardships to endure. But knew her faith in the Lord would give her strength and guidance.....

Sarah also learned her friend Emma's husband had been called to leave. They got together and assured each other of their close friendship and how they would endure this with each others help. There was nothing they couldn't get through with their bond of love and friendship.....




The men began making preparations for the departure. There were men from Salt Lake City and other settlements that numbered 100. Thirty wagons were fitted out. Men who would go to foreign lands were to be taken to the nearest railroad station in Chicago, then on to New York and ship out to their various missions. Canute started his journey on September 12, 1852. The trip went well until they came to Laramie Wyoming territory. Here a band of Indians had set fire to all the grass between there and the Missouri River, a distance of almost four hundred miles.This made it necessary for the men to share their flour with the animals. They mixed it with water into a thin paste that the animals could drink.

They traveled as fast as they could but in spite of this, their food ran out the last 4 days before reaching the Missouri River. The fire had driven off or killed any game that could be used for food. They became so hungry they ate quantities of salt and drank great amounts of water. They considered killing some of their animals for food but even they were so starved they wouldn't have provided much to eat. Besides, they couldn't spare any of them. The mules and horsed became so weak that if they laid down they were unable to get up without help. And the men could scarcely help them.

When they finally limped and crawled to the shores of the river, a strong wind blew, making it impossible to get the ferry across. But after awhile a skiff was brought across by three men and they took one of the leaders across. He returned with some food but had to ration it out so the poor starved men wouldn't overeat and get sick. There was also an abundance of grass here for the animals. As soon as the wind ceased, they ferried across to Platteville and supplied themselves with food and other necessities. After a making camp for the night, they talked, ate, preached and prayed, knowing they may never see each other again.

In the morning Canute and another man, Erick Hoggan, started with a wagon and horses toward Illinois. They camped in snow all the way, coming to Ottawa where they sold the wagon and horses to have money to travel to their mission fields. After 10 days they resumed the journey of 80 miles with a friend of Erick's.  They arrived at the railroad station, bought tickets and rode on hard wooden seats to New York City, arriving Christmas Eve. December 26th they boarded a ship that would take them to Norway.
When they had been on the ocean for about three weeks, Canute woke Erick up in the middle of the night and said he'd had a dream that Sarah had had the baby..a girl.

Sarah had given birth to a daughter, January 4, 1853, in the little log cabin. When she felt the time was near, a couple of her friends came to help and stayed for a few days to make sure she was up again and able to care for herself and the children. Before Canute had left, they decided if the baby was a girl, she would be named Sarah after her mother.
So little Sarah began her life. But little Peter had just begun putting works into sentences and called his baby sister Sanie. And that was what she was called all her life.

Sarah was kept busy with her two little ones, and preparing for the coming winter. As the weather became colder and food more scarce, the Indians began visiting the settlers and begging for food. They didn't have much more than what they needed for themselves, but felt it was easier to feed than fight them.  But both Sarah and Emma were frightened of them and took turns sleeping at each others house, not wanting to admit to anyone else of their fears, yet feeling a protection.

One afternoon while Sarah and the two little ones were alone and she was busy with her many tasks, she happened to glance out the window and saw two big Indian braves coming toward the house. Even though the Indians weren't fighting much anymore, she was stricken with fear. Being a woman alone, she wasn't sure what the intentions of these men would be. Sanie was sleeping and Peter was on the floor playing. So she ran to the door and bolted it, then took Peter and slid under the bed. Soon there was a loud rapping on the door and Sarah put her finger to her lips, cautioning Peter to be still. But his little mind was unable to comprehend the importance of that or the fear that was on his mothers face. Again the loud knocking was repeated, along with disgruntled grunts from the men on the other side. Her heart was pounding so hart she feared they would hear it.

Again, the loud banging on the door and suddenly an arrow was pushed through a little hole on the side of the lock. Sarah had filled this with a cloth and now the arrow pushed at it. Watching intently, Sarah and Peter saw the cloth fall to the floor and a big black eye was peering in the hole.

Peter then piped up, "Peek a Boo"

Sarah put her hand over his mouth but it was too late. So she came out from under the bed, opened the door and asked the Indians what they needed. "Brower (flour), bread and food" they told her. She went to her scanty supply of food and offered them some of it. They eyed her up and down, took the food and stalked off. Sarah hastily closed and bolted the door, dropped to the floor and hugged little Peter, then laughed and laughed. Peter joined her thinking this was just another game his mother played with him.

In Norway things weren't so good for Canute. He began his preaching as they say "without purse or script" relying on the kindness and generosity of people for food and shelter. Sometimes this wasn't easy to obtain. One time on a cold wintry late afternoon, he had no idea of where he would spend the night. He had been called to another mission miles away. Walking along he came to a farm and a man busy with chores. Canute stopped and told him where he was going and said he didn't think he'd reach there before nightfall with the slippery and stormy conditions. He didn't tell him he was cold, wet and weak from hunger.
The farmer told him that he and his wife lived alone and she didn't take kindly to strangers. But he could see that Canute was in need of food and shelter so he'd go talk to her. It seemed to Canute the farmer was gone a long time. But he waited, shivering and hungry, to learn if he would have the comfort of a house for sleep or the cold of winter. His feet were half frozen in his worn boots, his clothes threadbare, and he wondered just what he'd do if the woman said no.

The farmer finally came and told him he could stay the night and gave the grateful Canute a chair by the fire, then left the room. Canute sat getting warm, pondering what he could say or do to help the woman feel kindly toward him. She soon came in the room but seemed displeased and would not talk to him, causing him to feel very much an intruder. As the minutes passed and she still kept her silence, Canute felt it was up to him to break the silence. He made casual conversation but she still paid him no attention. Then Canute saw her cat...

That's when he told her how smart her cat was and that it had a secret. Still her hostility continued. So he asked if she'd like him to tell her what the secret was. Her coolness still very much evident but her curiosity aroused, she said yes. So he asked that she hold the cat and he'd show her the secret. She asked how a cat could have a secret as she picked it up and walked toward Canute. So he explained to her about the 'Old Woman's Almanac'... 

Which you know too if you read the last post.....


And I'll be back with more.

See ya yesterday...