Autobiography 1883 Tullidge's Quarterly Magazine
rudder, and on the ,
we launched our canoe, and commenced
our voyage down the Arkansas River,
without provisions.
The first day we sailed twenty-five
miles, and stopped at night with a poor
family who lived on the bank of the
river. These kind folks gave us supper
and breakfast, and, in the morning, gave
us a johnny-cake and a piece of pork to
take with us on our journey.
We traveled about fifty miles that day,
and at night stopped at an old tavern, in
a village called Cadron, which was de-
serted because it was believed to be
haunted by evil spirits.
We made a fire in the tavern, roasted
a piece of our pork, ate our supper, said
our prayers, went into a chamber, lay
down on the bare floor, and were soon
asleep.
I dreamed I was at my father's house
in a good feather bed, and I had a good
night's rest. When I awoke the bed
vanished, and I found myself on the bare
floor and well rested, not having been
troubled with evil spirits or anything
else.
We thanked the Lord for His good-
ness to us, ate the remainder of our pro-
visions and continued our journey down
the river to Little Rock, the capital of
Arkansas, which then consisted of only
a few cabins.
After visiting the place, we crossed
the river and tied up our canoe, which
had carried us safely one hundred and
fifty miles.
We then took the old military road,
leading from Little Rock to Memphis,
Tennessee. This road lay through
swamps, and was covered with mud and
water most of the way, for one hundred
and seventy miles. We walked forty
miles in a day through mud and water
knee-deep.
