Impatient With Desire by Gabrielle Burton

Author:Gabrielle Burton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Adult, Historical
ISBN: 9781401341015
Publisher: Voice
Published: 2010-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Feb. 6th ’47 more thaw

As our departure date drew closer, George and I were giddy with anticipation! It really was going to happen! We were going to California!

On one side of the general store, George and Jacob picked out tools and farm implements, George waving his hand at the knives, whetstones, axes, shovels, crowbars, awls, chain, nails, and practically crowing to Mr. Par sons, the storekeeper, “Tar to grease our wheels, and these to grease our land negotiations with the Mexicans!” “Aren’t you worried they might kill you and your family, Mr. Donner?” Mr. Parsons said, shaking his head when George said, “Worried? This is Manifest Destiny!” “Some folks say it’s just plain plunder,” Parsons mumbled. “Yeah, I’ve heard that,” George said, more amused than challenged. He gestured toward the huge pile of tools and implements. “We’re paying for the land, Parsons,” he said. “Why, you can’t stop movement any more than you can stop ripe fruit falling from the tree. And who would want to? You might just as well say Christopher Columbus should have stayed home. Now we’re going to need at least a dozen more shovels…” While across the store, just as exhilarated, Elizabeth and I chose bolts of silks, satins, laces, velvets for the Mexican ladies, and muslin, bright cotton prints, red and yellow flannels for the Indians.

Mrs. Parsons leaned across the counter and lowered her voice. “Can’t you talk your husband out of this, Mrs. Donner?”

It took me a moment to get my wits back. “Mrs. Parsons. I want to go to California. Mr. Donner and I are certain it will be advantageous for us and for our children.”

Mrs. Parsons harrumphed and turned to Elizabeth. “Aren’t you afraid to take your children into the wilderness?” Elizabeth was taken aback too, so I finally answered, “Fear didn’t build this country, Mrs. Parsons. Remember, just a few years ago Illinois was wilderness.”

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