Why he
has been so frightened' I do not know, unless it was the unusual
condition of things, which have been quite enough to scare anyone.
Well, I lived through the three services, and suppose I can live
through more. The men are not compelled to do this church work,
although not one would think of refusing. There is much rehearsing to
be done, and Sergeant Graves has to transpose the hymns and write out
the notes for each instrument, and this requires much work. To show my
appreciation of their obedience to my slightest request, a large cake
and dozens of eggs have been sent to them after each service. It is
funny how nice things to eat often make it easy for a man to do things
that otherwise would be impossible!
FORT SHAW, MONTANA TERRITORY,
July, 1886.
MY trip to Helena was made alone, after all! The evening before I
started Mrs. Todd told me that she could not go, frankly admitting
that she was afraid to go over the lonesome places on the road with
only the driver for a protector. It was important that I should see a
dentist, and Mrs. Averill was depending upon me to bring her friend
down from Helena who was expected from the East, so I decided to go
alone. The quartermaster gave me the privilege of choosing my driver,
and I asked for a civilian, a rather old man who is disliked by
everyone because of his surly, disagreeable manner.
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