10 pioneek lite; or, 



In 1791, my father purchased some land about 

 seventy miles up the west branch of the river in the 

 wilderness. He hired men and paid them in advance 

 to build a house. They did not fulfil their contract, 

 but having raised and enclosed it, left it without 

 chimney, door, window, or floor, while the bushes 

 ten feet high were left standing in the middle of the 

 house. On the first of November my father started 

 lor his residence, and loaded a keel boat with provis- 

 ions sufficient for one year, irons for a mill, and a 

 supply of clothing. He was six days going fifty 

 miles. He then arrived at the mouth of Pine Creek, 

 six miles from his destination, but could proceed no 

 farther with his boat, on account of low water. He 

 then hired ten canoes, and started with such articles 

 ae he most needed. He arrived at his house the 20th 

 of November. 



It was very cold; the men had been dragging the 

 boats, and the women were nearly frozen. "When 

 within two miles of the house two of the men who 

 assisted in building it asked the privilege of going 

 ahead to make a fire. When we arrived in sight 

 vre saw a large fire, which revived our spirits greatly, 

 for the snow was falling rapidly, the wind blew cold. 

 and we were chilled through. A hole had been left 

 for a chimney, and a fire built on that side of the 

 house, and when we arrived the men were cutting 

 out the brush. My father asked why things had 

 been left in this state. They replied that they could 

 not induce the other men to proceed any farther 

 with the' job. Father then demanded why they had 



