SOLON ROBINSON, 1845 405 



miles lay between the river and "bluff," a high bank of 

 limestone rock, composed of flat layers from one inch to 

 one foot thick, and affording a most inexhaustible sup- 

 ply of materials for building and fencing, but as yet little 

 used for the latter. As I passed up a ravine through this 

 bluff, and came out upon the high prairie, with the wind 

 "dead ahead," and blowing most beautifully strong and 

 cool, I almost wished myself again by my own warm 

 hearth, and the enterprise that I have undertaken, com- 

 mitted to other hands, supported by a stronger constitu- 

 tion. Here, when the wind blew almost strong enough 

 to start the hair off my horses, were situated several 

 farms, miles away from timber, treeless, barnless, shed- 

 less and shelterless for cattle, which stood drawn up into 

 the smallest possible dimensions, under the lee side of a 

 rail fence, while the owner was perhaps complaining that 

 "this is not a good country for cattle." 



Passing a little grove, and less village, called Plain- 

 field, on a stream called the Du Page, and upon which 

 there are many fine farms, I struck out again upon the 

 prairie, where I found a variety of what the people are 

 pleased to call roads, none of which seemed to lead toward 

 that point of compass that I thought I ought to go, and 

 therefore I concluded that I would not follow either, and 

 boldly struck off upon the trackless prairie just at sun- 

 down, for a four miles drive. Taking, as I have often 

 done before, the wind for my guide, which unlike some 

 friends at some other time, this time proved unchanging, 

 and conducted me safely to my point, without accident, 

 except a slight harness break, while performing that very 

 common feat in this country, jumping a deep creek, be- 

 fore the era of roads and bridges. 



After my cool ride, I met with a warm reception in the 

 very comfortable cabin of Major Wm. Noble Davis, (Au- 

 sable-grove, Kendall county, Illinois,) whose farm is sit- 

 uated about 2 miles from that beautiful stream, the well 

 known and oft described Fox river, and 40 miles from 

 the great commercial point of all this country, Chicago, 



