Category: Diary of Little Germaine

Today is Sunday, so Mama took us to hear Reverend Bunting bless our wagon train and our journey. Mama says he is not a real Priest, appointed by God and the Pope and everything, but he is the closest thing we will have until we arrive in Oregon.  It has been another lovely day, but it looks like rain clouds are building up on the horizon. We had a picnic down by the river, and Mama fixed us some sweet tea and cornbread with honey. Some other children came by from one of the other camps. I had never met them before, but we played in the water until Mama said it was time to go. More arguing came from the men this evening. Papa and Mr. Bradford yelled at each other, and Mama started to cry again. I don’t know what it is all about, but I wish they…

It is the evening of our second day, and we have arrived at the main camp. I couldn’t believe that there are so many wagons in the whole world. Uncle Luke says more than 100 prairie schooners, and other wagons, are here, and some are yet to arrive. The adults must meet and talk about things like food and who is in charge of what, who can fix broken wagons, and things like that. It is almost like a small town, only most of us don’t really know each other yet. Uncle Luke says that the talking will take about a week before we can leave. Some men got into a fight our very first night. Mama, who is already nervous, just hid in the wagon. Our small group decided before we left Independence that we would stick together, and help each other out when we needed. Mr. Meek, who…

We left early this morning. Uncle Luke brought his wagon round to our cabin last night, all packed and ready to go. Mama cried a little bit. It is so sad to have to leave friends you have made, although we haven’t been in Independence very long. Mama and Aunt Marie sat with me and Annabelle in the back of Papa’s wagon for much of the morning, until we stopped to cook some breakfast. Afterwards Mama and I took turns riding up front with Papa, and Aunt Marie rode with Uncle Luke. The weather has been beautiful. The birds are all out and singing, and the spring is just lovely. We saw some Indians on the other side of the river, and a few barges moving downstream. We stopped the wagons in the late afternoon about 3 o’clock according to Uncle Luke’s watch. Papa says it’s best to stop early…

This the first thing I’ve written in my new diary Papa bought me. Everyone is very excited. Our journey to Oregon begins today! We have been preparing to leave for almost two months now. Papa says we shall leave tomorrow, if Uncle Luke and Aunt Marie have finished packing their wagon. Papa rolls his eyes and harumphs every time he mentions this, which is quite often. Mama scolds Papa. She says Uncle Luke and Aunt Marie have only been here for a few weeks, and they have to help Grandpa get ready too. Papa mumbled something about the French. I didn’t hear what he said, but Mama gave him a look I’d never seen before. Aunt Marie said that there would be about twenty wagons leaving with us, and that we would meet with the main wagon train up on the Missouri. I can’t wait until we leave, even though…