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Show 328 WESTERN WILDS. upon the prairies, then but thinly settled, of central Illinois. Beyond, they descended the gently rolling hills, crossed the great river, and in the early summer entered upon the rolling plains and wooded vales of Iowa and still on and on. To Willie each new day brought surprise that the world was so big; but still at evening the man replied to his wife's question : " I want to get out where I can have my pick. Reckon a hundred miles or so west of Iowa City ' 11 suit me" At last the pioneer announced that " this ' ere district looked new enough, and about the right thing," and at noon of a scorching July day they made camp for the last time. Willie had taken the bucket, and was returning from the creek near by with water, when suddenly there came in view the most amazing caravan he had ever looked upon. For a mile along the dim wagon track there straggled in strange array men, women, and children, all panting and sweating under the hot sky of an Iowa July noon. Here and there were heavy wagons drawn by oxen ; but most of the vehicles were rude carts with shafts attached, and in those shafts how could the little American believe his eyes? were actually women and men, not ex-actly harnessed like brute beasts, but pushing or pulling at the heavy loads. Dripping with sweat and begrimed with dust, all ages and sexes still seemed eager to press on ; little children ran beside the carts, while babies slumbered on the p'iles of bedding, or hung upon the breasts of bronzed and weary mothers. Behind came the more weary, and with them a man who appeared to be in command, urging them on; and among the last came a man who pushed a cart before him and pulled another from behind, while a little girl walked beside him crying to ride. " What's the matter, little girl?" said the boy, finding his tongue at last. The child hushed on the instant, but still lingered as if wanting to talk. " Where are you going, little girl?" " To Zion to build up the kingdom of God." The boy was positively frightened. What could this strange little creature mean. But before he could ask, she whimpered : " Oh, I am so tired." This was something Willie could understand very well ; and it was not half so bad to his mind as the other, for, like most children who have been under severe authority, he literally " feared God." To him any other prospect was more pleasant than going to the " king-dom," as he understood it. But while he gazed at the little one, and in his boyish way wondered and speculated, the advance of the caval- |