40 
KANSAfe. 
We can get no batter, no syrup, no milk, no potatoes. There 
is an abundance of nothing save cheese, beef, ham, and sugar. We 
made doughnuts, and after a consultation fried them in a two- 
quart tin upon the top of the stove. The smoke of the fire seems 
to have some strange attraction into the room, and E. and I take 
turns going out upon the staging to turn the pipe, with like suc¬ 
cess each time, not being able to move it at all. However, as the 
smoke poured out more and more with every extra whiff of the 
wind, and promised to add a seasoning to our cooking which we 
had not intended, we went each time to test our strength, hoping 
the emergency had brought an addition. Some strangers called, 
and, in a room sixteen feet by twelve, containing lounge, table, 
eight trunks, two dry goods’ boxes, and chest, besides chairs, there 
was no extra room. 
25 th. — Doctor accompanied three other gentlemen upon a tour 
of discovery into the country two or three hundred miles. They 
will be gone ten days. They dined with us before leaving. They 
are used to the simplicity of Kansas fare at present, else 1 would 
have been embarrassed in setting it before them. An old gentle¬ 
man will do errands and take care of everything in doctor’s ab¬ 
sence. We hear the wolves howling at night, and the bells on the 
cattle that have an attachment for this hill keep me awake. 
2 Qth. — A most delightful day. It seemed wicked not to gather 
new life and cull enjoyment from the bright skies and blooming 
prairies. Soon had the horse put into harness, and was bound¬ 
ing over them. We wanted to call upon a friend, who was of our 
party, from Massachusetts. We could see her house plainly from 
ours, but took the wrong road when nearly there. 
We came upon an abrupt ravine, and the young lady with me 
said’ she must get out. I tried to persuade her to remain —- that 
I would take her safely over; but my persuasions were useless, 
and she alighted. “ Old Gray ” and I went through it alone, all 
right. We soon, however, came upon a second ravine, where even 
he declined going. He said, as plainly as words could, that he 
would n’t go ; but in a twinkling he started off a little to the right, 
and came upon another and more travelled road, where there was 
a bridge, rudely constructed, but safe. A few minutes more passed, 
