Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1903-11-20
CHAPTER I.

We were living near the river ir
the edge of the woods which skirteC
the river bank. The prairie coun
try from the house lay Westward
and up and down the river, and
was vast in extent. Our house
was of hewed logs, closely joined
together, and the spaces between
we're filled with limestone mortar
There were two buildings, one story
and a half high, under one roof
and a porch on the West side ol
the buildings. There was a stone
fireplace and chimney for each
building. There were two doors
and probably four windows opening
on the porch, and door towards
the river opening on a short walk
to the small house containing a
loom, where cloth was woven. Near
the river were several corn cribs in
row, and sheds for stock. West
of the house was a large cornfield,
cotton and tobacco patches, and
garden. | have no recollection OF
any orchard, probably because it
had as yet supplied me with no
fruit. Of forest trees, between the
house and the river, l can name
the hickory Of three kinds-black,
shellbark and pig-nut-the last
producing a soft-shelled nut. This
kind grew between the dwelling
house and the corn cribs. Several
large walnut trees grew between
the corn cribs and the river. A
very large burr-dak, also water
oaks, persimmon, slippery elm and
sycamore trees grew along the
margin of the river. OF timber
classed as brush, there were red
bud, sassafras, willow, linebark nd
hazel. | saw red cedar, chinkapin-
oak, paw-paw and pecan trees
growing on the other side of the
river. In the Autumn season we
always gathered several bushels of
walnuts, pecans and hickory nuts.
There was a kind of plum in this
country, which, for sweetness, was
equal to the Petite prune, while its
flavor was superior. When ripe it
was pale yellow, but frosted over
with white, four-like substance.
1t was larger than a Petite prune.
Wild grapes Of good quality were
plentiful; a wild vineyard of the
kind called summer grape grew
along the brow of the hill about a
mile from the house. The ripe
berry was black, nearly as large as
a domestic catawba, and as sweet
and well favored as that grape.
But there was an herb growing
in the woods, the root of which be-
came SO firmly fixed in my memory
that should | live to the age attained
by Moses of old, l would not forget
it. 1t was known as "Injun fizic,"
(Indian physic), the technical
name of the plant being ipecacuan-
ha. Its usefulness as a medicine
was learned from the natives. A
dose of this physic, brewed from
the root, for boy, was tin cup
full. 1t was brought to the patient
steaming hot, and was as black as
coffee. No cream, sugar, salt, or
anything else, was put in the
liquid, lest it might modify its per-
feet nastiness. When the boy saw
the cup, and a Whit from the odors
of Its contents took his breath, he
was siezed with fit of trembling,
more or less violent, and cold sweat
appeared on his forehead; but kind
hands now supported him, and en-
couraging words somewhat restored
him, and it was considered that he
was now prepared for the worst.
Whereupon, he was siezed by the
nose, and when, in gasping for
breath his mouth few open, the
physic was poured down his throat.
The boy not being able to stand
now, was put to bed. 1 have
thought that if Socrates had been
compelled to take a dose of "Injun
izic" instead of the cup of hem
lock, he would have concluded to
take the advice of his friends when
they told him that arrangements
had been made for him to escape