{No Turning Back-part XXIV}
September 21st Blue Mountains
This morning we started climbing the mountains again. It's slow going, and the animals are so tired they drop while they're walking. Four died today and we butchered them for meat. The wagons seem like they're bout to bust, they're so dry and creaky. I wonder if ours'll see the end of the trail.
Every day, we pass more abandoned wagons. We don't go through them much any more, 'cause if we took anything it'd just add weight to our wagon that we don't need.
Today I walked with a whole group of girls, includin' Tressy. I ain't talked to her in a while, and I reckon I should've. Seems her Pa's died somehow, I think of alkali sickness, awhile back. I think she's takin' it hard, and could've used someone to talk to. I walked beside her today, and we talked some. She's different now. Kinda still snotty, but mostly sad. I mean to help her if I can.
The mountains are cooler, and shaded by tall trees. We've taken to wearing coats and shawls when we start out in the morning. I've nearly worn through my shoes, so my feet get cold.
September 22nd, 1847
Crossed Deadman Pass today. Snowed a little last night.
September 23rd, 1847
Today an awful thing happened.
I was riding with Joel on the wagon seat when we came to Emmigrant Hill. It's a pretty steep hill, so I decided to walk up beside the wagon while it was pulled up with ropes. Joel led the oxen up the hill behind me. About halfway up I stopped to get a rock out of my shoe and I heard someone calling my name. When I looked up, I saw our wagon tipping over towards me.
I jumped out of the way and threw myself on the ground just in time. But I bruised my shoulder while I did it. It's all blackish blue now and tender to touch.
Worse than that, though, is the fact that we lost two ten-pound sacks of flour. They flew out the back and busted open, leaving flour everywhere. I scooped up what I could, but it weren't much. Now I only got one sack left. I hope it lasts till we get to Oregon City.
September 26th, 1847
We beat the snow to the Blues, but now it seems to snow a little bit each night. It's melted during the day so far, but I bet it'll dump a lot of snow soon.
Every day I think I can't get more tired than I am. I found a verse in my Bible today, that just seems fitting: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." I need to find strength in the Lord to make it to the end of this trail.
September 28th, 1847
The trail's gotten real rough again.
I talked to Tressy today. Seems she's got a fella courtin' her too. But she told me she don't think she's prepared to get married. I told her I'd help her all I could.
Seems to me that there oughta be some sort of way to get girls ready for getting married. I've met an awful lot of girls who can't cook a lot, can't sew well, and don't care for cleaning. Not to mention they aren't very strong spiritually. Now I realize all girls aren't like this. Most learn these things from working alongside their mothers. But some don't do that. And some don't have mothers to learn from.
I'd like to change that somehow.
This morning we started climbing the mountains again. It's slow going, and the animals are so tired they drop while they're walking. Four died today and we butchered them for meat. The wagons seem like they're bout to bust, they're so dry and creaky. I wonder if ours'll see the end of the trail.
Every day, we pass more abandoned wagons. We don't go through them much any more, 'cause if we took anything it'd just add weight to our wagon that we don't need.
Today I walked with a whole group of girls, includin' Tressy. I ain't talked to her in a while, and I reckon I should've. Seems her Pa's died somehow, I think of alkali sickness, awhile back. I think she's takin' it hard, and could've used someone to talk to. I walked beside her today, and we talked some. She's different now. Kinda still snotty, but mostly sad. I mean to help her if I can.
The mountains are cooler, and shaded by tall trees. We've taken to wearing coats and shawls when we start out in the morning. I've nearly worn through my shoes, so my feet get cold.
September 22nd, 1847
Crossed Deadman Pass today. Snowed a little last night.
September 23rd, 1847
Today an awful thing happened.
I was riding with Joel on the wagon seat when we came to Emmigrant Hill. It's a pretty steep hill, so I decided to walk up beside the wagon while it was pulled up with ropes. Joel led the oxen up the hill behind me. About halfway up I stopped to get a rock out of my shoe and I heard someone calling my name. When I looked up, I saw our wagon tipping over towards me.
I jumped out of the way and threw myself on the ground just in time. But I bruised my shoulder while I did it. It's all blackish blue now and tender to touch.
Worse than that, though, is the fact that we lost two ten-pound sacks of flour. They flew out the back and busted open, leaving flour everywhere. I scooped up what I could, but it weren't much. Now I only got one sack left. I hope it lasts till we get to Oregon City.
September 26th, 1847
We beat the snow to the Blues, but now it seems to snow a little bit each night. It's melted during the day so far, but I bet it'll dump a lot of snow soon.
Every day I think I can't get more tired than I am. I found a verse in my Bible today, that just seems fitting: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." I need to find strength in the Lord to make it to the end of this trail.
September 28th, 1847
The trail's gotten real rough again.
I talked to Tressy today. Seems she's got a fella courtin' her too. But she told me she don't think she's prepared to get married. I told her I'd help her all I could.
Seems to me that there oughta be some sort of way to get girls ready for getting married. I've met an awful lot of girls who can't cook a lot, can't sew well, and don't care for cleaning. Not to mention they aren't very strong spiritually. Now I realize all girls aren't like this. Most learn these things from working alongside their mothers. But some don't do that. And some don't have mothers to learn from.
I'd like to change that somehow.
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