June 1871
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 2, 1871
We have a table now, Jake said we should have the one up at the N house. I believe he made it. He was down for dinner, and took J. R. back with him.
Supper is ready. I was to the garden. It is so far away, and someplaces I wade through grass almost up to my shoulders.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 4, 1871
This has been an unusually long day—and I feel depressed. A shower is coming, hope it will cool the air.
The heavy rains raised the river, and a heard of cattle in crossing, stampeeded, and 15 or 20 were drownded. Every week thousands of Texas cattle are driven north over the trail. If the cattle stampede, and dont want to cross the river, the hearders yell and fire off their revolvers.
Sometimes we hear them here, and it sounds—as I suppose a battle does. It is the cattle that keep the trail worn so smooth. Their droppings are called “cow chips,” and when dry, are burned by those who have no wood.
Before Mrs. N left, two skunks fought on her door step— then ran to the spring, and scented that, that they could not use the water. Mrs. Lucky carried a revolver at her side, but when a skunk scared her she forgot to use it. I have not seen her since Mrs. N moved. I think she moved too.
It is windy, and the cotton wood seed is flying each with a bit of cotton, making it look like a snowstorm. Here come the boys and the rain too.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 6, 1871
Baked to day. A family of Springles live not far from Lanes. They are from Virginia. Their son is home part of the time, and goes hunting with the boys. Some time ago, he gave me three arrows he had taken from a buffalo he had shot. The Indians had shot the arrows, but none went deep, and the buffalo got away from them, and was killed later by Mr. S Philip says you cannot kill a buffalo—unless he is shot in the eye—or back of the shoulder, and hits the heart.
Philip put a couple of sticks or canes at the door, and charged me never, never to leave the house with out one. There are some snakes around— one passed the door this a. m. and ran into the brush, before I had a chance to kill it.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 8, 1871
P brought letters, papers—and a pack of seeds from the ranch. They talk of making it a post office. I wish they would. Then we would get the mail regularly. Now who ever goes to W takes letters along and brings back mail for the settlers. The sun is setting, and the sky is gorgeous. Yesterday I went down to Lanes— acrost the draw—or branch, which was so high I had to wade. Always a trouble to put on shoes and stockings again. Today I baked and finished reading Leena Rivers. Am now reading Martin Chizzlewit.
One of the boys gave me a bunch of buffalo sinews. They use them for thread, and to fasten arrow heads to arrows. P showed me some bushes—called arrow wood, that the Indians make their arrows from.
Mr. Rose gave me some seed of “pie mellon.” He said P should “ask permission of the neighbors to plant ig as it grew so fast it would soon be over all creation.”
Three weeks since we moved, and in that time there has been but one woman here. No church, no nothing – plenty of time to “comune with nature, and nature’s God.”
Soon after I came, while I was with Mrs. North – a minister came from W to go on a buffalo hunt. He preached Sunday, we went to hear him at Springers. Monday he went hunting with the boys. I saw a deer leaping thru the grass —over toward the garden.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 17, 1871
Mr. Rose called acrost the river, that there were letters at the ranch for us. Philip will go down, and I can send what I have written home, to be mailed.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 18, 1871
Good long letters, and papers from the East came yesterday. Very warm but not dry. Back a way is a big bunch of cow tongue cactus in bloom. If it was home how it would be admired. To warm to walk now. When I came I enjoyed walking, and did quite a bit.
Early in the spring, before the Indians left, They burned a strip from the river towards the prairie. The dried grass all gone, one could see piles of buffalo bones, and their wallows—where they had rolled until the sod was gone. Into these wallows, sunflowers and other seeds had drifted and grew, and now are nearly as high as I. This morning I washed, hung the clothes on the bushes to dry. Browned coffee and put more hay into my bed tick. Now it is 3 p. m. I am going to the garden for radishes and peas for dinner tomorrow.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 20, 1871
I visited at Roses to day. This is the first time I have been across the river since I came. Of course I had to wade— The river is low. I wore my new calico dress and a white apron. Thought I looked nice. Wonder if I did? I carried a cane, not because I looked gay ct. but on account of snakes, and no rocks to pelt them with. I enjoyed my visit very much. The Rose children have been down several times. They are very interesting. The eldest will soon be a young lady.
