[ WP ] A person with a high school education gets sent back into the 1600s and tries to explain science and technology to the people .

I started with 1600's, but I changed it to 1800's, sorry: / I hope you like the story! Pay attention to the names, especially toward the end: ) This is my first time attempting at a writing prompt in this subreddit, so be nice if I broke any rules or anything! 
 
 
 
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 22 December 1847 – Some distance past Star Valley, Wyoming 
 
 The cold is unbearable. My family and I had been on the trail west for a few months. Unfortunately, we had some difficulty with the wagons and Tulip, one of my oxen, has a bad leg, slowing us down a bit. My wife Lucy ’ s disposition towards me is none the nicer at the moment. The night before last was especially cold, and we were having a great tumult of spirit trying to keep the fire going so my babe wouldn ’ t freeze. The plains have nary a tree ‘ round us, and we haven ’ t decent food provisions anymore. At times I do not think we shall live to see our new home. 
 
 
 
 24 December 1847 – Some great distance south and west 
 
 I do not believe anyone reading this will believe. If I had not experienced what I just have, I would not have believed it either. Lucy and I stopped the wagon yesterday morning to tend to a frostbitten toe of mine. As we were wrapping the bandages, a pale light shone some distance behind us. It appeared as if it were a second sunrise, though not entirely as bright. I struggle to describe its effect for I never had seen such a display in all my years. The light grew brighter and brighter, and there was a terrible noise coming out of it, like the roar of some magnificent beast of the field. The roaring grew louder and the light grew fainter until, to my astonishment and fear, a great machine appeared out of it. It had two lights, attached to the front, yet no fire to fuel them. The machine appeared to be a wagon, yet no oxen or horses to pull it. It moved entirely of its own accord. Its wheels were black and the height of myself up to the hip, with deep grooves, as if to dig into the earth below it. 
 
 The operator of the machine was a young man, no older than 30. He was clean, jovial, and had no coat in the foul cold. He climbed out of the machine and beckoned to my wife and myself. He said his name was Eli and that he was here to help us. He said that our babe needed to be warm to survive the cold. He opened a door in the back of his monstrous metal wagon and told my wife to “ hop in ”. I followed. We sat in the back of the wagon. The heat! It was warm within this strange machine! No fire was lit around us, yet we were warm! I even removed my coat for I had actually become uncomfortably warm in it sitting inside the machine. As my wife and I warmed ourselves and my little babe, we watched as Eli removed what little items we had left in our wagon and placed them in the back of his. I couldn ’ t believe the kindness and wondered why and how he had arrived. 
 
 “ I ’ m from a place you will never see, ” said Eli. He asked me where we were going. I told him Oregon. 
 
 “ No, ” he said. “ I ’ m taking you somewhere better. A place where you will never have to worry for your family ’ s well-being ever again. ” He went on to explain his wagon. He said it was an otto mobeel. It was a carriage that could carry us great distances. 
 
 He fastened a cloth harness to himself and asked us to do the same for safety. In an instant, the brilliant light we saw earlier came again. It shone round about us and encompassed the otto mobeel. Then, suddenly, day turned to night and we were travelling at a speed at which I can not even describe. Light came from tall poles, shining on the smooth surface we rode along. Other otto mobeels were all around us, all of them travelling faster than any horse I ’ d ever seen. Lucy gave a shout in fear. Eli told us that there was nothing to worry about. We travelled all that night, passing by enormous cities with buildings made of metal and stone. We passed them by all night. 
 
 About a day and a half later, we arrived here. I don ’ t know what happened, but as we slept, we arrived. We woke up to the same white light and when we awoke, there was no lights. There was no large cities made of stone. The place Eli said he would leave us at would change our lives forever. I know not by what he meant, but we are very far from where we intended to be. There ’ s woods all around and a creek and a small mill. I introduced myself to the owner, by the name of John Sutter. I figured I needed some work, and since I have experience has a carpenter, I wager my services would be useful. Mr. Sutter asked my name, and I replied James Marshall. He offered me a decent wage to bring supplies and to help with the lumber. I reckon life here at Sutter ’ s mill will be a better life than we had before, yet I still know not why Eli left us here. He did mention during the night as we passed the brilliant lights that wherever he leaves us, to pay attention to what I see in the creeks. I ’ ve decided not to share my experience with Eli and his strange wagon with anyone other than my family. I believe it would be for the best. 

