{No Turning Back}
This is a new story I've written. It's written in journal form, so I'll be posting a little bit at a time. I hope you enjoy it, and that it's an encouragement to you!
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NO TURNING BACK
The journal of California Josephine Lewis
Oregon Trail, 1847
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April 7th, 1847
This is the fourth journal I've written in since I was fifteen, and I can tell it'll probably be the most exciting one yet. That's because of a few things.
The first is because of what happened on the way home after I bought this'n. I sat down for a minute on the way home from the store to get the snow outta my boots. I had laid the journal on a dry spot on a rock, and the next thing I know, some dog ran by me with it in its mouth! I tore off after it through the woods. I finally got close enough and yanked the dog's tail a couple of times. That made him yelp and drop the journal. Then I chucked rocks at the dog till it ran off. I'm pretty sure it was Jimmy Taylor's dog, but it don't matter cause I won't see neither of them no more.
That's on account of the second reason. We're heading west on the Oregon Trail. I am excited, but I hafta admit I'm worried too. I've heard stories of sickness, animals, accidents, death, and indians. Most of them I heard from my Pa. He used to be a trail guide when folks started movin' west. Then he started farming. Now he's leading another train west and he's taking us with him. He wants us to start a new life out in Oregon Territory since Ma's gone.
It's been real tough since Ma died. I'm the oldest, and had to take over things because of that. The younger kids, Joel, Missy, and Andy have pitched in lots too. We'll all have to work together on the way to Oregon.
Yesterday Pa sold the farm and most everything with it, except for Florrie, our milk cow, and Feisty, our dog. Tomorrow we pack and then the day after we head for St. Jo.
April 9th, 1847 St. Joseph, Missouri
Today we left our house early. I sat on the back of the wagon with Missy and Andy and watched it fade out of view. It was real lonely, our house sittin empty in the morning light. I almost looked away, the thought of leaving making me tear up, but I told myself to keep watching. I'd need the memory of this house, cause I'll likely never see it again.
I watched and remembered all my favorite spots. The swing hanging from the front porch. The wash line where I used to help Ma do the washin'. The old foundation where I sat and imagined what the first house on our land was like. The swimming hole in the creek where Pa taught us kids to swim. The kitchen where me and Ma and Missy made Christmas cookies every year. The smokehouse that always smelled of hickory and ham.
So I watched until we went 'round a bend and I couldn't see it no more. And I thought to myself, I'm going round a bend in my life, on to new things. But I will always be able to look back and see what I've done with myself.
Later
We made it to St. Jo. I've been here a couple of times before, but this time was different. We'd usually only go to the store for a few things, but this time we bought supplies to last us for five months. That's what they say, anyhow. I guess we'll just see.
Pa took our two farm horses and sold them for as much money as he could get for them. They were good horses and with the money they brought in we were able to buy eight oxen. I thought Pa was crazy to buy that many, but he's been on the trail before, so I reckon he knows what's a good amount.
Later Still
My, I have never seen so many new people in my entire life! I've seen all sorts today, tall, short, young, old, shy, bold, nice, grouchy, and every one of them excited.
Already I've made two new friends. As we were walking around town for lack of something to do, we met the first. We passed a wagon in the street and heard, "Well, I'll be!" and the next thing I know, a man with a bushy red beard is hugging Pa.
Apparently this man, Ian MacGregor, was another trail guide when Pa was, and they were good friends. When Pa settled down, they lost touch, and now they've met again. Mr. MacGregor is planning on mining out west and will be in our wagon train.
We've taken a liking to him already. He's a nice man, about average height with crazy red hair that sticks in every direction. He's around Pa's age and has no family, so he says work is his life, and "a hard life 'tis". He's got a Scottish accent and rolls his R's.
The second is his cook and housekeeper, Miss Myrtle. She and her husband, Mr. Cole, have worked for Mr. MacGregor for a long time. Miss Myrtle was so nice, and offered us a piece of pie. That's how I found out she's a good cook, too.
