The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1908-09-17

the early settlers look out on the
hustle and rush of modern life with
which they compare the times when
there was no choice but to live near
80 natures heart
With memories that cling fondly
TO the past they tell events of seventy
five years ago as if they had happen
ed but yesterday, and are never hap
pier than when relating scenes and
incidents of those early days of peril
and of plenty
One such narrator is little blue
eyed woman, who wears her thin,
grey hair brushed smooth as silver
satin across her brow, and whose
hands are wrinkled and brown like
delicate parchment.
I'VE left old Missouri" she will be
gin, away blackwell, away back, for
] was not yet four years old. And
then she will give "reminiscences OF
pioneer life in eastern Arkansas.
OFF to the WiIds of Arkansas.
1t was an exciting time for the wife
and ten children of James Holman
when they were at last ready to leave
the wilds of Missouri for those of the
yet wilder country lying to the south,
known as the Territory of Arkansas.
James Holman was a man of daring
and adventure, who had gone to Mis-
souri, from New York Missouri was
good, but for him he believed the
farther, wilder country would be bet
ter, and so they came. No interest
in a railroad jaunt across the CONT
hent or voyage across the sea ever
Exceeded in interest the preparations
for this Journey There was the big
wagon-the prairie schooner-shaped
like canoe and large enough to mold
much of the household furniture.
With it's bucket swinging under
heath and the tool-boX containing
ak, saw, hammer, knives. etc, 1ast-
ened to it's side, it made familiar
picture, and one never to be forgotten
by the children. In addition to this
large wagon, which was drawn by
four horses, there were two other
wagons and a covered hack for the
mother ana tne Suldilel Shllul 0H'
In the big wagon there was wal
nut cradle, which was always I'M
loaded and Immediately reloaded
with a fat and active baby. 1t was
the task of the four-year-old chhd
to rock this cradle. Sometimes as
she rocked her little charge she
caught sight of a bear looking toward
Camp from a distance, and long
wav off in the woods the scream or a
panther was heard. But the little
girl was never afraid Faithful hounds
and a burning fire kept wild animals
away, and if they had ventured near
she would not have feared, FOR her
father was famous shot and IN MS
trusted gun and steady nerve she mad
every confidence.
After a safe trip covering many
weeks, James Holman reached ms
destination in the southeastern por-
ton of Arkansas Territory and pre-
pared to build his new house on the
banks Of Little River.
1t was no Queen Anne cottage OF
Colonial mansion that James Holman
took his family into. The cottage ol
pioneer days was of rough logs with
one big room down stairs and lolt
overhead. 1t had a wide stick-and-
CLAW chimney on one end, ana d
heavy door. This Colonial mansion
was built of hewn logs. 1t had TWO
down-stair rooms with a hall be-
tween. and front porch. This sort OF
a home for a pioneer represented the
acme of palatial home building ana
marked the owner as man OF atf1d-
ence.
James Holman's was simple CABIN
but it was home. The gun was hung
on the wall, the spinning-Wheel was
taken from the big wagon, the iron
pots and kettles were unpacked ana
the family meal was' cooked on the
hig fire in the broad stone fireplace,
= after which the children scrambled
to bed in the loft, safe from the
wolves which howled across the river
and the curious bears that came nos
ing around the door.
Farms Without Fences or implements.
James Holman's farm land lay
across the river from his home, down
on the river shore where the soil was