Dan Valentine's-Spirit of the West
by Cindi Sutter, Founder & Editor Spirited Table® - A Salute to the Valiant Men and Women Who Tamed the Frontier - American Essays No. 4
When you look at our country today, I wonder what happened to the innocence, honesty, compassion, conquering spirit of the real trail-blazing pioneers that came before us to the United States of America?
Today I found a great treasure hidden under some books on my desk. The Pioneers…by Dan Valentine was first written in 1959. Here’s a small window into what these pioneers expected and conquered. Today kicks off the first of many posts about these people who against all odds, never gave up!
The Pioneers…
“They came with hope in their hearts…a dream in their eyes…and a prayer on their lips. The pioneers.
Over the next hill—tomorrow!
Across the next river — home!
Every dusty step, every turn of the wheel, around each bend of the prairie…that much nearer to the goal.
The pioneers—hard-eyed, practical dreamers…
The pioneers— lean men, strong women…probing across untamed plains to make room for the future.
No little people, these…No whiners, no complainers…no weak of will, no faint of heart.
The pioneers…
They came for many reasons.
Some heard the cry of gold. For others, there was the promise of peaceful valleys.
Some came to find the freedom to worship their own God in their own way…
For many, it was the last chance to begin again…
These were the grass-roots people of the land. They carried a heritage in their hearts every rugged mile of the pioneer trail.
The heritage of Plymouth Rock…and Lexington…and Valley Forge…and the Star-Spangled Banner…
The pioneers…
Swedes…Scots…Irish…English…Danes…and Germans…
All the bloodlines of a new nation just beginning to breathe…
They lived on roots and wild game…and raw courage…and confidence and hope.
The defeated turned back with the wave of a sad hand. The strong pushed westward, too proud to quit.
They had an appointment with destiny—just over the next mountain range.
The pioneers…adventurous, inventive, curious, fearless.
Danger was their companion, fear their foe.
They pushed the frontier back foot by foot, dusty step by dusty step.
They buried their dead along the way…and pushed on. Home was always over the next hill.
Faces marred with sweat and blood and dust and tears, they cleared the plains for the coming of the railroads, they opened the mountains for mammoth mines and giant cattle empires. They planted the roots for the great Western cities of the American plains.
The pioneers…they knew the excitement of the new. They had the courage to leave behind the old.
Today, the West stands as a great memorial to the men and the women of a century ago who dared to take the big chance.
But their day has not gone…
Whether they walk the Western plains…or sail uncharted seas…or soar across the mystery of space, always there will be the pioneers.
Every man probes his own unknown frontier…in search for a better tomorrow.
