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As it happened； James was away； and mother had
to meet her unwelcome guests supported only by
her young children。 She at once prepared a meal；
however； and when they arrived she welcomed them
calmly and gave them the best she had。 After they
had eaten they began to point at and demand ob…
jects they fancied in the roommy brother's pipe；
some tobacco； a bowl； and such triflesand my
mother； who was afraid to annoy them by refusal；
gave them what they asked。 They were quite
sober； and though they left without expressing any
appreciation of her hospitality； they made her a
second visit a few months later； bringing a large
quantity of venison and a bag of cranberries as a
graceful return。 These Indians were Ottawas； and
later we became very friendly with them and their
tribe； even to the degree of attending one of their
dances； which I shall describe later。
Our second encounter with Indians was a less
agreeable experience。 There were seven ‘‘Mar…
quette warriors'' in the next group of callers； and
they were all intoxicated。 Moreover； they had
brought with them several jugs of bad whisky
the raw and craze…provoking product supplied them
by the fur…dealersand it was clear that our cabin
was to be the scene of an orgy。 Fortunately； my
brother James was at home on this occasion； and
as the evening grew old and the Indians； grouped
together around the fire； became more and more ir…
responsible； he devised a plan for our safety。 Our
attic was finished； and its sole entrance was by a
ladder through a trap…door。 At James's whispered
command my sister Eleanor slipped up into the
attic； and from the back window let down a rope；
to which he tied all the weapons we hadhis gun
and several axes。 These Eleanor drew up and con…
cealed in one of the bunks。 My brother then di…
rected that as quietly as possible； and at long in…
tervals； one member of the family after another was
to slip up the ladder and into the attic； going quite
casually； that the Indians might not realize what we
were doing。 Once there； with the ladder drawn up
after us and the trap…door closed； we would be rea…
sonably safe； unless our guests decided to burn the
cabin。
The evening seemed endless； and was certainly
nerve…racking。 The Indians ate everything in the
house； and from my seat in a dim corner I watched
them while my sisters waited on them。 I can still
see the tableau they made in the firelit room and
hear the unfamiliar accents of their speech as they
talked together。 Occasionally one of them would
pull a hair from his head； seize his scalping…knife；
and cut the hair with ita most unpleasant sight！
When either of my sisters approached them some
of the Indians would make gestures； as if capturing
and scalping her。 Through it all； however； the
whisky held their close attention； and it was due to
this that we succeeded in reaching the attic unob…
served； James coming last of all and drawing the
ladder after him。 Mother and the children were
then put to bed； but through that interminable
night James and Eleanor lay flat upon the floor；
watching through the cracks between the boards
the revels of the drunken Indians； which grew wild…
er with every hour that crawled toward sunrise。
There was no knowing when they would miss us
or how soon their mood might change。 At any
moment they might make an attack upon us or
set fire to the cabin。 By dawn； however； their
whisky was all gone； and they were in so deep a
stupor that； one after the other； the seven fell from
their chairs to the floor； where they sprawled un…
conscious。 When they awoke they left quietly and
without trouble of any kind。 They seemed a
strangely subdued and chastened band； probably
they were wretchedly ill after their debauch on the
adulterated whisky the traders had given them。
That autumn the Ottawa tribe had a great corn
celebration； to which we and the other settlers were
invited。 James and my older sisters attended it；
and I went with them； by my own urgent invita…
tion。 It seemed to me that as I was sharing the
work and the perils of our new environment； I
might as well share its joys； and I finally succeeded
in making my family see the logic of this position。
The central feature of the festivity was a huge kettle；
many feet in circumference； into which the Indians
dropped the most extraordinary variety of food we
had ever seen combined。 Deer heads went into it
whole； as well as every kind of meat and vegetable
the members of the tribe could procure。 We all ate
some of this agreeable mixture； and later； with one
another； and even with the Indians； we danced gaily
to the music of a tom…tom and a drum。 The affair
was extremely interesting until the whisky entered
and did its unpleasant work。 When our hosts be…
gan to fall over in the dance and slumber where they
lay； and when the squaws began to show the same
ill effects of their refreshments； we unostentatiously
slipped away。
During the winter life offered us few diversions
and many hardships。 Our creek froze over； and the
water problem became a serious one； which we met
with increasing difficulty as the temperature steadily
fell。 We melted snow and ice； and existed through
the frozen months； but with an amount of discom…
fort which made us unwilling to repeat at least that
special phase of our experience。 In the spring；
therefore； I made a well。 Long before this； James
had gone； and Harry and I were now the only out…
door members of our working…force。 Harry was
still too small to help with the well； but a young
man； who had formed the neighborly habit of rid…
ing eighteen miles to call on us； gave me much
friendly aid。 We located the well with a switch；
and when we had dug as far as we could reach with
our spades； my assistant descended into the hole
and threw the earth up to the edge； from which I
in turn removed it。 As the well grew deeper we
made a half…way shelf； on which I stood； he throw…
ing the earth on the shelf； and I shoveling it up from
that point。 Later； as he descended still farther
into the hole we were making； he shoveled the earth
into buckets and passed them up to me； I passing
them on to my sister； who was now pressed into
service。 When the excavation was deep enough
we made the wall of slabs of wood； roughly joined
together。 I recall that well with calm content。 It was not a
thing of beauty； but it was a thoroughly practical well； and
it remained the only one we had during the twelve years
the family occupied the cabin。
During our first year there was no school within ten
miles of us； but this lack failed to sadden Harry or me。 We
had brought with us from Lawrence a box of books； in
which； in winter months； when our outdoor work was
restricted； we found much comfort。 They were the only
books in that part of the country； and we read them until
we knew them all by heart。 Moreover； father sent us
regularly the New York Independent； and with this
admirable literature； after reading it； we papered our walls。
Thus； on stormy days； we could lie on the settle or the
floor and read the Independent over again with increased
interest and pleasure。
Occasionally father sent us the Ledger； but here
mother drew a definite line。 She had a special dis…
like for that periodical； and her severest comment
on any woman was that she was the type who would
‘‘keep a dog； make saleratus biscuit； and read the
New York Ledger in the daytime。'' Our modest
library also contained several histories of Greece
and Rome； which must have been good ones； for
years later； when I entered college； I passed my
examination in ancient history with no other prep…
aration than this reading。 There were also a few
arithmetics and algebras； a historical novel or two；
and the inevitable copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin； whose
pages I had freely moistened with my tears。
When the advantages of public education were finally
extended to me； at thirteen； by the opening of a school
three miles from our home； I accepted them with growing
reluctance。 The teacher was a spinster forty…four years of
age and the only genuine ‘‘old maid'' I have ever met who
was not a married woman or a man。 She was the real
thing； and her name； Prudence Duncan； seemed the fitting
label for her rigidly uncompromising personality。 I graced
Prudence's school for three months； and then left it at her
fervid request。 I had walked six miles a day through
trackless woods and Western blizzards to get what she
could give me； but she had little to offer my awakened and
critical mind。 My reading and my Lawrence school…work
had already taught me more than Prudence knewa fact
we both inwardryadmitted and fiercely resented from
our different viewpoints。 Beyond doubt I was a pert and
trying young person。 I lost no