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Home > Good Time Stove Special Section > EARLY BOX: SR-BX1146 - WAGON WEST
Ma and Pa had the wagon all packed. They wanted to be out of Pennsylvania and headed for Colorado by sun-up. Missy was camped out in the back of the wagon snuggled next to the Early box stove. As the wagon wheels began to spin and the oxen started their slow trek west Pa called out to his brother Ben who was waving good-bye to them, "We'll be in Colorado by late summer and we'll be there with our bells on."
You see, most wagons heading west had a set of bells on them. If a wagon needed assistance by someone else, then that wagon had to give their bells to the folks who helped them. This resulted in a serious loss of pride if you weren't able to make the trip all by your own efforts.
The trip was going along smoothly. The wagon made it across the Mississippi River and after a brief visit in St. Louis to restock on goods and rest the oxen, the wagon started the trek across the open prairie. One night as dusk settled in and the first stars of the evening peeked their twinkling heads out of endless sky above, the family heard the hooves of horses approaching. And then Ma and Pa saw them. Indians. About five braves galloped up to the encampment.
One brave was young, a little older than Missy, and very handsome. He looked and acted like the head warrior of the small band. Ma and Pa were very scared. Then the young brave noticed Missy. Their eyes connected and he was just as in awe of her as she was of him. Pa offered the Indians some of Ma's homemade stew, and to everyone's surprise, they accepted. Missy and the young brave sat near each other, not too far from the Early box stove in the back of the wagon.
After dinner the young brave gave Missy his hawk feather necklace and the Indians rode off into the night. The next morning the wagon continued on it's westward journey. Missy kept a look out for their new Indian friends hoping that she would see her young brave again. But she never did. The wagon made it to Colorado, and they made it with their bells on.
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