CHAPTER III.
WHEREIN THE READER IS INTRODUCED TO OFFUT'S STORE AND HIS CLERK ABE, AND THE SCHOLAR JACK KELSO AND HIS CABIN AND HIS DAUGHTER BIM, AND GETS A FIRST LOOK AT LINCOLN.
They had a dinner of prairie thickens and roast venison, flavored with wild grape jelly, and creamed potatoes and cookies and doughnuts and raisin pie.

It was a well cooked dinner, served on white linen, in a clean room, and while they were eating, the sympathetic landlady stood by the table, eager to learn of their travels and to make them feel at home.
The good food and their kindly welcome and the beauty of the rolling, wooded prairies softened the regret which had been growing in their hearts, and which only the children had dared to express.
"Perhaps we haven't made a mistake after all," Sarah whispered when the dinner was over.

"I like these people and the prairies are beautiful." "It is the land of plenty at last," said Samson, as they came out-of-doors.

"It is even better than I thought." "As Douglas Jerrold said of Australia: 'Tickle it with a hoe and it laughs with a harvest,'" said Dr.Allen, who still sat in the shaded dooryard, smoking his pipe.

"I have an extra horse and saddle.