I like the way she looks at things. When Andy burned his finger playin' in the fire, Miss Myrtle just said, "Well, leastin' it wasn't his whole arm, or they mighta had ta whack it off with a knife." Then she rubbed something on it and told him to be careful on the trail, all with a heart-warming smile.
Luckily, Mr. MacGregor's wagon is right in front of us, so I think we'll get to know our new friends pretty well.
April 10th, 1847
I met someone else. A girl who's a year younger than me. Her name's Susannah Blake. She's shorter than me, but then, most girls my age are, and she's got hair that's as light as mine is dark. She's very nice, but I kinda sensed that she may think about boys too much. I don't know how much time we'll get to spend together, anyways, seein' as how I'll have so much to do. But I think we'll be able to at least walk together.
Susannah took me to meet some other girls close to our age. There was Tressy Ames, Amanda Bullock, and Viola Brewer. Tressy is Susannah's age, and she didn't want to talk to anyone but Susannah. I don't know how old Amanda is, but she's got a beau and doesn't seem to talk to the other girls all that much. She's been getting her things ready for her marriage, which will take place at the end of the trail, in California. Her family is heading south later down the trail, like Mr. MacGregor.
Viola Brewer is eighteen, married, and has a baby on the way. She told me that the baby will be born on the trail somewhere. She must be right, because I can see she's already showing quite a bit. Viola was very friendly, and she has a lovely smile. No wonder she's married already. I hope Viola and Carl are near us in the wagon train.
Tonight Pa came and told us kids to get prettied up, that we were going into St. Jo for supper. He said that it'll be a long time till we have another meal in a civilized town.
I put on my dark green gingham dress with the tan bow and re-braided my hair. Then I helped Missy button her plum-colored dress and fixed her hair so it hung loose. We waited for the boys to get done, then we headed into town. We ate in a hotel dining room , and I got chicken and dumplings. The gravy could've used a little help, in my opinion, but it was all right besides that.
When we got back to the wagon, we sat around a campfire for a little, then came to bed because of church tomorrow. I'd better get to sleep, myself.
This is the fourth journal I've written in since I was fifteen, and I can tell it'll probably be the most exciting one yet. That's because of a few things.
The first is because of what happened on the way home after I bought this'n. I sat down for a minute on the way home from the store to get the snow outta my boots. I had laid the journal on a dry spot on a rock, and the next thing I know, some dog ran by me with it in its mouth! I tore off after it through the woods. I finally got close enough and yanked the dog's tail a couple of times. That made him yelp and drop the journal. Then I chucked rocks at the dog till it ran off. I'm pretty sure it was Jimmy Taylor's dog, but it don't matter cause I won't see neither of them no more.
That's on account of the second reason. We're heading west on the Oregon Trail. I am excited, but I hafta admit I'm worried too. I've heard stories of sickness, animals, accidents, death, and indians. Most of them I heard from my Pa. He used to be a trail guide when folks started movin' west. Then he started farming. Now he's leading another train west and he's taking us with him. He wants us to start a new life out in Oregon Territory since Ma's gone.
It's been real tough since Ma died. I'm the oldest, and had to take over things because of that. The younger kids, Joel, Missy, and Andy have pitched in lots too. We'll all have to work together on the way to Oregon.
Yesterday Pa sold the farm and most everything with it, except for Florrie, our milk cow, and Feisty, our dog. Tomorrow we pack and then the day after we head for St. Jo.
April 9th, 1847 St. Joseph, Missouri
Today we left our house early. I sat on the back of the wagon with Missy and Andy and watched it fade out of view. It was real lonely, our house sittin empty in the morning light. I almost looked away, the thought of leaving making me tear up, but I told myself to keep watching. I'd need the memory of this house, cause I'll likely never see it again.
