SOLON ROBINSON, 1840 151 



the chimney all clay and sticks ; the roof, floors, and door, 

 all made of split boards, and the tables, bedsteads, and 

 cupboards, all of the same materials. 



"Oh dear! I never will go to the west, if I have got 

 to live in such a house as that. Why, it ain't as good as 

 our hog-pen — and only one room!" 



No mam, only one room — and we were very glad to get 

 that just as winter was setting in upon us, 15 miles from 

 neighbors, 40 miles from mill, store, farm, or post office. 

 One room 16 feet square, in which have lodged 16 per- 

 sons, other emigrants like ourselves, night overtaken in 

 winter, without other shelter, and in which my family 

 spent a happier winter than I ever expect to see again. 

 And although not as costly, madam, as your aristocratic 

 hog pen, yet I can assure you, that even you could live 

 comfortable in such a house, and if you come to the west, 

 as you are now thinking of, you will be very likely to 

 live in a similar one — and you will be very comfortable 

 too, and if I should happen to call on you, you must not 

 think you could not make me comfortable too, although 

 you had but "one room." 



"No neighbors — so lonely" — do you say. No, I assure 

 you, we were not lonely — never less so than that winter. 

 In the first place, there is a dozen "honey-trees" to be 

 cut and taken care of, and as there is no fruit nor vege- 

 tables, the deficiency is to be made up with cranberries. 

 Then there is the venison, geese, ducks, grouse, quails, 

 and squirrels, &c, to dress and eat; and once in five or 

 six weeks we had "the news" from the post-office. There 

 was no lack of employment in doors or out — no loneli- 

 ness — no repining. We all came here with a full knowl- 

 edge of what we had to do and expect, and so there was 

 no disappointment. 



And my dear reader, when you come to the west, don't 

 expect too much; humble yourself to new and strange 

 things that your new circumstances will induce. And 

 take my advice, if you cannot humble yourself to make a 

 beginning in a humble log cabin, you had better wait 



12—50109 



