The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-08
A wns on, West.

We have never seen anything more
exauisitely womanly and captivating than
the following letter, not written for publi-
cation, but coming from wife who accom-
panied her husband to Kansas. The
Portsmouth Tribune, giving it, says that.
on getting TO their place of settlement in
Kansas, they stopped first in log house
where they ''had to hold the bed-elothes
with their teeth TO keep them from blow
ing away" And thus runs the rest OF the
letter:-N T. lniyYor.
81 wish to goodness that could give
you drawing of our house and furniture,
but | can't do the thing justice. The
house is about as large as your kitchen.
The logs are beautifully hewed IN the in
side, (they still retain their natural ap-
pearance on the outside) | have the
greatest quantity Of kindlings by just going
around the t0aAs and pulling them off.
We will have enough to last several years
if we have good luck. We have no win
dow, but something far more convenient,
made by simply moving the shingles to
one side, as they are not nailed; it answers
every purpose. The day we got here,
Mr.. s. made table and cupboard,
and two benches, one has back As our
bedstead has not yet come from the Pidt,;
we make our beds on the floor. We have
two shelves where we put all our pretty
/ things. Three or four bags hanging
around the walls helps the appearance
of them very much. Ny guitar occupies
friendly position near the meal bag. |
have a nice little cooking stove, which
bakes very well. We have no chairs, or
anything that town people, require.
/ | wish you had seen us eat our first
dinner; we had no dishes; Charley ate
of a shingle; Mr. s. took the lid of
the stove! M ate off her bread; | had
big piece of brown paper. We drank
our coffee out of tin cups. D and Mr.
s. have made two of the incest gar
dens you ever saw. They fenced them
all in three days. l helped D. clear
off the garden three days-and | wish
you could sec my hands! But l have
been very happy-it is also nice to work
alone with ones husband. Thursday
did a three weeks washing. D. is
very well and as happy as he can be. He
has a wagon and yoke of oxen, COW and
calf, two turkeys and two dogs-which L
believe is all the live stock we have yet.
We have not seen butter since we left the
boat-it is not fashionable here. D.
is going TO build a house next week--a
frame one, too. How | wish you were
here; l long to see you. The country is
lovely, and we have splendid place.
have two beautiful bouquets | gathered
yesterday when went with D after
wood. | rode in an ox-wagon! 1t has
been so cold lately that we have worn
two dresses. I think the comet does it;
what do You think of it by this time? :?
We have the most go0seberries and rasp-
berries YOU ever saw, all near the house;
besides strawberries all around the door,
and plenty of wild plums."
This picture is so true of our Kansas
women, Kansas homes and pioneer life,
that it is worthy of preservation. Most
women in Kansas have passed through
this experience, and many, much worse.
Ard what is remarkable, you never find
fretful or repining woman amongst lis.
All are cheerful and resolute, ambitious
! and hopeful of peaceful and happy home
in the future See family on claim
living in wagons, or in tents, drenched
with rain by the night showers, the wagon
covers blowed of-tents blown over so as
to require all the men women and chill
dren in the camp to hold them down, and
in the morning laughing over the incident,
and talking of the comforts they will en-
Joy when the cabin is done. Then see
them move into the cabin and "hold the
bed clothes on with their teeth' during
. some of the windy nights, and bless God
they are under a roof when it rains-see
them live on corn bread and molasses,
and thankful for that. See their clothes
wear out, shred by shred, and no surren-
dering to despair. See sickness come and
want, and war, and death; but never a
murmur or whisper of surrender. Many
a prairie flower blooms over the graves of
our hardy pioneers; but those who are
left of the household, remain as cheerful,
hopeful and brave as ever.
The women of Kansas are the Jewels of
the earth.