A Mrs. Ingrahm called while I was there, I will try and call on her soon. She did not seem well. It is so different on that side of the river. A high bank, then prairie as far as the eye can see. The trail to W too is in sight.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 23, 1871
I was too busy to write yesterday. Baked such good bread, then dressed the biggest turkey I ever saw, Philip had been saying for a couple days that if that turkey did not stay away he would shoot him. The breast I slised and fried like stake. Mrs. Lane came, in time for dinner, I went part way home with her. We were resting in the shade when Jake came from work. She urged me to go home and spend the night. Jake said if I would he would go down and get supper and breakfast for Philip.
Philip is not well, and I felt I could not leave him that long. I told Jake to go with me and get some turkey, which he did, and after supper went home with enough for two meals, and Mrs. L. took enough for her and Mr. Lane two meals, and we have some left yet.
Brother has been ailing all week, think he is a trifle better this eve. The bugs are coming in, I must put out the light.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 24, 1871
Philip had the ague very bad to day. Jake brought us some fine wild plums he had found.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 25, 1871
This morning it was so rainy and Philip so sick he could not attend to his oxen. When the bread was baked. I put on his boots— and went up to get someone to move the oxen. I was a wet fright when I got there, and did not go in the house. Mr. Smith was there. I met him when I came down in April, but he had been away several weeks freighting. He is from Maine, and one of the nice men I have met in Kansas. He wanted me to ride one of his horses back, but I declined, as I was wet already. I hurried back, and he and Jake soon came to see Philip.
Last Fall Mr. Smith had several acres broken on his claim. This Spring he was away when it should have been planted. The high winds carried sunflower seed over it, after the sod was turned, and I saw it the other day two or three acres in solid sunflower bloom.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 27, 1871
The Rose girls were here yesterday, and I exerted my self to entertain them. They wanted to go to Lanes— but it was too far. Then they teased to go and see Jake. Found him writing letters. Foiund him writing letters. All these young men came here last fall as did the Roses . They helped build the Rose house—a two story one— and stayed there while locating their claims, and building another house or two.
Mr. Rose told me many funny things that happened last Fall and Winter, and some more provoking than funny. “When the house was roofed, they all slept in it but your brother, he slept by a hay pile. I had gone up to W and bought a load of corn. Every day that pile of com grew less, and I thought your brother was feeding it to his pony at night. Well after a time all that slept in the house were lousy. Then we knew why he preferred to sleep out, and he was the only one who was not lousy. I found out too—where the corn was going, and that party soon left these parts.”
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 29, 1871
A little rain this a. m. and cooler since. Yesterday p.m. I went to Roses. Her parents and brother have just settled on a claim not far away.-r’ They were going over, and asked me to go along and call. We had a merry ride and a pleasant call. I do like to hear Schotch people talk, although I cannot understand all they say. The river is very low. The Rose children caught a 25 lb. catfish in a pool. No trouble to cross the river now. But one must be careful not to step on sandburs before getting stockings and shoes on again.
Mr. Smith brought me a letter from Mother and three from friends. All keep well at home. I made two fans from the feathers of the turkey Philip shot, also one for Mrs. Rose from feathers of one he shot last winter.
Philips ague is broken, but he looks so bad.
Was to the garden this a. m. brought down a lot of cucumbers, and sent them up to Roses.
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Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 30, 1871
Went to Lanes this a. m. Had intended going to see Mrs. Springer [Summers] but she was not home. Two more Companys of U. S. Calvary went north. They spent one night at the crossing. The Majors name is Harper. He is from Bucks Co. PA.
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