sun sinks, still shedding its lingering beams upon earth and sky. We made our descent into the river's bed rapidly, for the bank is steep, and from a clear, gushing spring in the shadow of the trees overhanging the bank, quenched our thirst. A heavily-loaded wagon having reached the top of the opposite bank, and the horses proving refractory, has slid backwards into the river. It was no pleasant sight to us. However, we reached the top safely; and there were still six miles between us and our destination, our new home in fair Kansas. We drove on as swiftly as stumps in every direction in the wood would allow; the trees, which stood most nearly in the road, being cut down, leaving a foot or more of the base, which required a good deal of expertness to avoid. After I had come so near running over a tree, that the gallant steed bearing us had reason to discover which was the harder of the two, his head or the tree, the doctor took the ribbons, and guided us onward through the gathering shadows. We saw the lights from the dwellings in Franklin, as we passed. Another hour, and we were home; yes, home, after a journey of near two thousand miles, and five weeks among strangers, sometimes pinched with cold, and sometimes suffocated with heat, crowded into dusty cars, and jostled at every turn; tired, sick children, and worn out, impatient mothers everywhere. Give us fresh, pure air, cold water plenty, a shelter from the sun and rain, and we will call it home, and soon gather around us home comforts and home joys enough to verify the truth, that the purest joys left of Eden are found under the home roof. CHAPTER IV. LAWRENCE. LAST evening we saw a light, which my husband said must be from our house, while we were three or four miles distance. On arriving, we found our trunks, furniture and bedding, had been carried to it. Although the first work done upon the house was upon the Friday before, after taking supper down street, we preferred going to it to stopping elsewhere. One room was clapboarded within a foot of the chamber-floor, loose boards were laid over the joists above to keep out the rains or falling dews. The windows were also similarly protected upon each side, while at the front the glass was set. There were mattresses laid upon the floor and upon the lounge, while upon the table a candle was burning, supported by a candlestick of entirely new invention, being a little block, perhaps three or four inches square, with four nails driven in to support the candle. A broom had also been provided, and a brimming pail of cold water. Blessings on him who was thus thoughtful of our comfort! By nailing a buffalo-robe at the doorway, and arranging some articles of bedding upon chairs, out of one room we made two for the night. Sleep was never sweeter or more refreshing than last night, after a long drive, with the thermometer standing at one hundred degrees. Was awakened early ears morning by a noise around the house, and, looking through a crack in the temporary partition, saw a cow very demurely examining the Premises, having stationed herself in the quarter which will soon be dignified with the name of dining-room. My anxiety was considerably relieved, as my thought on awaking was, that we were visited by the same housedestroyers as a few days previous. When we came to look out upon Lawrence and the surrounding country, as we had nearly run through the vocabulary finding words to express our rapture at the ever-changing beauty of every part of our route, and as this view from our window, and from the hill beyond us, was the master-piece, silence expressed most truly our feelings, stirred as they were by a divine hand. The house fronts the east, and is situated upon an elevation commanding a prospect unequalled for extent, or variety of loveliness, for miles in all directions. Half a mile to the north sits Lawrence, a little hamlet upon the prairie, whose fame has even now crossed the continent, awakening hopes and fears, in the hearts of many, for friends who for six months have battled with pioneer life. Malignity and hatred have been aroused in the souls of others, who see in this little gathering of dwellings of wood, thatch, and mud hovels, the promise of a new state, glorious in its future. The town reaches to the river, whose further shore is skirted with a line of beautiful timber, while beyond all rises the Delaware lands, which in the distance have all the appearance of cultivated fields and orchards, and form a back-ground to the picture of singular loveliness. To the eastward the prairie stretches away eight or ten miles, and we can scarcely help believing that the ocean lies beyond the low range of hills meeting the horizon. The line of travel from the east, or from Kansas city, passes into the territory by this way. Blue Mound rises in the south-east, and, with the shadows resting over it, looks green and velvety. A line of timber between us and Blue Mound marks the course of the Wakarusa, while beyond the eye rests upon a country diversified in surface, sloping hills, finely rolling prairies, and timbered creeks. A half mile to the south of us, Mount Oread, upon which our house stands, becomes yet more elevated, and over the top of it passes the great California road. West of us also is a high hill, a half mile in the distance, with a beautiful valley lying between, while to the north-west there is the most delightful mingling together of hill, valley, prairie, woodland and river. As far as the eye rests, we see the humble dwellings of the pioneer, with other improvements. 