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Westward Bound-The First Month
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 Created on 7-22-08
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April 30, 1848
This is the journal of Karli Ann Faye. Tomorrow I leave Independence behind to begin my journey west to Great Salt Lake City. We all must still purchase the supplies that our Conestoga wagon will hold to sustain my family and I during our long trek.
How I wish not to leave tomorrow. Jane says I'll be okay. Her family is leaving next week. Good thing we're both going to the Great Salt Lake. Papa says life is gonna be okay out there. We won't have to worry about the pesky Yoders anymore. Always asking for salt pork and biscuits. Boy, am I glad I'm saying goodbye to them. But I'm not so happy about leaving my other friends like Brianna and Johnny. I mean, a really long time in a wagon?! I don't know how we're gonna do it, especially Lukas. Well, gotta go to bed. Big day tomorrow!
May 1, 1848
I'm telling you my papa bought the whole store! WE have 12 oxen, 6 chickens, and 1 horse just to add. Papa says the horse is for me, Dylan, and Kellsie to ride. He says he can ride the ox. Yeah right! I'm starting to get an ache in my stomach. I think it might just be my body ahead of me. I'm not sure about leaving, so....
Well, Mama says I need to get in the wagon. More tomorrow.
May 2, 1848
Papa's the captain! That means I'll be liked more. I made a friend! Her name is Sarah Gooding. She's only a year younger than me, so we share much the same interests. We both love mud splashing, river swimming, and playing pranks on our brothers. Mama made me a new pair of pants today! See, I hate skirts, dresses even more, so Mama lets me wear pants underneath them, just so I can be comfertable yet look like a normal girl. Sorry, I'm still learning my words, so my spelling might be off. Today we're getting our roles! Tell you tomorrow!
May 3, 1848
I got my wagon roles last eve. On my wagon, I'm the cook, and I make the beds. And if needed, I can guide the horses, or go up ahead and check trail conditions. I got a letter from Jane today. Her mother is ill. They say she has pneumonia, but Jane thinks it is just the flu. If Mrs. Gibbons is still feeling ale by next week, they may not trek out. Oh, how my heart will break if that happens. Jane says if her mother takes a turn for the worse, her and the rest of her family may make the journey. Mrs. Gibbons is in my prayers.
May 4, 1848
Papa made us wait for fog to clear up. I think we should've just kept going. Dylan rode ahead on Fury to check trail-nothing to hold us back. Last night, We had a big cookout with the rest of the train. I made salt pork, ham, and biscuits over the fire for everyone. Sarah wishes she was in my wagon to eat every day. Nothing much else.
May 5, 1848
There were guns heard today! I was definately scared, and hid under my quilt. Dylan and Papa went to check it out, it turned out to be another train hunting. I went hunting today. I shot down a meaty bird. Sarah got a rabbit. Papa says I might be the hunter, too. Mama doesn't like the idea, but realizes she doesn't have much choice. I shoot the food, we live. Everybody's happy.
May 6, 1848
Last night it rained and rained and rained. We wound up eating hard tack and cold coffee from under a tarp. I snuck some warm biscuits from Sarah's wagon in to us kids, and made sure Mama and Papa didn't find out. It was a success. Went hunting again. Shot a rabbit. Eh, its meat all the same.
May 7, 1848
It rained again today. For breakfast, we each had an egg, scrambled, with potatoes and milk from Sarah's cow. Sarah's family has alot for only 3 people, so they give us alot of stuff. Mama says that means they gonna go to heaven, but Papa says anybody can go to Satan's house, no matter how good or bad they are. I believe more in Mama's theory just because that's what Mr. Langly used to preach every Sunday. For lunch, I made salt pork and we had leftover potatoes from breakfast. The Kramers made a train dinner, with chicken in butter, corn, and cheesy soup. I made a dessert with black rasberries in juice over biscuit
May 8, 1848
Today, I recieved many compliments from my dessert last night. A new way to enjoy biscuits. I received another letter from Jane today. She is leaving tomorrow. Turns out her mother only had the flu, so they fixed her up fast and packed. She says to stay well and alive, as she will attept the same. Now that we are both on the trail, we can no longer converse through letters. Her train is supposedly two behind mine, so I can jump on Fury and ride back, but the train in between us will most likey make me ride back to my train. Oh well.
May 10, 1848
Today is a very ugly day. I am afraid we are certainly off trail, for the Kansas Ferry is not in sight, although it runs along the trail. Kellsie claims to be feeling ill. I hope she is not seriously sick, for she is my twin and I cannot lose her. She is the only one that understands me, as I am the only one that understands her. Oh, how I'd be so lonely without her. Papa says we lost 7 people today. Luckily, Sarah's family was not involved. But, the Kramers were. Their wagon tipped, with them in it, and they went down the river. They plan on purchasing a new wagon and then meeting back up with us.
