find that the Sargents, whom she expected to
join on their way to Washington, had passed through a day or two before
but, as they were delayed by snowdrifts, she overtook them at Ogden,
and enjoyed the privileges of their luxurious staterooms until they
reached Chicago. It happened most fortunately that the Sargents were
supplied with inexhaustible hampers of provisions, for the trip from
Ogden to Chicago occupied twelve days. Senator Mitchell and family, of
Oregon, and several other friends were on the train, but with all the
pleasant companionship and all the entertainment which could be
devised, the journey was long and tedious. The ever-faithful diary
contains a brief record of each day:

December 28.--The western-bound train arrived at noon, eight days
from Omaha, a happy set of people to be so far along on their
journey. We left Ogden at 3 p. M., three packed sleeping-cars. All
went smoothly to Bitter Creek, then we waited three or four hours
for an extra engine to take us up the grade.

December 29.--Starting and backing, then starting and backing
again. Prospect very discouraging. Mr. Sargent makes the tea,
unpacks the hampers and serves as general steward, but draws the
line at washing the dishes. We women-folks take that as our part.
Delayed all night at Percy. Here overtook the passenger train which
left Ogden last Monday.

December 30.--Detained all day and all night at Medicine Bow. Four
passenger trains packed into two, and long freight trains passed us
in the night.

December 31.--Left Medicine Bow at noon, went through deep snow
cuts ten miles in length. One heavy passenger and two long freight
trains in front of us. Reached Laramie at 10 P.M. Thus closes 1871,
a year full of hard work, six months east, six months west of the
Rocky mountains; 171 lectures, 13,000 miles of travel; gross
receipts $4,318, paid on debts, $2,271. Nothing ahead but to plod
on.

A few blank pages in an old account-book tell the rest of the story:

January 1, 1872.--Laramie City. On Pullman car "America," Union
Pacific R.R. Lay here all night and breakfasted at railway hotel.
J.H. Hayford, editor Laramie Sentinel, told us of the bill to
repeal the woman suffrage law in Wyoming. The law had been passed
by a Democratic legislature as a jest, but five Democrats voted for
repeal and four Republicans against it, in one h