I watched and remembered all my favorite spots. The swing hanging from the front porch. The wash line where I used to help Ma do the washin'. The old foundation where I sat and imagined what the first house on our land was like. The swimming hole in the creek where Pa taught us kids to swim. The kitchen where me and Ma and Missy made Christmas cookies every year. The smokehouse that always smelled of hickory and ham.
So I watched until we went 'round a bend and I couldn't see it no more. And I thought to myself, I'm going round a bend in my life, on to new things. But I will always be able to look back and see what I've done with myself.
Later
We made it to St. Jo. I've been here a couple of times before, but this time was different. We'd usually only go to the store for a few things, but this time we bought supplies to last us for five months. That's what they say, anyhow. I guess we'll just see.
Pa took our two farm horses and sold them for as much money as he could get for them. They were good horses and with the money they brought in we were able to buy eight oxen. I thought Pa was crazy to buy that many, but he's been on the trail before, so I reckon he knows what's a good amount.
Later Still
My, I have never seen so many new people in my entire life! I've seen all sorts today, tall, short, young, old, shy, bold, nice, grouchy, and every one of them excited.
Already I've made two new friends. As we were walking around town for lack of something to do, we met the first. We passed a wagon in the street and heard, "Well, I'll be!" and the next thing I know, a man with a bushy red beard is hugging Pa.
Apparently this man, Ian MacGregor, was another trail guide when Pa was, and they were good friends. When Pa settled down, they lost touch, and now they've met again. Mr. MacGregor is planning on mining out west and will be in our wagon train.
We've taken a liking to him already. He's a nice man, about average height with crazy red hair that sticks in every direction. He's around Pa's age and has no family, so he says work is his life, and "a hard life 'tis". He's got a Scottish accent and rolls his R's.
The second is his cook and housekeeper, Miss Myrtle. She and her husband, Mr. Cole, have worked for Mr. MacGregor for a long time. Miss Myrtle was so nice, and offered us a piece of pie. That's how I found out she's a good cook, too.
I like the way she looks at things. When Andy burned his finger playin' in the fire, Miss Myrtle just said, "Well, leastin' it wasn't his whole arm, or they mighta had ta whack it off with a knife." Then she rubbed something on it and told him to be careful on the trail, all with a heart-warming smile.
Luckily, Mr. MacGregor's wagon is right in front of us, so I think we'll get to know our new friends pretty well.
April 10th, 1847
I met someone else. A girl who's a year younger than me. Her name's Susannah Blake. She's shorter than me, but then, most girls my age are, and she's got hair that's as light as mine is dark. She's very nice, but I kinda sensed that she may think about boys too much. I don't know how much time we'll get to spend together, anyways, seein' as how I'll have so much to do. But I think we'll be able to at least walk together.
Susannah took me to meet some other girls close to our age. There was Tressy Ames, Amanda Bullock, and Viola Brewer. Tressy is Susannah's age, and she didn't want to talk to anyone but Susannah. I don't know how old Amanda is, but she's got a beau and doesn't seem to talk to the other girls all that much. She's been getting her things ready for her marriage, which will take place at the end of the trail, in California. Her family is heading south later down the trail, like Mr. MacGregor.
Viola Brewer is eighteen, married, and has a baby on the way. She told me that the baby will be born on the trail somewhere. She must be right, because I can see she's already showing quite a bit. Viola was very friendly, and she has a lovely smile. No wonder she's married already. I hope Viola and Carl are near us in the wagon train.
Tonight Pa came and told us kids to get prettied up, that we were going into St. Jo for supper. He said that it'll be a long time till we have another meal in a civilized town.
I put on my dark green gingham dress with the tan bow and re-braided my hair. Then I helped Missy button her plum-colored dress and fixed her hair so it hung loose. We waited for the boys to get done, then we headed into town. We ate in a hotel dining room , and I got chicken and dumplings. The gravy could've used a little help, in my opinion, but it was all right besides that.
When we got back to the wagon, we sat around a campfire for a little, then came to bed because of church tomorrow. I'd better get to sleep, myself.
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