Henry and Elizabeth Baird papers, 1798-1937. Box 4, Folder 9

              night. Yet, I found friends who were willing to dispel my loneliness. Miss Betsy Irwin or Miss Agatha Grignon would come and spend the night with me in turn, and occasionally Miss Eliza¬ beth Grignon would come.
At this tims, Captain Cotton, who had recently married Miss Mary Arndt, know- - ing I was alone came after me to have- me visit at his home at the fort. I ob¬ jected to going in a sailboat, but was finally persuaded to try it on tbe eondi- tion that if I did not like it I should bo put ashore. We started with a strong north wind to beat down in. T was so frightened I cried like a child and beg¬ ged to be put ashore. They could not resist my appeals and I was landed on the west shore of the river two miles from the fort.
This visit proved a great undertaking for me, I most certainly had to walk the two miles to the fort and then there lay before me the fancied perils of the trip home. The dreaded river must again be crossed. I spent two days with my friends, and waited for fair weather, though I knew I was to cross the river in a soow. The remainder of tho journey home I made oa horseback. My good friend, the Captain, laughed at me about this visit as iobg as he lived, : and even yet, his widow and myself re¬ call some amusing incidents ot that visit made sixty-two years ago.
Some of the days during my husband's absence were spent with my French friends. At last he returned and the time eame for my departure to Macki¬ nac.
On the 23d of June, 1825, Mr, William Dickinson and Miss Elizabeth Irwin were to be married. Although we were ready to start, our Mackinac boat in readiness, we were to attend the 'wedding first.
The officiating Justice was Monsieur Jacques Porlier, senior. He did not speak one word of English, and could not pronounce it when he tried. He read the marriage service, however, in English. Not one word could anyone understand, I know; certainly the groom did not understand a word tor he was too full of laughter to listen. All that we did make out was the finale, that they "were married according to the laws of Jhe United States ot America."
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At the close of tho osreniony which united m marriage Kiss Elizabeth Irwin, and .».lr William Diekinson, v;e who 'wera on the eve of sailing to Mackinac, re¬ mained long enough to congratulate ihe hRppy couple aad driak a sl&~s of ¦ffine to tbe health of ali, aad ia turn recsivs many kind wishes  from  oar fn.sads  for
r^safe journey and return,
^ft Green Bar in a TJaoklaae boat an, io
COAST G3EBH B.\Y ASD LAKE  MTCHiaA^
as far as Maokiirio. My husband waa going there to attead o-3urt and I to visit my OWE, bslc-"' "-''''¦•-''^"^    Judga Doty
had gone there by sohooaer soma time before. We took piiasags ou one' of a fleet of six bcai.« laden with far.?, belong¬ ing to the Anasrican Far Company, and ia charge ot Mr. Joseph Eoletta, (my brother-in-law), of Prairio da Ohisa,
When we; reached the boat«, where they. were in vfaiting by the river-side, it was ao lata that it seamed hardly worth while startiBg that day. Yet, tha men were all in thsii places, which was quite a gain in the days when there was no whistle or bell to call mea to duty, and it was worth whil« to start whea thsy wer« gsosred; for, in all placss there 'wsrs grog shops to entice msa from work. Saloons wsre never heard ot at that timre.
In each ot tho boats there were seven men, six to row and a stsersmsn, all be¬ ing Frenchmen, There was, m addition, in each boat, a gentleman (elerk ot the American Fur Company,) to act as com¬ mander. The furnishing ot thsse boats wag very esmplete. The cargo being furs, a snug fitting tarpaulin was fasten¬ ed do-ra and over the sides to protect tha furs from the rsia. This cargo was placed in the center of tha boat. The boats were thirty feet long. A moat important feature of the cargo was ths mess baaket,
one of the great oomfcrta of tho past days and B perfect affair of its kind. It wag well filled with svery thing that eould be procured to satisfy both hunger and thirst, such as boiled ham, toagus, roast chiekens, bread, butter, hard or sea bis¬ cuit of course, crackers, cheese (when that luxury eould be procured). Sea, cot- fee and ehooolate, pickles, etc., and a plenty of eggs. Then there were wines, cordials and brandy. All this the msss baskets held, yet, in addition, wa depend¬ ed upon sesuring fre»h game and fiah on the way.
