Volume 3, Number 11 - Spring 1970
The River
by John Gerten
No chicken for the boys.
In the spring of 1889 three boys tramped through the woods on their way to see "White River." The boys were Nick Starch, Charlie Mathers, and Henry Gerten. Nick and Charlie came from the hometown of the Gertens, Fulton, Illinois. They had stayed with the Anton Muller family since fall helping clear land and build. They would now soon be leaving for home and wanted to see White River before they left.
The boys started out in the afternoon following the course of the branch that some folks called Wolf Creek. They knew that by following it they would sooner or later reach the river.
The day had been warm and the going rough. It was now near midday judging by the height of the sun. The creek widened and was joined by a larger creek, "Cedar Creek." After a short distance the boys suddenly came to a road. A short piece ahead along the road side sat two individuals enjoying a mid-day lunch.
Judging by the bones, they had just finished with fried chicken and were now eating their pie. This made the boys suddenly aware of their own hunger and their mistake in not bringing along something to eat.
They hoped the river was not too far away and that the road might lead to it. Nick acted as spokesman. Henry and Charlie were too absorbed in watching the pie disappear. Nick addressed one of the men who appeared to be Irish.
"Mister, can you tell us where does this road run to?"
The man paused long enough in his eating to reply, "Well, sir, I've bee around here goin' on forty years and I niver seen this road run yit."
Pondering on this enlightening piece of information the three boy continued on their way.
The man from Erin who had so generously shared his forty years of observation with them, if not his pie, kept on with his eating. The boys soon came to a turn in the road and there lay the river ahead.
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