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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1879)
December, 1879. THE WEST SHORE. his feet, but could not. I rode Jum. to ! him ami set the end of his lignum vita; cane that I had in my hand hard into the ground for him to pull up by. I then urged him to walk a little. He tottered along a few yards and gave out. I then saw a little sunken spot a few steps from me and led his horse down into it and with much difficulty got him once more raised on his horse. I then requested him to hold fast by the saddle and horse's mane and I would lead by the bridle." In this manner they traveled all alone in the rain until nightfall, being behind a company of three wagons which they were not able to overtake. At night Mrs. Brown took a wagon cover which was under her saddle, and throwing it over the projecting limb of a tree, encamped under it upon the naked earth, Capt Brown being in a half unconscious con dition. There, without food, she waited for morning, when the Captain being some better, she was able to get him again upon his horse. Many such days and nights were passed by Mrs. Brown. Her daughter says: "I remember one cold, itormy night when there was a rolling piece of ground and only one tree for shelter. Wc made a good fire near the tree, eat the little supper wc had, and it was very little, when mother wrapped her cloak close round her and leaned her back against that old tree. There she sat through the whole night. We could not crsiiade her to go down to the wagon or lie carried there. She 'was tired,' she said, 'and wanted to rest in her own way.' It was pretty hard to ride a ioor horse on a pack -saddle through the swales in midwinter aishe did." Not to dwell too long on this part of her experience, Mrs. Brown arrived at the settlements in the Wallamct valley in Dcceinlier and on Christmas Day was received into the houscof a Metho dist minister, who gave her and Capt Brown shelter and food through the remainder of the w inter for her services as housekeeper. Think of it I A woman sixty-six years old, after pass ing through such an experience, work ing for her lioard and that of her help less old brothcr-iivlaw. But this was not all. " For two or three week of my journey down the Willamette I had felt something in my glove-finger which I luucii 10 be a button. Uncxamina-i tionat my new home in Salem, I found it to he a 6j.ccnt piece. This was the whole of my cash capital with which to commence business in Oregon. With this 1 purchased three needles, traded ofi" my old clothes to the squaws for buokskms and worked them into gloves for the Oregon ladies and gentle men, which cleared me upwards of $ jo extra of hoarding." In the following Octolier,Mrs. Brown, having passed the summer with Mrs. W. II. (Jray, of Clatsop, returned to the Wallamct valley and, going to the Tualatin Plains to visit her son, became acquainted with Rev. Harvey Clark and wife, living on a land claim where Forest OrOVI now stands. They de sired her to visit them a few days ; winter set in, and they urged her to re main. She accepted the invitation and became as a mother to these most etim able people. It is better to let her tell what took place thereafter : " In October, 1847, news from the suffering immigrants reached us. Mm h sickness and many deaths on the plains and many mr orphan children left to an unfeeling world, to be cared for by strangers. I said to Mr. Clark : ' Why has Providence frowned on me and left me poor in this world ? I lad he hlcssci me with riches as he has many others I know right well what 1 would do 'What would you do?' was the question I would establish myself in a comfort able home ami receive all oor children and be a mother to them.' lie fixed keen eye on me and asked if I was in earnest in what I said. ' c, I am He said, 'I will try with you and see what effort wc can make.' ' From this remark of Mrs. Brown' grew the Pacific University of Oregon Mr. Clark agreed with Iter to gel a.si.t ancc ami to establish a school. There was a log meeting house at Forest Grove, snd Mrs. Brown was put possession of this building, where she was to receive any children, rich or poor, who wished to come. Those parents who were able were to pay $J iter week for ortl, watiung six tuition. Mrs, Brown agreed to lalr for one year without compensation Mr. Clark ami others agreed to assist at far as they were able with provisions should there not I enough coining in to support the poor in the school. I April, 1H48, to use Mrs. Brown', ow 3M xprcssion, All things King pretarcd r me to go into tin- old meeting house and cluck up my chickens the next Mom lav morning," she took ossessiou ami vegan her work. The neighbors con hutcd what dishes (mostly tin) and roken knitcx and links thev KMtU pare for carthcrn dishes were luxm Im in that day in Oregon to set her up at ousckecping. Mrs. Clark taught the school, which increased lapidly.. n the summer a house wn put up fin the hoarders, tliiitt in nnniU'i, of lioth sexes and all ages, fioni five to ttvcnlt one, and Mm. Brown K-tlotincd tin- whole lalmr of this family, except the washing, which the pupils did, Shi was s in. ill woman and lame amUixty- -even years old! 1'rustees were now called for and ap- Miinted --eight In number. They voted Mis. Iliown the use of the boarding house free of rent, rcquirinu hei t" provide for herself, establishing the price of board at $ per week. What evel was ovei cxcnte was to go to conqicuxate hei foi Iter lalior. But as the years tKH-o. were periods when Oregon was almost dsserted by men, who were all off to the California mines, msny children who i sine to her weir almost the same a orphans, not know ing whether they had fathers alive or not. None were, however, turned away foi tin n jxiverty, " In 1S5I1 she says, 14 1 hail forty in my family, at $J $0 per week , mixed with mt own hands jJ t pounds ! ItoUl In less than five months. I lei daughter, In a Utter that it l l..i. me, writes; H I shall net n forget bow, once when I was on a visit, the little ones looked when climbing at evening into her lap ami hanging alnii In shoulders, some of ibrin almost bain . Then the would parade them ..ol in . row and give them tlx tune, and BOW sweet their voices sounded to my earl The long table was always tprrsal with plenty of good, wholesome food, In the morning I counted forty little under garments hanging on the line to air. What a task, I Bought, f-i MM of my mother', agr to undertake , but know ing what material the was of, I wa very willing to sac Iter revel in it as the lid. On Sunday morning they all fol lowed hei to chunh, two by two, 1 u.irn-i ftaai Mai Hwa's Mrv LImS ast it uarksf si iSm I mm. i k 1 St 1 at tarty st 144 Mi tad Mm Uik taagMa Kkuul ut ImUo Haass.