The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-05-02
6cmNqpicafiops.
ALsdy's Experience.
KANSAS, March, q, 1857.

your numerous readers to hear some
thing of Kansas Pioneer who was
among the first to settle on Kansas
soil, and, consequently, has endured
more privations and hardships than
those who came IN at later period.
We left our home and friends about
the first of October. 1854, and after a
long and tedious journey by land,
through mud and mire, across rivers
and rayines, with an occasional thunder
storm; subject to all the difficulties and
trials incidentto such march; through
poorly watered country, we arrived
at this place. l will narrate one or
two incidents which transpired as we
passed through the State of Missouri.
We had little child who was quite
sick and feyerish. and twas with great
difficulty that we could obtain water,
there being nothirg but cisterbs, and
.you all doubtless recollect that this
was an uncommon dry season Our
babe being worse than usual one
my husband geared up his
team and started. hoping soon to come
to some branches, well. or other
means Of getting water. He inquired
for water at every house We passed; but
every barrel and bucket was drained
in getting their own breakfasts, and
they had not time to go to the river.
Some Of them said they had to haul their
water four and five miles, and others a
greater distance. We came to house
at last where they had water, though but
little. My husband tooka tin cup and
went into the house and asked if he
could get little water. The woman
said they had but little, and could not
spare any. Ny husband told her we
had sick child who had been crying
for water, and he must have cup full.
She spoke cross and said they did not
keep water to sell or to give away, and
he could not get any. My husband,
usually very good natured man, and
unused to sIch treatment, was puz-
zled, and stood for moment speech
less; and on casting his eyes around
he saw bucket full of wateron a shelf,
and thinking of his sick child, its
plaintive tones for water, for it could
not talk, Its uplifted hands and parched
lips, he could not think Of returning
without the water. So he walked up
to the bucket and took cut a cup
full, and LETT the house, with its heart
less tenant, praying that he might
never see such another specimen of
humanity. His prayer was not answer
ed as yet, as you shall see. We trav-
eled ON till near sundown, when for
the first time for weeks, yea, for
months. we discovered black cloud
rising. The loud thunder rolled and
the vivid lightning blazed, when we
came in sight of a large house. We
irresolutely uttered an exclamation of
Joy, for l had Just recovered from a
spell OF fever when We left home, and
wss in delicate state of health, and it
made me shudder TO think of staying
out all night in sach a storm as that
threatened to be, with no other pro-
lection than our wagon sheet, which
did not come down to the 6ed by a
foot on either side. So we drove up
before the gate and got out as soon as
we could, and hurried into the house,
expecting of-course reception and con-
graduation on our success In reaching
the house before it rained: But what
was my surprise snd CONSERVATION on
being tod by the landlady (who was
an old lady and a wiow, and who re-
minded me very forcibly of the witch
of Endor, spoken of in the Scrip
sare) bluntly and plainly, that we could
not stay in the house. was so much
overcome that l could not speak, but
my husband plead as none but hus-
band can. He told her of our uncom-
Portable situation, our ehild's illness,
my own feelings and his apprehen-
sions of terrible storm; but strange
to say, she listened with perfect cool
ness and indifference, land the only reply
she gave was, "there is no danger of
its raining; it could not rain if it
would try; it had not rained enough
to wet wagon sheet in six months. :"
But to return to the old LADY, she,
or some Of the family said nobody but
Mormons moved to Kansas. She finally
agreed however. that we might sleep
in the house on the floor, If we would
pay for it; this we gladly did, for the
storm still increased in fury and by
this time our wagon and all its con-
tents were drenched in water. We
arose early in the morning and repaired
to our wagon wnere we prepared q
hasty breakfast by the side of sn old
log, using one end for cooking, the
other for stahle, aud then packed up
and left the scene that was SO painful.
Eonly relate these instances Tor the
information of those who have never
left their houses except In a coach or
in the cars, and who know nothing At
all of the suferings. trials, difficulties
and privations OF the poor pioneer,
and 10 show to the fashionable city
belle who spends her leisure hours in
reading works of fiction, VINO pores
over some fashionable novel. and
weeping over the imaginary trials OF
some pretended heroine, If they would
only turn their attention TO the real
sufferers and spend their time in pro-
noting the happiness and alleyiaiing
the sulferings of their fellow nogtais
they would. he far happier in time and
in eternity.
But to my journey. We Travelled
on through dangers and difficulties till
we reached the Methodist mission near
Lawrence, Rev DR.. a. Std then pro-
prietor. We reached the mission
about II o'clock on the Sabbath and
were welcomed by our friends. W.
tarriSd win them all night, bsf stsSasissSi