AND LOVE GROWS ON...

The beginning of this story starts with the

Canute and Sarah post..

Word reached the little community that more settlers were coming. There were many coverts heading across the prairie and Sarah knew full well the hardship they had endured. On the way, this particular group had encountered the same band of renegade Indians that had been driven from the Fort not long ago. They were angry and vented their wrath on the hapless travelers, burning, killing and plundering.

Of the few survivors that remained, they were told of five children, now orphaned as they had lost both their parents attempting to defend themselves and their children. When they heard the news, the men of Dry Creek took teams and wagons and brought the  sorrowing survivors back into town. When they drove up, the settlers all gathered around  to help......

 

The five orphaned children were standing off to the side in mute stunned silence and fear. Sarah's heart went out to them as she walked over to introduce herself, Peter and Sanie. Then she put her arms around them and asked if they'd like to come to her house for something to eat. The oldest boy, 12 years old, said they'd like that very much. So Sarah took them home where they all wash up and found a place to sit. Sarah had a way of making someone feel at home and soon had these tearful, terrified little ones talking and enjoying a meal with her.

A bit later she slipped out and went to the group of men gathered around the rescue party. She told the church leader she would like to keep the five little orphans with her. He said he thought it would be too much for her, with Canute still gone and her trying to care for her own, that someone else could take on some of them. But Sarah said she could manage them. They had gone through such a horrible experience losing their parents and she knew they needed each other for security. He smiled at her, knowing she had a big heart and if anyone could do this, it was Sarah Peterson. But told her if it got to be too much, he would make other arrangements. She just smiled back and hurried home.

She was now busier than ever. Five extra mouths to feed was a mammoth task. But all the children were good to help and soon learned to love and respect the kind, loving Sarah. They loved little Peter and Sanie and Sarah enjoyed seeing them all smile again. She knew she had enough love for all of them. And although her little house was bursting at the seams, they all managed to make life a little happier for each other.

Finally a few months later, word was received that Canute was on his way home, bringing with him four hundred Norwegian converts....

After this company had finished their long tedious ocean trip, they finally arrived at New York City. They had endured sickness and death and had buried at sea thirty of their friends and family. Then they traveled by rail to Illinois where preparations for the long trek across the plains would begin. It took several weeks to get wagons, teams, supplies and food ready for the journey. But at long last, they headed westward.

 

Covered wagons, handcarts and any other means of travel was put into service. Many were on foot and in the beginning the women walked along carrying babies and small children in their arms. Their long skirts would catch on the sagebrush and roadside weeds. The animals and turning wheels kicked up great clouds of dust. But the great white clouds hanging low in the horizon and the blue sky seemed to beckon them on like a promise of reward for their undaunted courage. Being in a new land full of mysteries, the night shadows seemed to warn of the hardships that lay ahead of them. But they pressed on with the urgency for haste and speed ever present. 

Even when sickness and death sought to slow them down, they sorrowfully stopped only long enough to bury their dead in mounds of newly turned sod and then pushed on, locking the sorrow in their hearts. They couldn't take time for a lengthy mourning.  Even when a young mother was bereaved of her beloved child and forced to leave it beside the road in a little grave, they pressed on in the urgency to make it to the Salt Lake Valley before winter. More than one mother, choking back her sobs and carrying the burden of grief in her heart,  hastily gathered wild flowers and watched as they fluttered in the breeze, seeming to wave a last farewell..

After many months of grief and travel, the company reached the valley, having been helped in the last lap of the journey by fresh teams and provisions sent out to meet them. The bulk of the company remained in Salt Lake City for the time being until it was determined where they would settle. The others went immediately home to Dry Creek.

Canute had written  to Sarah from Laramie Wyoming, telling her that he was broken down in health and body and had to resort to the use of a cane for awhile. But his spirit wasn't broken and knowing he was closer to home revived him more than ever.

*note* I've seen this letter as my Grama was in possession of it for years. It was donated, along with his journals to the church library after her death.

When Canute rode up to his home, he was greeted by Sarah and seven children. Taking her in his arms he held her for a long time, giving thanks that he was finally back home. Then he looked around and spied Peter close to him. He picked him up and was amazed at how he had grown. Sarah then picked up Sanie and told Canute this was his little daughter. Taking Sanie in his arms he said he was so happy to meet her and did he look the way she expected her father to look? She giggled and said oh yes, only he was prettier, much prettier! He laughed and held her even tighter. Then he put her down and noticed five other children standing there shyly looking at him and asked Sarah who they were.

'They're mine, Canute" she said and proceeded to introduce each of them to the astonished man. All he could do was look at her with a curious look and asked if he heard her right. So she told him how they had lost their parents, so she adopted them, and weren't they some fine children? He chuckled and agreed they looked just fine and said what a rustler she was to gather up such a family all by herself. They laughed and again he held his beloved Sack as they all got acquainted.

Then going to his wagon and to the few other wagons that had followed him, he invited them all down to meet his wife and family. Then he told Sarah " Oh, by the way, we're all suppose to take in a few of the new converts until they get settled. So they unhitched the livestock and he told them to make themselves at home, explaining that with his house already full to the rafters, they would have to sleep in their wagons or tents until more suitable arrangements could be provided.

They all thanked Canute and Sarah, then she went toward the house to start preparing meals, knowing they would be hungry. But Canute called her back toward him saying "Sack, I'd like you to meet someone who saved my life. I'll tell you about it another day."
And he introduced her to Marie Rolfson.......



And I'll see you again yesterday..