Page 7 - Keays Diary with forward 1866 and Cover

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We traveled about 15 miles today, thinking it would be better

for the horses to travel a little at first; we came to the banks of Wolf

River or creek, a beautiful place. I could enjoy myself to stay a week

there. We made our first biscuit, rather poor, but we consoled ourselves

thinking that a “poor beginning etc.”

After dinner our party broke up, the men dreadful to tell, tried

fishing but said they did no sin as they caught nothing to speak of.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson took a walk and talked alone, and I

seated myself to write to my Mother, as I promised to write to her every

day; then they returned and pitched the tent, which is very nice and the

men put their bed in it as it looked like rain.

April 30

Monday morning – It did rain, with thunder and lightning, but

I was ready to sleep and did not mind it. This morning it is still cloudy

and we hesitated about starting out but as the sky is clearing we are go-
ing to start. Mrs. Peterson is attending to the packing of the provisions

we had stirred up, and I set very quietly under the tent enjoying the

place to the utmost. There are the sweetest birds I ever heard, and the

woods is full of flowers. Every few moments some one gives me some fresh

flowers which I enjoy so much; they are the first that I have had this year.

They are so busy fixing around, every once in a while one stops in and

speaks to me and bustles off again.

Thursday night we stopped at Spring Creek, Brown Co. I was real

tired as we rode further that day than before: I took a pain in my breast

from sitting so long, but felt better after supper.

We got along very well cooking and enjoy ourselves very much.