Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...
Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...
Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...
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232 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS<br />
education; <strong>and</strong> wherever he was, whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> virg<strong>in</strong> forest<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g with his h<strong>and</strong>s or by <strong>the</strong> fireside <strong>of</strong> some primitive<br />
dwelHng, his master m<strong>in</strong>d was <strong>the</strong>re accompanied by a genial<br />
wit <strong>and</strong> a warm heart.<br />
Long <strong>and</strong> cold as was <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter <strong>of</strong> 1862, it was not without<br />
<strong>in</strong>cident; some th<strong>in</strong>gs that seemed marvelous to us happened<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> l<strong>one</strong>ly cab<strong>in</strong> called <strong>the</strong> " Shadow." One day Mrs. Stanley<br />
came over to tell me <strong>the</strong> Indians were camped west <strong>of</strong> Pearl<br />
Lake, <strong>and</strong> that she was go<strong>in</strong>g to bake bread <strong>and</strong> take it to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
camp to exchange for venison, <strong>and</strong> if I would like to jo<strong>in</strong> her<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> barter<strong>in</strong>g expedition she would be glad. Much as I<br />
had dreaded <strong>the</strong> annual com<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sioux to rove over<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir old possessions, yet I decided to accompany my neighbor,<br />
<strong>and</strong> soon got to work on <strong>the</strong> biggest bak<strong>in</strong>g I had ever d<strong>one</strong>.<br />
I worked at it all that day <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> night, <strong>and</strong> when I was<br />
through I had a washtub full <strong>of</strong> nice loaves. Mrs. Stanley took<br />
potatoes, rutabagas, <strong>and</strong> bread as her barter, <strong>and</strong> about noon<br />
<strong>one</strong> bright, cold day we started with <strong>our</strong> bobsleds well laden<br />
with <strong>our</strong> wares. Mrs. Stanley was <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>e spirits, <strong>the</strong> horses<br />
were <strong>in</strong> good trim, <strong>and</strong> it was a merry load which set forth.<br />
Though I have spoken <strong>of</strong> but Mrs. Stanley <strong>and</strong> myself <strong>in</strong><br />
this expedition, we really were well accompanied by a bodyguard<br />
consist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>our</strong> husb<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Bro<strong>the</strong>r Wilham <strong>and</strong><br />
Amos. With buffalo robes snugly tucked about us we sped<br />
over <strong>the</strong> snow, mak<strong>in</strong>g due west for <strong>the</strong> bluffs. A turn <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
road brought us <strong>in</strong> full sight <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Indian village. It was laid<br />
out <strong>in</strong> long, straight streets; <strong>the</strong> tepees were ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> heavy<br />
canvas or sk<strong>in</strong>s. This was a very large encampment; when we<br />
were <strong>in</strong> sight <strong>and</strong> smell <strong>of</strong> it, <strong>the</strong> horses threw up <strong>the</strong>ir heads,<br />
showed <strong>the</strong> whites <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir eyes, <strong>and</strong> gave loud snorts, so that<br />
Mr. Stanley had to pull hard on <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>es. After a time <strong>the</strong>y<br />
became more quiet, although <strong>the</strong>y cont<strong>in</strong>ued to stamp, toss<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir heads, <strong>and</strong> stra<strong>in</strong> at <strong>the</strong> bits. Mrs. Stanley was <strong>the</strong> first<br />
<strong>one</strong> out; what a woman she was for those far-away days —<br />
an ideal wife for a frontier huntsman! She was <strong>of</strong> Irish de-<br />
scent, with pretty Irish blue eyes, a few freckles, regular features,<br />
<strong>and</strong> animation written all over her small, compact figure; she
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