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Show MRS. AUGUSTA TABOR. 221 cents per dozen, and shelled corn twenty cents per bushel. I kept boarders and made some butter to sell. In February, 1859, Mr. Tabor heard of Pike's Peak through some one of Green Russell's party, who was returning, and at once decided to try his luck in the new Eldorado. He told me I might go home to Maine, but I refused to leave him, and upon reflection he thought it would be more profitable to take me, as in that case the two men would go along and board with us, and the money tlaey paid would keep us all. Mr. Tabor worked at the Fort through March and April, earning money for our outfit. " The fifth day of April we gathered together our scanty means, bought supplies for a few months, yoked our oxen and cows, mounted our seats in the wagon and left the town of Zeandale with the determination of returning in the fall, or as soon as we had made money enough to pay for the one hundred and sixty acres of Government land, and buy a little stock. " What I endured on this journey only the women who crossed the plains in '59 can realize. There was no station until we arrived within eighty miles of Denver via the Republican route; no road, and a good part of the way no fuel. " We were obliged to gather buffalo chips, sometimes traveling miles to find enough to cook a meal with. This weary work fell to the women, for the men had enough to do in taking care of the teams, and in ' making' and 'breaking'the camp. The Indians followed us all the time, and though friendly, were continually begging and stealing. "Every Sunday we rested, if rest it could be called. The men went hunting, while I stayed to guard the camp, |
