The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-01-14
T}3E oRaAM o. TaE TEMPERAMeE

'Tbe horses were ungeared, aud "hobbled
but' onthis Grange, ;" by fastening strap or
biece Of hickory bark 70 the fore legs Of the
lnimals, so they could step but few inches
II a time. The cows we're MIXED, and with
be calves and swine, left TO gather their own
BIDDER for they would not stray from the
tagon. A fire had been kindled against
Allen tree; water was heating IN the coffee
lot, TO prepare that Indispensable beverage to
frontier family one Of the girls was wettlng
ID corn meal for "dodgers;" the old woman
'9as smoking e dirt! Pife, sld the yvIng %Iie
vas nursing and petting her youngest child,
aho had been annoyed BY the dust, heat, and
ltepc Of travel. The father aud one Of his
rger sons were erecting forks, on which
were laid and blankets spread, as a shell
ttg lor the night While these preparations
were going on, the company were startled by
the sharp crack Of rifle, not hundred yards
from the eneampment. Looking around to
see who we're missing from the company, the
old man sang out
where's Jim2"
"Gone a hunting was the response Of one
Of the girls. 81 seed him take Bet (his Tltle)
soon aswe camp d, and start up the creek"
Il say" exclaimed the old lady, "that ar
boy viii run hisself to death a hunting"
eNever fear, Patsey, | shouldn't mind If
Jim got another deer,
And sure enough, Jim came running. half
ont Of breath, ezclaiming at the top Of his
voice
"Dad, / say dad, send Joe to helpm me. I've
got the confoundedest, biggest sort OF deer
up the creek yonder, He's all over chunk OF
'Have you marked him2"
"Yes, right through the body, and cut his
throat, too.
Jim's bloody hands and clothes were proof
direct. Off ran not only Joe, but old folks,
young folks, children aud dogs, leaving the
supper to cook itself. In about twenty min
utes they all returned with fine, fat, young
&nck--a ball hole near the heart, and the
throa. cut. "Jim, as he family had called
him, had taken to the trade Of hunting since
they left the borders Of White River, in In
diana; aud this was the third piece Of venison
he had brought to camp. He was slouching,
slender looking fellow, who had just entered
his sixteenth year. His garments hung about
| him as though he had caught them flying, but
| he bid fair to be the Nimrod OF the family.
Il say, old man, hurry up now, aud get that
skin off, or you don't have bit OF that ar
venison for supper"
"Well, now, Patsey, don't fret, daylight
is hardly gone yet"
To skin and dress deer in such a company
was the work of a moment and in less time than
| it has taken to record a single sentence OF this
veritable history, thE steaks were simmering in
the skillet.
Night had spread her heavy cloak over the
| forest, and the stars twinkled through the
opening in the foliage, before the supper was
! prepared. The fire blazed up and threw its
! fitful glare over the surrounding scenery.
Each Cf the party had performed the neces
sary ablutions in the brook. The old lady
was pottering about sort Of iron ladle, con-
| tanning a strip of cotton and melted grease
/ for lamp, which, when hung to limb,
threw flicking light on the party. A coarse
cloth was spread on the grass, on which were
several platters loaded with refreshments, of
which the venson formed no small part
Around this sat the family group on the
ground-all but the gran" -children--whe,
after the fatigue Of the day, had fallen asleep,
from which neither threats nor promises OF
Jim venison, could arouse them. In justice
to their kind mother, we testify each had re-
ceived a cup OF fresh milk from the cows, aud
piece Of cold corn dodger.' The patriarch
aad his wife, Patsey-' AXE" as he was
called, and his wife, Peggy, Jim and Joe,
Kate and Polly did ampleJUstice to the coffee,
warm dodgers and veusOn steaks. jim, in
/ his own estimation, and that Of his mother,
was about the biggest of the group.
This family had sold their farm in Indiana,
and was on their way to the b" Black Hawk
Purchase" Not one had ever been in this
direction before. They had heard of new
country beyond the Mississippi, and the spirit
Of enterprise and restlessness impelled them
to move. Very probably some Of this family
are now in Oregon, for the first families who
migrated to that point in the Far West went
out of Iowa.