Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-08-20
From the Cultivator.
The First Trip to sMtIl.
Emigrant's faniIy out Of provisions.
A LOG CABIN SCENE.

ASWt Ss"fH Ju"tSJ ""' ~ PVOeo'o's''
LOG CABIN SCENE.
The month of November around the
head Of Lake Of Michigan, (which is in lat
itude Al, 49, is usually a mild, pleasant
month.-Such was the month that follow
ed the first night on the prairie. This was
indeed propitious to the newly arrived en-
igrants, for there was much to do to pre-
pare for the expected rigors of an approach.
ing northern winter.
There was neither hay nor grain within
many a long mile, for man or beast, and TO
one accustomed to look upon the gloomy
side of the prospect of making new set
element under such circumstances would
iiave looked gloomy enough. But an en-
igrant to the West should not be one of
that cast of temper. He should be able to
look beyond the many discouraging cir
cumstances attending the beginning of this
new mode of life, to bright the prospect of
the future. There was but one fleeing
moment of gloom resting with me during
the FIRST winter. The first month had been
spent in the numerous duties of prepara-
ton for winter, and the beautiful sunny
days of November had given place to cold
and snowy December, when'itbecame APP
: parent that the little magazine of provisions
must be replenished, and that right speed-
lily. And although ..delays are dangers
ous,' yet waiting better weather. delay
was made 10 that point, that upon calcutta
ton proved tho stock on hand barely suf-
ilcient to supply the five or six days that
it would take to make the journey where
supply could be obtained. and return
again while there was yet little left. So
trustworthy and pcrsevering messenger
was despatched, with due. though little
needed caution, 10 hasten his return. The
weather again was mild and pleasant, and
our spirits all buoyant and bright as the
winter sunshine, as the cheerful cheering
notes of the departing Transfers joyous
morning song hoated away upon the breeze
that swept unobsiracted over miles of prai-
RE, now tlackened by the annual fires, to
a sombre hue, and cherries winter aspect.
Never were such appetites seen before,
as those which daily diminished the fast
failing stock Of provisions of our little fam
ily in the wilderness. Before them kept
u cheerful face, but oh, how my heart sunk
within me on the evening of the fifth day,
as descended tall tree which had
climbed to try to discover the expected
team. For | easily perceived that the
weather had been such as 10, ice over the
unbridged streams, though l feared not
sufficient to pass over wagon. On this
evening, too, was still further panied by
the arrival of some hungry wanderers. to
whom Hospitality could not be denied.
On the sixth day, the only neighbor
within dozen miles came to borrov It,
tile meal! He looked upon the bottom Of
the empty barrel and turned homeward
with his empty bag. The knife had scra-
ped the last bone for breakfast, and the
next resource was small bag of wheat
(an, which made very palatable batter
\pt beter) cakes, though they would have
IN better, but that the lard was gone,
butter was in those days among the
l,own things. Bran cakes and cram
ferries, sweetened with honey, then were
sweet diet. Although the owner Of a gun
\ tina, rarely failed to perform good service.
Y seemed that every living thing in the
Rpe of game had hid up in winter quar-
Ills true that | suffered degree
kvousness, that might have rendered
80. Ind too unsteady to endanger the life
me if i. had come in the way not
+. .heard one word ofrepining or fear,
hat there was any immediate fear Of
i al starvation yet the thought was cot
III easant one. 10 think that had brought
Fife and children into wilderness to
Fer, even through fear of want.
On Ne sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth
lys. anxious eyes scanned the prairie by
hy, and tended beacon fires by night. for
his pfecaulion was nscessary, as there was
tothing TO guide the expected teams,er
home, should he undertake tho perilous
passage Of the prairie just at night-fall. 1t
was about midnight Of the last day, and