Category: Historical Documents

Three more days to go. This morning I helped Mama cook soft boiled eggs and cakes and we ate it with the maple syrup she brought all of the way from Vermont. She said that it might be the last time we have any if they don’t have maple trees in Oregon. That is my saddest thought, because the best thing I can remember from my childhood is warm boiled eggs, all gooey and covered with maple syrup. Mama insists that we will have eggs though, because there are a lot of hens among the emigrants. Papa and Mr. Bradford agreed to not argue anymore in front of the children, but I think they meant in front of Mama. We shall see how that goes.

Uncle Luke says that we will leave on Friday. I hope that this is so, because I am growing weary of this place and all of the quarreling among the adults. That is all for today, dear diary.

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…