26 
KANSAS . 
arrangement I cannot divine, although it prevails all through the 
country. The houses of log, making five or six rooms, stretch 
along parallel with the fence, and at some distance from it. The 
ground is still descending. The first effect upon one used to high 
lands is most singular. There is a feeling of oppression at the 
thought of dog-day heats, and insecurity in spring floods. Several 
dogs gave us greeting as we alighted from the carriage and stum¬ 
bled over the stairway. We were glad to be at the end of our 
evening’s ride — to feel safe after its insecurity. We had been 
off on a wild, untravelled road, to see a person who had sent for 
Mr. P. to come and see him, without telling him the reason of 
such message. He had urgently, however, pressed his coming. It 
was dark ere we reached his house, and, to show us a nearer way 
back, he took us down through fields and by-paths. He walked 
behind us, and I could not resist the inclination to turn my head 
occasionally to see what our guide might be doing. A foe in the 
front would have been more agreeable than in the rear, though 
the event proved there was' no occasion for fear. 
We found Dr. Barker’s family most hospitable and pleasant, 
and appreciated thankfully the prospect of a quiet resting-place 
for a few weeks after this long, wearisome journey. How cheer¬ 
fully the fire beamed a welcome, and how genial its heat after such 
a chilly ride! The great logs were rolled into the huge fireplace, 
and burned and crackled until every corner of the room was light 
as day. Supper being over, we were soon in dream-land; friends 
we had left were around us; the “ loved and lost ” were near. 
27 th. — The sun shining in at our windows disturbed our slum¬ 
bers early, just before the little Indian girl came in to start a fire. 
One glance at the room was sufficient to show that our host and 
hostess were not born in this western land. Books, pamphlets, 
pictures, vases, &c., were on all the tables, walls, and everywhere. 
Sixteen years ago they came to the West; and Dr. Barker has 
worked indefatigably for the best good of the Shawnees. As 
minister, teacher, and physician, he has labored for their physical 
as well as spiritual good, through summer’s heat and winter’s cold, 
by day and night, with unceasing effort. Through the evil re¬ 
ports and influence against him of Bev. Mr. Johnson, his school 