Mr. Rolette was a generous provider, s«Bding to St. Louis for all thia part of tha world could not supply. The mess basket on this occasion seemed to have an extra supply of eggs.
It seemed strange that such faithful workers as the men ware should have been fed so poorly. They had nothing but salt pork, lyed corn and bread or biscuit. This was ths general food of hired men. It was the custom when a man tTished t» enter the employ ot any¬ one to put tha manner ot living in the indenture.
Onr boat carried two tents, and had a cot bed and camp stool for my use.
The party in our boat consisted of Mr. Eolette (tha head man), Mr. John Kin¬ zie, my husband and aaysalf.
One ot the other boats was in the charge of Mr. Edward Ploudre, another in charge ot Monsieur Jean Baptist Mairand; Monsieur Eustubiae 'was in charge of the fourth boat. I have for¬ gotten the names of tha bourgeois ot the two remaining boats.
Starting so late on that twenty-third day ot June, 1825, 'we were only enabled^ to get as tar as the "Red Banks," before it was time to stop and camp for the night. ^.^AbJ. got off of the boat I saw my tent
was almost ready for me, so quickly did these men arrange matters for the en¬ campment.
Next morning dawned most gloriously upon us and vte started off in our boats, after breakfast, in fine spirits, cheered and enlivened by the
MBBRY SONG OP THE   BOATMEN,
; who always start with a song.
The day was charming, there was no wind, and the men rowed as if it was a pleasure. This was indeed a delightful way to travel; keeping always within easy reach of shore in case of a sudden squall or yiolent wind.
The camping hour is always hailed with gladness by the men, strange as it may seem, as it came at the close ot a hard day's work. It seemed always to be another pleasure of the voyage and was an agreeabia change to the passengers as well as to tha men.
The men would pitch the tent with great rapidity, in front ot it quickly kindle a firs and then immediately prs- para tha meal, whieh was enjoyed vastly. Then all being refreshed, came tha time for sports, merriment, and fun of all kinds.
As we rowed a-way froM the "Ead Banks" on that most ohanaiBg June day, many were tha aaaugementa that followed each other. Tha boats 'would sometimes come near enough to allow an interchange of eanversation, jest snd play. This began that morning by the throwing of hard taek at each other. This, however, did not last leng, the prospect of needing theai later served to save them. Our boat had at first shared in the contest but on my account they soon desisted. Shortly after ths war of the biscuits ceased, wa began te sea tg flying m tha air and a very pratty sig too, they made.
The men entered tally into the f i though tha oarsman did not dare slack their oars. Bat they gave yeat to their enjoyment by a "cri dejoi," fairly shak¬ ing with excitement. It was about aa animated a, centeat aa any these men had ever witnessed or expected to.
Not to spoil the tun, I crawled under the tarpaulin, where I was comparatively safs, although an occasioaal eggTouid strike ma os tha head.
Mr. Koletta—»n irritable old gentleman —tried his best to stop tha battle but tha fua was to® fierce to ba readily givsa, np and on a pretence of not hearing' their commandsr's order thay kept on with the fiffht.
At the second j)'ipe er r«st, wa left tha boat for a raable, as a beautiful b8achi> made 'walking a delight. ''
Although not dinnar-time, Mr. Kolette ordered an early dinner so that w® might walk after dinner. Ha directed tha men after their meal to start on vrith the boats telling them where to encamp. Pointing to a bit of land that projected into th® bay, which did not seem so very
far away, he said, "you may encamp just past that point. We will "walk; be sure and have supper ready," Barrette, Mr. Rolette's serytiut-maa, remaiaed wita ua, Mr, Rolette never went unattended as he was a very helpless person.
We sat awhile   whea   we   had din thea started off on our walk.   Th© * of boats presented a handsome  ap' aaee, djs'uppearinjj and  r8-api)eavi' tliE inequalities of the shore  per „We, iigd i»)t_jy.alks_d.,tjx...>ykgJLS.8.