Pioneer Diary
by Mark McKain

    _______[after Jane Gould Tourtillott

    Left home this morning, traveled through sloughy prairie,
    found some hay in an old stack. Came 16 miles today.
    Nooned in a grove. The air was pure this morning.
    We were shivering till about nine. We went on a path
    Through hazel bushes, saw some hazelnuts on the ground.
    Picked them up and cracked them. Some of the women were washing.
    Nooned on the Platte banks. The boys waded onto an island
    Caught two fish as long as one's finger. A rough road
    This forenoon. Had a choice breakfast of antelope meat
    Brought to us by Mr. Bullwinkle. An Indian chief
    Rode up on a nice mule. I can't describe his ornaments.
    Earings eight inches long. Charlie traded an iron teakettle
    For a lariat. The loss of a good hat, no trifling loss here.


    They made a good picket fence around the grave.
    Just buried the babe. A grave for another woman run over by
    Cattle and wagons. Nearly crazy with sorrow.
    I can't wait another minute. They were snakes.
    Mr. Bullwinkle shot eight times. His dog shot four.
    He had four choice horses. The Captain had a daughter
    Shot and wounded severely. This happened yesterday.
    The chief appeared in a suit of Mr. Bullwinkle's (on the battle field).
    She was buried in a box made of a wagon box.
    Open to all that might be hidden. Our men shot
    a good many balls into the willows. Some day a flock of birds
    might come to take back their brilliant feathers.
    For the sod has to rot a year before the crop can be put in.






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