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Show 220 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. the territory. But I was homesick and could not conceal it from those about me. " Mr. Tabor and the two men unloaded the wagon while I tried to clean up the cabin. I found a number of old New York Tribunes in the room, smoothed them out, made a paste of flour, and soon had the black, ugly logs covered, putting the newspapers right side up that I might read them at my leisure, for I could see that reading matter was likely to be very scarce. Having covered the walls I unpacked the boxes and made up a decent bed. I took out my table linen and silver, for I had not left home without the usual outfit, and then began to prepare my first meal. I cannot say that it was very inviting, but I did the best I could, and we were all blessed with good appetites. The two men took rooms near by and boarded with us, thus helping us to money to support the table. Mr. Tabor broke the land, put in the seed and began farming in good earnest, exchanging day's labor with the neighbors to save hiring help. After doing my housework I also went into the fields to work. " No rain fell that summer, so that when harvest came we had nothing to gather. Mr. Tabor went to Fort Riley and worked at his trade, while I remained at home with my babe and made a little money by raising chickens. " Indians and snakes were then numerous in Kansas, and I lived in constant dread of both. I cannot tell which I feared the most. The rattle-snakes crawled into my cabin to get into the shade, and when I sat down it would be upon a three-legged stool with my feet under me. " The winter was warm and pleasant. When spring came we tried farming once more. An abundant crop resulted, but there was no market for it; eggs were three |