The Nevada County picayune., 1908-09-10

year From the re -P lrement of quiet - quiet homes q few of the early settlers look out on the hustle and rush of modern life with which they compare the times when ihere was no choice but to live near to natures heart.
 With memories that cling fondly 50 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 carly days of peril and of plenty
 One such narrator is q 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.
 We 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.
 Ott 10 inc WIGS or SFkdnSdS
 It 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 10 the south, known as the Territory of Arkansas. James Holman was man of daring and adventure who had gone to Nils 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 contl- 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 hold much of the household furniture. With it's tarbucket swinging under meath and the tool-boX containing ax. saw, hammer, knives, etc. fast 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 covered hack for the mother and the smaller children.
 In the big wagon there was wal nut cradle. which was always m loaded and immediately reloaded with fat and active baby. II was inc task of the four-year-old child to rock this cradle. Sometimes as she rocked her little charge she caught sight of bear looking toward camp from distance, and long way off in the woods the scream of d panther was heard. But the httle girl was never afraid Faithful hounds and burning fire kept wild animals away. aud if they had Nentur"d near she would not have feared, for her fafher was a famous shot and i'll hs trusted gun and steady nerve she had every confidence.
 After a safe trip covering many weeks. James Holman reached las destination in the southeastern DOT sion of Arkansas Territory and pr" nared ,o build his new house on tho banks of Little River.
 II was no Queen Anne cottage "i colonial mansion that James Holman ,ook his family into. The cottage oi Dioueer days was of rough logs Wi't one big room down stairs ana iot' overhead. It had a wide S'l'k-ahd .-lay chimney on one end. ana heavy door This Colonial mansion was built of hewn logs. II had two down-stair rooms with hail be tween. and front porch, This sort 2i 4 home for pioneer represented tn acme of palatial home building ant marked the owner as man or aiiid euce.
 James Holman's was simple cabin but it was home The gun was hung on the wall. the spinning-wheel wa' taken from the big wagon. the iroi pots and kettles were unpacked an' the family meal was cooked on the big fire in the broad stone hreplac" after which the children scrambled to bed in the loft, safe from th' wolves which howled across the rlNel 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, dowr on the river shore where the soil was