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The Oregon Trail by
Kendra Wallace
12th April 1869 I guess I could call this a good day
considering it was only packing. All I had to do was pick out the stuff I
wanted and the stuff I didn’t, that was the worst thing. I didn’t
really want to say goodbye to my childhood memories but I guess I have to
if this is going to be a fresh start. I just hope it's going to be a good
start for me, for my family I mean. There is a lot of us to consider in my
family, especially now since the whole lot of us are travelling. I don’t
really want to leave home since this was the place I grew up. And I really
don’t want to leave all my friends behind. Sometimes I really wish we
are not going but I guess it is for the best if I want my family to obtain
good farming land. Of course we could still settle for the land we have
now but I think my pa wants to give us a better life and that is what the
east is offering. Hopefully tomorrow will bring news. 15th April 1869 Today was a tough day I had to say goodbye to
all my childhood memories to make way for the ‘fresh start’ we are
supposedly meant to find when we get to the east. All I can do is look to
the future because right now my past seems to getting buried deeper and
deeper whilst I make way for new thoughts and new memories. The past few
days have been the busiest in all my life. All we have been doing is
packing. Packing packing packing. At least I have all my stuff done. I
mean it wasn’t much considering all I had to pack was one spare pair of
clothes and things for my own pleasure. I decided to take a few books.
Some of my favourites. And a few toys, I figure I will grow out of them
soon so there’s not much point in bringing lots along. My mum said not
to bring much since the wagons are only meant to hold food and supplies
for the trip. I don’t feel much about the trip. Whenever I try to think
of what it is going to feel like on the trip my mind just blanks. I
can’t imagine what it is going to be like travelling on the trail.
Especially since I don’t know what is going to happen next. Anyway
getting tired now. Speak soon. 18th April 1869 Well I guess we are almost ready. All the food
supplies are packed and we’ve got most of the tools and utensils. We
were all really busy today since we want to be ready by the end of the
week. The money is disappearing pretty quickly. But I know we’re gonna
have enough because we’ve been scrimping and saving for over a year now.
We managed to put together $800 and I just hope we are going to have
enough when we get there because I think it will be a tough start and my
pa wanted to provide us with a happy and fulfilling life when we arrive.
All the food has been packed. I sat for hours trying to think if we had
forgotten anything. The pile just looked so small but then again they are
only basic rations and I know we are going to acquire more along the way.
The basic supplies are just our ordinary food we have like flour, bacon, beans, coffee, sugar, lard,
vinegar, salt ‘n’ pepper, rice, yeast powder, hardtack and baking
soda. Of course we’ve got all our utensils we need since we live on a
farm and all and we got all the pots and pans so I guess we’re almost
there. Mum says we’ve gotta lot of work to do tomorrow so I better go.
Speak soon. 22nd
April 1869 Well we’re ready
to leave Independence now I guess. Mum gave me one of the most important
jobs before we leave and that is to check we’ve got everything. She gave
me a list and I have to tick the stuff off. I got this so far: The wagon, of course! The Oxen, the last
payment is tomorrow so we get them fed and watered before we leave Food: the flour, the
bacon, beans, coffee, sugar, lard, vinegar, salt, pepper, rice, yeast
powder, hardtack, and baking soda, got it all! Clothes 2 sets per
person, well I don’t know! They all say they have, supposedly Bedding and Tent,
yup and yup Tools, Leather,
Nails, Candles, Matches, yes x5 Pots, Pans, Cups,
Plates, Utensils, Tubs, Buckets, yes x7 Rope, Axe,
Whetstone, yup, yup, yup! Plow and Hand Tools,
well yes I think so Milk Cow, Chickens,
hmm yes don’t like them coming with us very much Shotgun, Rifle,
Ammunition, gunpowder, well I don’t think we need these but pa says we
do Axle Grease, yup Heirlooms and
keepsakes, most of these we left behind but we did take a select few I think that’s all we need. This came to a
total of about $550 so we should have enough for when we get there to buy
our land and set up the farm I think. I just keep dreaming of what it’s
going to be like when we get there but I can’t imagine what it is going
to be like on the journey. It excites but frightens me at the same time.
It fills my heart with enormous joy but tremendous sadness at the same
time. I really don’t want to leave my friends but I look forward to new
beginnings. Anyway we should be on our way tomorrow so I better be going.
Talk soon.
23rd April 1869 We had a meeting today before we left. Right
in the town square. I didn’t realise how many people were actually
coming. I counted 27 wagons and families but it seems like more will be
joining us. We got to elect a leader and guess what? Since my dad was part
of the original plans he became the leader! He gets to sound alarm and
make group decisions AND is in charge of what route we are taking. I am so
proud of him. Around midday the shout ‘Wagons roll!’ was heard from my
father’s mouth and we started journey, now just another about 2000 miles
to go and we’ll be there! I can’t believe we are on our way. It has
taken us so long to plan this journey and we are finally on our way. Talk
soon. 27th April 1869 The past few days have been a blur. Each day
seems to merge into each other. It has just been the same thing day after
day. I get up in the morning, I try to get washed then I wash Harley, Che
and Tommy my little brothers before they start to moan. Non-stop on the
trip they have just been playing in the dirt too excited to sit still. I
knew they were going to bug me! Anyway I then have breakfast, just a quick
munch of beans and I feed the toddlers, you see that’s my job, to feed
the little people. I guess it’s easier than some of the things other
people have to do, but soon enough this job is going to be the finish of
me. Some time I collect the water and firewood but mostly that is
Tommy’s job. We then travel for a straight well, most of the time 20
miles but if it’s a bad day, not very far at all. We then set up camp
and circle the wagon and this is when I write in here to note of any
important happenings. Well today I just got bored. I ate barely anything;
I’m just not in the mood although my mum has been moaning non-stop. I
don’t care. I really miss all my friends, I spent so long building
friendships when we moved from Scotland and now I have to start all over
again. Not one of my close friends is travelling; I mean I know a few but
not enough to start talking to them. Talk soon. 2nd May 1869 I didn’t write for a while because each day
has been a repeat of the last. It’s just been so depressing day after
day doing the same thing. Well at least today we had a change, but it was
not a turn for the good, we realised we had over-packed and had to throw a
few things away; clothes, bedding and some of our well preserved food.
I’m not sure if we can survive off the stuff we have left but of course
soon, we are going to have to start hunting for food to survive but
honestly I don’t want to see the animals die but I guess I’m going to
have to. I really can’t wait for a change. A change in the scenery. A
change in life. Talk soon. 4th May 1869 Only one eventful thing happened today. We
passed Chimney rock. It wasn’t very exciting. I wasn’t particularly
interested in it so I didn’t bother getting all hyped up. It just seemed
like a waste of time. I mean it’s just a rock. Everyone was so excited
over a rock. It was quite a big rock but, still just a rock. It was
extra-ordinary and a bit, just a tad exciting, but still. I just don’t
understand. Oh gee what fun. Okay, the rock was a bit of a sight but
still, it’s just a rock. Talk soon.
6th May 1869 We had to cross a river today. Not a particular big one but it was tough. Well at least it was a change. We had to bribe the oxen to come over. At least the river wasn’t deep. All we had to do was pull the wagons across with ropes. You see today wasn’t one of our very good days so we didn’t travel very far. We probably covered a distance of about 7 or 8 miles. Not very good for a days work. But at least we got past the damn river. It was pretty small but was one of the big happenings I could write down! Oh and the little people have stopped running about now. There fun and games are over because now they see the hardship the trail gives. Most of them have blisters on their feet and I have to soak them at night. I can’t believe the work I’ve had to do so far. Talk soon.
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