Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-01-20
VOL. VINO. -.

ding the tops Of the forrest-trees. and she'd
ding their mellow tiats on the floating clouds
large road wagon, covered with coarse Nv hite
cloth, with four horses, was seen entering the
forest from the border of a large prairie, and
proceeding slowly down the descent towards
a small stream.
An elderly man with several Youngsters
Of both sexes were marching on foot, and
driving the cows and swine lazily along. A
large sun-buTnt man. with his clothing soiled
and torn, was driving the team. lie sat as
tride the hindmost horse on the left side, and
guided the others BY rope in one hand,
while with the other he cracked his heavy
whip to stimulate their efforts. The old man
who appeared TO be about fifty, carried his RI
iie IN sloping position on his shoulder, while
two stout lads each had the same deadly wea-
pons. Their hunting gear was on. aud each
carried a large hunting knife in his belt
PeeTlng out from under the wagon cover could
be seen the swarthy, wrinkled face Of the ma
tron with younger female. who might be Ia
ken for the "helpmate'' Of the driver especi-
ally as three whlte-headed, dingy-lookinr
children, with soded faces and black eyes,
were too young TO claim consanguinily to the
elderly female, unless IN the line Of the second
generation.
The weather for several days had been dry.
and the roads dusty, and had We come on this
family comfortably settled in a frontier log
cabin, they might have been pattern for It'd
mess and thrift; but they were moving 10 a
new country, and we describe them as their
appearance was, which was far from prepos-
seSsing. Yet we have seen hundreds of fam
lies at their homes, on our frontiers, who
were social, intelligent. ceanly and hospila-
bic, and whose leg-cdbins would have done
credit to Jersey housewife.
On the bank of a creek that meandered
through the strip of forest land, the wagon
stopped, and the party made prepar 4tions to
''camp OUT for the night
On the bottom land. along the creek. pea
vines and rich grass furnished rich pasturage
The horses were ungeared. and, ''hobbled
OUT on this range by fastening strap
or piece Of hickory bark TO the f0Felegs of the
animals, so they could step but few inches
at time. The cows were milked, and " ith
the calves and swine, left 10 gather their own
fodder, for they would not stray from the
wagon. A fire had been kindled against
fallen tree water was heating in the coffee
pot TO prepare that indispensable beverage to
a frontier family; one of the girls was wet
ting uP corn-meal for dodgers; = the old
woman was smoking dirty pipe, and the
young wife was nursing and pettiug her Young
est child, who had been annoyed by the dust
heat and fatigue Of travel The father and
one of his younger sons were erecting forks on
which poles were laid and blankets spread
as a shelter for the night. While these prepa-
ratiOns were going on, the company were
startled by the sharp crack of a rifle, not a
hundred yards from the encampment. Look
ing around to see who were missing from the
company, the old man sang out
"Where's Jim -
''Gone a hunting" was the response Of
one ofthe girls. II seed him take Bet (his
rihe)soon as we camped, and start up the
creek"
I say exclaimed the old lady, ''that ar
boy will run himself to death "a hunting"
"Never fear. Patsey, | shouldn't mind if
Jim's gotanother deer"
And sure enough, Jim came running. halt
out of breath. exclaimed at top of his voice
dad, say dad. send Joe to help me-
I've got the coafouudest, biggest sort of
deer up the creek yonder. He's all over
chunk Of fat
"Have YOU marked him -
YES; right through the body, and cut his
throat, too
Jim's bloody hands and clothes were proof
direct. Oh ran not only Joe, but old folks.
young folks. children and dogs, leaving the
supper to cook itself. In about twenty minu-
ties they all returned with a fine, fat young
buck-a ball hole near the heart and the
throat cut. "Jlm" as the family called him.
had taken to the trade Of hunting since they
left the borders of white River, in Indiana
and this was the third piece of venisun he
had brought to camp. He was a sloughing
slender-looking fellow, who had Just entered
his sixteenth year. His garments hung about
him as though he had caught them flying.
bat he bid fair to be the Njmrod Of the fami-
Iy.
Il say, old man, hurry up now, and get
that skin of. or you don't have bit Of thai
ar venison for supper-"
swell, now. Patsey, don't fret, daylight
is hardly gone yet"
To skin and dress a deer in such a company
was the work Of moment, and, in less time
than il has taken to record single sentence of
this vertahie history, the steaks were sim
meriug in the skillet.
irht had spread her heavy cloak over the
forest. and the stars twinked through the o.
pening in the foliage, before the supper was
prepared The Ere blazing up threw It's itful
glare over the surrounding scenery. Each ofthe
party had performed the necessary abiutions
in the brook. The old lady was pottering a.
bout sort of iron ladle, containing strip Of
cotton and melted grease for a lamp which.
when hung 10 limb, threw iic,ering light
on the party. A coarse cloth was spread on
the grass, on which were several platters
loaded with refreshments, of which the ven
sion formed no small part. Around this sat
the family groupe on the ground all hut the
grandchldren-who. after the fatigue os the
day. had fallen asleep, from which neither
threats nor promises of"JiEi's vension," :" could
arouse them. In Justice u their kind mother
We testify each had received a cup Of fresh
milk from the cows, and piece Of cold corn
''dodger I he patriarch and his wife, Pat
sey-"Jake," as he was called, and his wife
Peggy, Jim and Joe, Kate and Polly. did
ample Justice 10 the coffee. warm dodgers, and
vension stea5. .'jin +" IN his own estimation,
and that of his mother, was about the ''big-
gest'' of the group.
This ftmily had sold their farm ia Indiana
and were on their way to the "BlacS Hawk
Purchase Not one had ever been IN this
direction before. They had heard of new
country beyond the Mississippi, and the spir-
il Of enterprise ard restiesness impelled them
to move. Very probably some Of this family
are now in Oregon, for the families who en-
grated to tha. point In the "Far West,' went
out of Iowa
ACprs or popE-A corresDoudenf If