The Sagers Go West, part 6

Now that Naomi Sager was far too weak and ill to nurse baby Rosanna, Doctor Dagon had only one solution for providing nourishment to the infant: Going from wagon to wagon occupied by women who had their own babies, he begged them to give a little of their own precious milk for the Sager baby. There were many willing donors and soon the baby was being passed from one wagon to the next. The Sager family now seldom saw the youngest member of their family but at least she was being fed.

The Sagers' wagon neighbors helped in other ways as well. Every morning and evening one of them came to wash Naomi's face and hands. Often they brought food for the family. When no one offered anything they ate jerky and mush that the doctor or the boys cooked. Naomi Sager could eat nothing.

Then one day Naomi weakly asked Elizabeth to bring the rest of her children to the wagon. Naomi asked the boys to promise to always look after their younger sisters. Tearfully they agreed.

Little time passed before, at a place along the trail called Pilgrim Springs, the doctor and the two Sager boys dug a grave for Naomi. There were no trees to provide wood for a proper coffin so they laid willow brush in the bottom of the grave. Naomi's body was wrapped in a sheet then lowered into the grave. After the grave was covered over John cut a piece of board and on it he carved:

Naomi Carney Sager, age 37.

They had buried their father Henry Sager, age thirty-eight, only twenty-six days previously.

That night there was some speculation as to whether it would be advisable to divide the Sager children up among other members of the wagon train. But Captain Shaw stood firm against it, stating that he'd promised Henry Sager that he would look out for his family and see them through to the Whitman Mission.

As travel continued, baby Rosanna continued to be fed by various women in the train. The day arrived when Doctor Dagon removed the splints from Catherine's broken leg. Though thin, the leg had healed straight and she could hobble around with the use of a crutch.

The days passed and seemed a little brighter, though the Sager children still could not bear to mention their parents. But now a drastic decision had to be made because the oxen belonging to the Sagers were becoming weak. One of them had all ready died. And the treacherous Blue Mountains would soon be reached, and had to be crossed.

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