Farnham Eliza Wood - Life in prairie land

Life in

Prairie Land

Eliza Wood Farnham

Originally published by

Harper & brothers, 1846

CONTENTS.

Chap. I.Embarkation for the IllinoisWestern steamboats in general The Banner in particularHer captain and crewHooshier bride and bridegroomA walk in St. LouisA horrible tale of Lynching

Chap. II.Departure from St. LouisThe first night on board the BannerThe next morningSpeed of our boatJunction of the Missouri and MississippiLanding in AltonUnpardonable behavior of the boat under trying circumstancesDisaster to the captainA specimen of Hooshier indignation

Chap. III.Leaving Alton we discover that Jersey is on boardA day on an islandWho Jersey isSome of his experience during his travels His political opinionsPeculiar style of expressing themHis notions on travel

Chap. IV.Another night on the BannerA conversation with our western bridegroomHis opinions on the woman question decidedly anti-WolstoncraftHis reasons for entering into matrimonyHow he would sympathize with his wife in sorrow, with a practical illustrationHer story and disposition to lighten the darker shades of his doctrines

Chap. V.Improved conduct of the boatPoliteness of her captainOur style of conversation pantomimic on my partLandingPokerton Starting for our final destinationThe country, the road, the sluesTheir peculiar character demonstratedWoodland and its principal inhabitantsPrairie LodgeOur meeting

Chap. VI.Sun-bonnets, veils, gloves, etc.Environments of Prairie LodgeIts neighborsA horticultural curiosityPreparing for teaPartaking itThe eveningWho were present, and how we spent it

Chap. VII.Prairie life begunRambles in the groves and over the prairiesVisits on horsebackAn afternoon with a neighbor three miles distantAmusing details of this visit, a fair specimen of the social visiting of the country

Chap. VIII.Commencement of Sucker lifeOur next neighborThe mother Meg MerrlliesThe house; its architectureThe grounds; how laid out and adornedThe children; their pastimesThe father; his political and social positionAnother house; the spirit which reigned in itBeauty of order and purity in domestic life

Chap. IX.Spring around Prairie LodgeShowersThunder-storms at nightTheir sublimityTheir effect on the landscapePleasures of the seasonStrawberryQuailScene from his domestic lifeGrouse; his habitsSpring morning in the prairiesBob-o-linkWoodpeckerParroquetCrowBuzzardWild TurkeyCattle on the prairie-HareDeerWhip-poor-Will

Chap. X.The tale of sorrowSickness of strangers on first arriving in the countryTheir claims to hospitalityThe solitary man's settlement in the westHis wife; their love; their progress and prospects A remarkable series of thunder-stormsThe pestilence which followedThe husband and wife both prostratedThe death of the wife and infantHis griefTheir graveThe beauty of the spotReasons for the attachment of the prairie settler to his home

Chap. XLA rare opportunity for seeing the natives of our regionThe menagerie; getting to itStyle of locomotionTyler; his peculiarities, ill luck, gait, &c.; his companionOur arrivalStreet dialogueDiscussion of the showEntranceAppearance of the crowd; their motley dressA character; hisgarbAnother; her dress; stature ; -recognition Her sensibility and comments on the performancesHer description of the male personage before introducedHis stories of the wars and himselfAn invitationThe departure for homeDiscussion of persons and thingsLegal documentClose of the dayDelicate foot-print

Chap. XII.Leaving Prairie LodgeDifficulty of finding another home What it proves when foundIts mistressHer housekeepingCommittee on dressA walkWhat it decidesResignation under desperate circumstancesA discoveryA cup of joy dashed before it is partakenFirst night in the Sucker homeRoom mates, furniture, &c.PonyRebellion; how maintained

Chap. XIII.SabbathNext day; its deedsThe house; its decorations The surprise anticipatedComment of my neighborSettledToilet apparatusDifficulty of retaining itA new proposition rejected with some spirit at firstHow acceded to finallyOur host; his origin, fortunes, opinions, &c.His daughter Sidney and her husbandTheir mode of life

Chap. XIV.Sidney's household affairsHer culinary artsHow she was initiated into themFruit grovesWanderings in themSerpents Caught in BootsWestern housekeepingAnother visitTemperate mealThe consequenceMoonlight nightsCoeur de Lion and his suiteTheir nocturnal ramblingsShamefully terminatedCoeur de Lion's resignation.

Chap. XV.Better quarters completedDisappointmentHousekeeping Architecture of our dwellingGrounds, &c., as described by Mr. F My own picture of themOur neighborhoodInterior of the house The townOur first nigh tat homeHousekeepingPurchases; how disposed ofOur familySusannahPony; her artlessness and patienceDeserved eulogium

Chap. XVI.Our town; its first settlementYankees as early settlers-Character of our populationPolitical and religious faithMrs. Esculapius; her remarkable giftsDeacon Cantwyne; his piety, charity, &c

Chap. XVII.Our village doctor; his wonderful gaitHis partner Pomp How they did businessThe doctor's musical efforts

Chap. XVIII.Fire on the prairieWood partiesThe orchardThe parrighee of the moonSporting partiesTragical termination of one The grocery next door to usHorrible event

Chap. XIX.Something more of my housekeepingMaking breadMy purveyorMy first dinnerCook, lamb, &c

Chap. XX.Winter on the prairiesSleigh ridesCold housesFickleness of the ClimateDeer-hunting in winterMode of building and style of dwellingsWinter eveningsNavigation suspendedTreacherous ice

Chap. XXI.Opening of springA spring nightFeatures and voice of natureWild fowlSteamboatsMagnitude of streams

Chap. XXII,SpeculationNew arrivalsOpening farmsBreaking PrairieMaking fencePlanting trees

Chap. XXIII.RemovalReturn to Prairie LodgePainful apprehensionsHow dispelledTheir return

Chap. XXIV.Reminiscences of early life

Chap. XXV.The progress of the destroyerThe final scene

Chap. XXVI.Another mission of death

Chap. XXVII. Agonizing memories Pestilence abroad DroughtCharacter of the illness caused by itGloom and griefDawn of new light

PART II.

Chap. I.Birds and animals of Prairie LandThe Gopher; its curious habitsPrairie foxPrairie dog

Chap. II.Prairie wolvesRed wolf harmlessGrey wolf ferociousDanger of unarmed travelersin former yearsIncidents in lateryearsCatamount and panther found in "bottom lands"Grey wolf monarch of the PrairieRobs the tomb when famished

Chap. III.The burning of the PrairieA thrilling incident on the great northern and southern road, passing near Peoria, IllinoisThe country around the spotIts rare beautyAccount of an early settler here; his preparation for winter; journey to the nearest settlement for his cow and for winter suppliesMother and children left aloneVisit from warrior IndiansSleepless night and foreboding of evilShe watches the PrairieFaint light in the distancePrairie on fireFearful progress of the flames, and the sublimity of the sceneHer terror and helplessnessCabin in flamesThe instinct of the dog saves the lives of mother and childrenThey sleep without shelter, and sustain life by a pittance of wild fruit

Chap. IV.Desolation of the sceneA storm comes onChildren and mother hover around the smouldering ruins of the cabinThe mother sinksPremature birthThe father arrives to hear from his wife the terrible story, to witness her dying hour, and to bury mother and child in one tombHis bitter grief

Chap. V.Progress of the settlersHabitsViews of laborA journey- Love Ring

Chap. VI.The next tavernAmusing incidentsCourtLawyersDialogue with the driver

Chap. VII.The stage-houseHostessThe qunudaryIndifference to the comforts of life; how induced