THE NEXT FALL

The next fall I went with Samuel Smith and Newton Chute to bring their team back from their trapping ground on the Des Moines River. It was in November, and on my return I lost my way, and a furious snowstorm came on me in the afternoon. As darkness began to close upon me, it was evident that I must spend a night alone with my oxen on the prairie. The situation was anything but agreeable. I found a ravine where it was somewhat sheltered from the wind. I tied the cattle to one side of the wagon, took the box off, set it up on one edge, with the bottom toward the wind, with the upper edge resting upon the hubs of the wagon wheels. Under this slight protection I crawled with one quilt to wrap up in. I commended myself to him who cares for the sparrows, and has numbered the hairs of our heads. I renewed my covenant to be His, and to devote my life to His service. As I lay under there, I could feel the snow sift through onto my face. I soon fell asleep, and did not wake until daylight. I was surprised how quickly the night I had dreaded so much had passed away. At noon the next day, I came to a settlement on Twin Lakes, and had no further trouble getting home.

Teaching

I only stayed at home for a few days, when I started out again to seek a winter's job. I went to Mr. Gault's, near St. Peter, hoping to chop cordwood for him. He said there was no wood chopping to be had. Mrs. Gault said, "Teach our school this winter." I had never taught school, but I thought I might as well try. I asked the Lord to help me, and He did. I taught the school for four months, at thirty dollars per month, with the privilege of teaching the same school the next winter if I wished to. I returned home in the spring, and stayed until harvest, when I again went to the eastern part of the State.

I worked for Joel Brown and his nephew, Joseph Brown, near Mantorville, Dodge County. Deckster Brown, Joseph's father, came to help him finish the harvest. He formed a favorable opinion of all the hands he saw at noon when he arrived, but me. He told me afterward that he thought from my appearance that I did not amount to much; but he changed his mind in a little while, and after Joseph got through with me, he hired me at thirty dollars a month to work on a farm