Name/Title
Goodwill NotesEntry/Object ID
002016Tags
William Bull and Sarah Wells Stone House AssociationScope and Content
— And Being Somewhat, small of her age, spare Light, yet Naturally Smart — and to Relieve her Melancholy Dreams — She would Often, stop Her Horse — cling to his Mane, and Descend from her Pillow Saddle, to the Ground, with Ease — And when she Chose to Lead Her Horse — This third Indian, would pass Round, their whole train — with a Critical Eye, to see if all was Right, & nothing Lost; This was a faithful trust, and a Satisfactory Service throughout their Journey — And when he Returned, to take the Horse again, to Lead — would often present, to Her, A Nosegay of Blossoms — snatched from the Bushes, as he passed along, — such as the Huckleberry, Bilberry, & Honey-suckle — And shewed to me, that they were harmless, by Eating some of the blooms. — And when she wished to Ride again, She had But to stop. — The Men, would Lay Down their tools, and the Dogs would set by them as Sentinals, while the Men steped forward, to help Sarah Again, On Her Pillow Saddle — Who, as we have Before observed, was, Light, sprightly, and Smart... They could place Her again, on her saddle, Like a child with all Ease... All, she said, appeared Pleasant, friendly, and kindly attached to Her... as if she was, the very Darling, of their tender and most Affectionate concern — All their friendship, seemly was, concentrated Around Her... Nor, could it, have appeared more so, to Her, if she had been the sole cause, of the Expedition. — And yet, with all these Appearances — And upon all Occasions, Could Sarah, (as she said Herself) Dared to have given Vent, to her Sentimental feelings; — would have prefered, Weeping — to smileing... However, at suitable Pauses, and short intervals of Rest, where good water and Grass, was plenty — for the cows & Horses — they would stop, and Unload their Horses, and the more Especially, the Provision—
Table — and so was the other Three Corners fixed for their Beds and Bedding, with Poles and Light Brush to be Laid thereon, as in the evening & Night before. They even made a Long Bench for Sarah, out of a slab of pine five feet Long, as, & for, a seat for Her. — All of which, was prepareing & prepared, on the Outside while a Large fire was Blazing in the Wigwam — And When the fire abated, Brought in the seat-bench first, Placed it, at the Remote End of the Hut from the Door, then the Table plank, placed them in Due Order, in one Corner, Near Sarahs seat, and with Poles in these Holes, studed with Crotches to Bear them up; as was also the Other Three Corners for their Bedding, as Before Described. — When this was Done, They sent off, the Young Indian for the Horses & Cows, as they were Grazing, to the Southward, Almost out of Hearing... As the Other Men, went to Sarah at Her Log Table, and told her, they were ready to move in, and wished her, to Bring on the coffee Pot, which Appeared somewhat Heavy when carried in the Hand, while the Men Brought on Her Budget, with a small Bed, well secured and Bound up with pack thread, as was also Her Budget, the small bed was called Sarah’s... and if possible, Not to be Unbound, untill she Arrived, at Her place of Destination; which, together with two Larger Beds, with a pair of sheets, a pair of Blankets, and a pair of Pillows for Each... two of which had made Sarahs saddle — These were Brought forward first... with their Biscuit Wallets, and they told Her, she must preside, in their New House; It was therefore Necessary, she should walk in foremost and take possession first, and they would follow with Her Budget and Bed; and she Acted Accordingly, by setting her coffee Pot on the Table, where also, the provision Wallets were set, and Laying Her Bundle on the Bench, and Laying Her Bed, on the smallest Bedstead, in the Corner adjoining Her seat Bench, then Laying the Larger Beds, on the Bedsteads next the Door, for the Men. — and taking from them a Blanket and a Pillow; For, as the Long Bench was made of a green & Damp slab, the Blanket was folded on the Bench...
& the Pillow Laid thereon, for a seat for Sarah, & wished Her to Sit Down, while they told me the whole of their Arrangements in & about the Order of their New Building — and if she chose any thing Otherwise, to say How, and they were at Her service, so to Do... she Noded Assent But said Nothing, as a mere spectator, — They went on and closed their Arrangement, while the Old indian brought forward his Lug-pole, the trammels and crotches fixed them Over the fire, The Pot & kettle cleansed & filled with pure Water from the spring, and Hung on to Boil, as the fire was Kindled Up... she saw nothing wrong, as she said, But Her situation in Life... A mere solitary Hermit; as it were in society... Again, those Gloomy Presages came Hovering over her senses... as if she must sink Down... How could she Live? — As the cows and Horses came Jingling up to the Door, & Aroused her, from her waking Dream, as they Did in the Morning, she Rose from her seat, took a pail and went to Milking. — The Men now Being at Leisure, as the Old indian & his son was fixing a coop, or Kennel for the Dogs, on the outside of the Wigwam at a corner near the Door to Keep centry as the Men, One and all Being somewhat Elated with their Days work... and Observed with a Kind Levity, that they ought to have something More as a festival, to Handsel their New Wigwam — But finally concluded, as their Bread would soon Run short & as they had flour, if Sarah was Willing, they would have some New Bread-cake Mixed with Milk, and Baked in the pan for the first time, and try to Get Warm Coffee for supper as the Richest festival, their present Circumstances could Afford; all of which, they made known to Sarah, when she Brought in Her Milk to them; she Noded Assent — When they took, their Largest wooden Bowl from the Knapsack scalded it with the Hot water, from over the fire, Opened the Flour bag, and Sarah went to work... soon got the Bread to Baking in the Pan... While the Men proceeded to Examine the coffee-pot... they first, took out, a Roll of coffee...
