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 house, and in the other, three Republicans voted against and every Democrat for the repeal.  Governor Campbell, a Republican, vetoed this repeal bill and woman suffrage still stands, as a Territorial legislature can not pass a bill over the governor’s veto....  Here we are at noon, stuck in a snowdrift five miles west of Sherman, on a steep grade, with one hundred men shovelling in front of us.  Dined, Mr. Sargent officiating, on roast turkey, jelly, bread and butter, spice cake and excellent tea.  At dark, wind and snow blowing terrifically, but a bright sky.

January 2.—­Still stationary.  The railroad company has supplied the passengers with dried fish and crackers.  Mrs. Sargent and I have made tea and carried it throughout the train to the nursing mothers.  It is the best we can do.  Five days out from Ogden!  This is indeed a fearful ordeal, fastened here in a snowbank, midway of the continent at the top of the Rocky mountains.  They are melting snow for the boilers and for drinking water.  A train loaded with coal is behind us, so there is no danger of our suffering from cold.  Mr. Sargent, Mr. Mitchell and Major Elliott walked to Sherman and an old man drove them back at dusk with two ponies.