Year: 1864

offer; but after long conference i'm
with the good merchant to give
me three year old heifer for my roots,
on certain conditions too tedious to men,
tion. | drove her home, and with joy
she was welcomed to my habitation, and
1t has been my good fortune to have a
cow ever since. Though my faith was
weak, yet being vigilant and persevering,
! obtained the object, and the wilderness
produced me COW.


When l came into Wolcott my farming
tools consisted of one axe and an old hoe


The first year l cleared about two acres,
wholly without any team, and being short
of provision was obliged to work the
chief of the time till harvest with scarce
suficiency to support nature My work
was chiefly by the river. When too faint
to labor, for want of food. I used too
take fish from the river, broil it on the
Goals, and eat it without bread or salt,
and then to my work again. This was
my common practice the first year till
harvest ! could not get single pota-
toe to plant the first season, so scarce was
this article. I then thought if could
but get enough of this valuable produc-
tion to eat l would never complain. l
rarely see this article cooked. but the
thought strikes my mind in fact to this
day have a great veneration for this
precious root planted that which
cleared IN season with corn; and an early
frost ruined the crop, so that4 raised moth
ing the first year; had again to buy my
provision. My seed corn, about 8 quarts,
cost me two and a half yurds of white
ened linen, yard wide, and this | had to
go twenty miles after. Though hishay
be called extortion. it was solitary in
stance of the kind; all we're friendly and
ready to assist. me in known distress, as
far as they had ability. An uncommon
degree of sympathy pcrvaded all the new
settlers, and believe this man heartily
repented the act, for he was by no means
INDECENT, and was many times reminded
of it, by way of reproof.


"My scanty supply of bread-corn made
it necessary to improve the first fruits oi
harvest at Lake Chsmplain, to alleviate
our distress. it being earlier than with us
Accordingly, on the last days of July OF
first of August, | took nay sickle, and SCI


out for the Lake, distance of better thar
forty miles. When | had got there,
found their grain was not ripe enough t
begin upon; but was informed that OF
the Grand Isle they began their harvest
| was determined to 60 on, but had moth
ing to pay my passage. l finally hired ;
man to carry ME over from Georgia 'fol
the small compensation of case and two
lanceS that | happened to have with me


but when had got on to the island
found was still too early. There was NJ
grain ripe here, but found the most for


ward | could, plead my necessity, ant
stayed by the owner till 1 got one and ;
half bushels Of wheat, and worked fol-
him to pay for it; it was quite green ;'l
dried it and set out for home; but my
haste to get back prevented my drying i


sufficiently. | found a boat bounc
| for Mansfield's mills, on the river La


noble, and got my grain on board, ane
and had it brought there free from ex


pense. got it.ground or rather mashed


for it was too damp to make meal


here hired my meal caNjed on to Cam


bridge Borough for my sickle, and ther'
got it ground the second time, but it wal
still far from good meal. From the Bo


rough / was so fortunate as to get it hom'
on horse. was fortnight on this tour
| My wife was fearful some accident hat


happened, and sent man in pursuit o


me, who met me ON my way home.
left my family without bread or meal, ant


was welcomed home with tears; my wifi


baked cake. and my children again tastet


bread. 49,. .sse.h 5as
/ /" | had the good fortune to buy on trust


the winter after lost my corn, Of mai


in Cambridge, twenty four miles from