19th. A dark, dull day; almost raining. We sit with cloaks and bonnet on to keep warm, and sew a little. Have some calls. We walk to the door occasionally, — which will, when hung, open into the other room, forgetting it will not open at one's bidding now. It is cramped up to stay in one room always, though, as I hoped before leaving Massachusetts, we "have out-of-doors a plenty." Doctor brings from town our dinner, to save our going down. It consists of slices of cold ham, cookies and doughnuts. We laugh at him because he brought no bread, which is worth more than all. 20th. A slight rain to-day. The flowers are springing all over the hill-side; purple and straw-color being the prevailing colors. A little lilac-colored flower, of fern-leaf variety, fragile and beautiful, grows under every step, and yellow flowers, resembling lupine, are everywhere. The hammering, the continual pounding of a dozen workmen is confusing, and we walk out upon the brow of the hill for quiet and rest. How lovely nature has made this Kansas valley, and yet it seems as if, from a full lap of treasured gems, she had poured out the fairest here! More ham and cake to-day, no bread. Our merriment over it will aid digestion, even though it be cake and ham. 21st. The floor in the dining-room is laid. The windows are in. The door between the rooms is taken away, and the stove is set, with the pipe out of the window, after the true pioneer fashion. The stove, however, will put one's ingenuity to work in using, it being second-hand. Having been used six months in a boarding-house, not the most carefully, the furniture is minus; and what there is, is of unknown use to me. There is one large iron boiler, which would cover the whole front of the stove, one broken gridiron, one large dripping-pan, two tin boilers holding six or eight quarts, one of which, near the top, has a nose - the other, close to the bottom, has a spout. The furniture, which is the minus quantity, are iron kettles, tea-kettle, spider, shovel and tongs. However, we get supper, stew apples, - brought from Massachusetts, - and have biscuits without butter. It is a real Graham supper, with cold water. Provisions are scarce. 22d. The old Westminster catechism allows works of neces sity and mercy to be done on the Sabbath day, and we baked some pies; but had breakfast of simple griddle cakes with syrup, made of sugar and water. Even the shade of Sylvester Graham might have looked on approvingly. We are in danger of no intermittents from clogged liver at present. So far, so good. We read and write all day. Just at evening walked on the hill above, near the first camping-ground. A gentleman and lady from Massachusetts came in. They live not very far from us. The lady, with a large family of boarders, seventeen in all, in one little room, seemed disheartened. They had had some sickness, too. They feel the change from comforts to privations. The slit-work for the stairway is set, and we are anticipating the time when we can get into the second story. How our friends in the East would pity us, did they know just how we live; but I dare say there is not one in a hundred of them who enjoys the half we do. We are deprived of no comforts, that is, of anything essential to our happiness; for, coming to the real root of the matter, every one will find that the externals have but little to do with a person's real enjoyment. We have the pure, fresh air, in abundance; we have fine, even spirits, and we feel that to live, to breathe in such a country, is a joy, especially on a day like this. "Under the hill where the sun shines dimmer, Shrunk from the eager beam, The work goes on with a fitful glimmer, And music for a dream. "Over the groves and moistened meadows The steady gray hawks wing, And down below in the shifting shadows A gentleman from Philadelphia, of most polished manners and brilliant address, is here to-night. 24th. - Doctor returned last night, after we had retired to rest. The town was full, and his friend returned with him. Doctor made a bed, that is, laid down a buffalo robe on the floor, and, putting another at the door, formed a sleeping apartment of the kitchen and dining-room, pro tem. He was missing before we awakened in the morning. |