KANSAS HOMES. 
55 
<c The spring is here — the delicate-footed May — 
With its slight fingers full of leaves and flowers, 
And with it comes a thirst to be away, 
Wasting in wood-paths its voluptuous hours ; 
A feeling that is like a sense of wings, 
Restless to soar above its perishing things.” 
The heat in the afternoon was equal to July weather at home, 
and the new jar of butter is fast approaching the fluid state. It 
has to be removed from one place to another, sometimes in the 
house, and sometimes on the shady side out of the house, to find 
the coolest place. We propose various ways for keeping it hard, 
such as digging a place in the ground large enough for the jar; 
but, at the suggestion of one of the Boston gentlemen, who was 
interested in the matter, we decided upon the refrigerator as by 
far the greatest convenience. 
To-morrow is the day set for the election of representatives in 
the contested districts. We hear the Missourians are coming to 
take possession of the polls, as before. A party of horsemen rode 
in this afternoon over College Hill, west of us, and at first we 
thought the report of Missourians coming might be true. The 
gay blankets, bare heads, and shining ornaments, soon showed 
them to be a party of Kaw Indians. Mr. Simpson was assaulted 
to-day by a bitter pro-slavery man. 
22 d .—-Election day, and all was quiet. Only eleven pro¬ 
slavery votes polled in this district. A very pleasant lady from 
New York ^spending the day. A young gentleman, one of our 
Kansas party, called. Tie has a claim on the Wakarusa, with 
which he is much pleased. Some families of his acquaintance, 
also of our party, are equally pleased. More gentlemen to tea. 
We boil ham for doctor, who will leave with three gentlemen on 
a pleasure trip, or exploring tour, into the country. 
28 d. — Doctor left with his party on their prospecting journey 
this morning. It is quite an undertaking to get started on such 
an expedition, as they are obliged to take a good stock of provis¬ 
ions and cooking utensils, so that if their route takes them far 
from any settlers they will not be reduced to starvation. For 
such trips usually, we pack a ham, dried meat, hard bread, sugar, 