May 11, 1848
Ugh! Papa's foolishness lost us valuble items. How I wish to strangle him right now!
May 12, 1848
We lost a chicken. And we can't even scrap the poor thing for meat. Lukas almost drowned today. I am now his caretaker. He complains of trouble breathing and leg pains. I wish I could just make him feel better. A ten year old doesn't deserve to be drowned. I have suspicions that Little Branden Cooper did it.
May 13, 1848
I went hunting, again! Got a deer and a bear, though. I hope Jane and her family are doing alright. Papa heard news of a death in her train. I only hope it was no one close to her. Both Papa and Mama say Dylan, Kellsie and I can go back to her train, although we know of the troubles. I guess I have to go already. Papa wants to talk to me.
May 14, 1848
Went hunting again. Ugh. My rifle backfired and got me in the leg. It hurts much, but Mama put some smelly stuff on it to make some of the pain go away. It just hurts more. More news from Jane's train. Her father fell off the wagon and broke his leg. He is near death, but has been slowing recovering. They stopped in a town somewhere and visited the doctor. Doctor Hukar expects Mr. Gibbons to completely recover. Oh, how I feel ale just thinking about poor Jane. And her siblings, Cooper, Annie, Carol, and Angus. The pain they must be suffering is beyond what I could ever think of imagining.
May 15, 1848
My leg still does not feel better. I am fearful it may become infected. Then it would surely be the end of me. Sarah has sad news. Her baby sister has died. They don't know what from, but they think just a simple cold. It seems Sarah has not been as saddened as I has expected. Papa says we need to eat much less. Lukas is not happy about this. He can no longer eat whenever he wants unless he's sick. Now he wants me to shoot him so he can eat more. I have other reasons if I'd ever have the guts to shoot my own blood. But I know I never would or could.
May 17, 1848
I helped Mama make Kellsie a new dress. It is for her to charm a few boys when we get to Salt Lake City. I think Kellsie will just wear anyways. Clothing is starting to need more warmth, and blankets are being scrapped. I fear mine may be next, although I don't need any winter clothes. Well, must go make dinner. I think I'll make deer, with dried veggies and some mud water. Have to drink what you have to drink!
May 18, 1848
Papa and his foolishness again! Hey, we haven't lost anything yet...
May 19, 1848
Nevermind! Lukas got food poisoning. I swear, forgive me god, that that boy caught the devil's eye. At least he got some peppermint. I wouldn't mind being sick if I got peppermint.
May 20, 1848
Papa had us wait for fog to dissolve. Mama took some berries and mixed in some water and made us some juice. It is very good, and I think she should show me how to make it. Mama says I should wait until I'm a little bit older to learn that recipe. A chicken isn't looking so good. I hope she don't die.
May 22, 1848
And she died. Of course! Today, we saw Indians. I ran off to catch a better glimpse. I was captured. Dylan came and got me, and I am very thankful for him. They won't tell me their tribe name, but a girl who seems my age, known as Keira, or Two Bead, has befriended me. She wears two beautiful beads around her neck, with a long deer skin dress. Her hair is braided down her back. I hope we cross paths again.
May 23, 1848
Went hunting again. Fired plenty of times, but only got a bird. Better go make beds.
May 24, 1848
The Whitneys are a bunch of sissys. They think we should head back to Missouri. We do that and we're known as the Coward Train. Their little boy, Zachariah, who's only 6, does all the chores on their wagon because they're all too scared. Well, I guess I have to go. Papa says I have earned myself a lesson. Gotta go clean my slate!
May 27, 1848
Prarie fire today!
Only a few things can scare Lukas. Fire is one of them . Well, he grabbed Papa's beloved beer keg and through it into the fire, not realizing what he was doing. Boy, did the sparks really fly then! I tell ya, I've never been so scared for his life before. Papa screamed and yelled and hit Luk. Mama finally came to stop all the madness, for Papa was truely drunk. I feel so bad for Luk, for his instinct kicked in before he could think. Well, gotta go to lessons!
May 29, 1848
We saw Brianna and Johnny today! Their wagon train saw us and stopped. But, their wagon captain always had something out for Papa. Well, the twins are doing great, and Mama told them they could stay with us, but their parents strongly objected. I guess I better go hunting.
May 30, 1848
Whoo, Papa says we can eat filling again! How happy we all are. Dylan seems to have a crush on a new addition to our train. Her name is Ohanna, as her mother found it to sound warm and exotic. She has long brown hair, very white teeth, and blue eyes. Well, Ohanna Peking does not impress me. I find her quite ugly, to tell the truth. But, most crushes of Dylan's are uglier than Papa when he's drunk and got into Mama's makeup case. Well, I guess we'll be making dinner for her now.
Check out Westward Bound:The Second Eternity coming soon!
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