Transcript

. . . with three hundred pounds we started for florence[.] when we got there father was employed by President Cannon to make tents & waggen Covers[.] father wanted to get a hand cart and hurry to the valley[.] Br Cannen [Cannon] said I should come comfortable with his waggen[.] some nights when we went to bed in a large building we would be afloat in the night as there was no protection from rain[.] we done very well[.] We might have had a very good time on the plains if Br Cannen was along but the if was wanting[.] There was a man by the name of Hunt that had joined the church[.] his wife had been in some years before but had been cut off[.] she had been a spiritualist[.] the saints in New York helped them to florence

Br Cannon had a team lightly loaded so the two familes could come with it[.] he put the team in this mans charge.

The Oxen and Wagons had been sent suveral days from Florence a few miles on where there was feed food for the Cattle[.] One day we were told to follow we caried out Cooking utensils and marched along[.] It was <a> warm day and I would have liked to lie down for my head Ached when we arrived at the Wagon we were destined to walk by and hang our cooking utensils under neath[.] I had not seen Br and sister Hunt[.] I saw her now dressed in bloomer costume[.] she was busy Cooking for the journey[.] we leaned against the wagon and the first words she said bill who is that man that is cutting your wagon my husband had better sence that cut a wagon[.] I stood there feeling sick and homeless and tired[.] I did know enough to sit down in the dirt after walking all day[.] I began to learn a few things[.] They were very unkind to us[.] if we put our baby at the back end of the wagon they would close it[.] some of my children never rode a minute on that journey[.] my boy of five has walked eighteen miles with out resting[.] he was the only one that rode in the wagon and they would beat him so he did not want to ride[.] Br Jarvis never rode but once and that was in Br Morris wagon[.] The sisters ccolded [scolded] him for riding and making me walk[.] it done no good[.] one daughter declares she rode across the plains on mothers bustle[.] one day I felt grieved for my son Brigham was sick and could not walk and I mustered up Courage to ask the President to let him have the horse and drive the loose stock[.] he said let him ride in your wagon[.] he said it had the least fr[e]ight, I knew that Br Hunt would not alow him <to>. he let Brig have the horse and I drove the stock myself and let him ride <without> the trouble of attending to the stock[.] I was a happy woman but only for a few moments for the Presidents <brother> came up and made him get off his horse. The waggon wheel went over the leg of Samuel aged five, they all carried their sack on their back and the powder flask was like it had been twisted but it saved the boys leg[.] Br Jarvis says it was the hardest time, I think it was a hard journey[.] Br Jarvis always says hand carts was easier <than> carrying the children and standing guard[.] he had to stand guard for others because they refused and the Captain of the guard would ask him[.] I believe we had the good feelings of the whole camp, and did not murmer[.] this man hunt never alowed his family to walk[.] his children to would cry to walk if he had let them walk some times and ours to ride[.] it would have been better for them[.] some of my girls can say they walked a thousand miles[.] My husband had said he would be willing to walk acros the plains and pay three times the cost. Before reaching the Valley he was persuaded to take a hundred of flour belonging the Church[.] he did not want it as he had worked in florence for enough to do us[.] but after we had been in here there was twenty seven dollars against him and remembering his words that he would be willing to pay three times the cost he paid it[.] then they found out they had made a mistake[.] he would not take it back so he turned it to the Imagtsen [Emigration] fund, I came up to the Patriarch of the Church one day I was wet through to the skin with the rain and had waded I think loup fork[.] I was so wet with rain I did not hold my clothes up[.] Br Smith said your Captain will lose half of you women before he gets you to the black hills[.] I expect I looked like a drowned rat[.] our President was bringing a Machine and sparking his girl took up his time[.] I sufferedwith Kidney complaint so bad once I stoped behind the camp and said to a young servant girl we called May I was going to rest If the Indians did get me[.] we both lied down and was asleep in a few minitues[.] my little girl about seven years of age woke us by saying the Indians are coming[.] they were nearer to the train than we were[.] they seemed to cross the trail but we ran to get to the waggons that we could see in the distance like a speck[.] we found it was our brethren that had been out shooting[.] it taught us a lesson[.] we found we did care and we did not want the Indians to have us[.] I had another fright[.] some girls started to cut off some of the way one evening by going <over> some hills[.] I had a child with me and could not keep with them[.] when I came up from a ravene I did not know wich way to go[.] I felt very bad[.] I at last <saw> the last two or three of our waggons going out of sight[.] I knew in what direction to go[.] I kept pretty close to our train after that[.] When I saw the Valley where Gods people where [were] I felt I could endure a great deal more for the same privelege[.] I felt thankful to be able to see Brigham Young the Loin [Lion] of the Lord