Posted by Many Flags on January 12, 2001 at 12:54:02:
12th January 1759
The Cabin at Allemangel
My dear wife Magdalena, knowing that I have the art of scribbling words, has asked me to keep some journal entries of our years together. I had often told her of cousin Malcolm's Journal Entries, and how important they are to the regiment, so mein Honig has requested this keeping of stories.
I returned yesterday from the Hunt with cousin Seamus, friend MacFarlane, and my newly found friend, artist Andrew. The hunt at Seamus's cabin was not very successful, I only taking a doe and a rabbit, the rabbit we ate the evening it was shot (no meat spoiled, I skinned out its heart, shooting underneath it with my .54 which was built by Herr Haga nearto Reading, several years ago). I had a wee flash in the pan on my first day, so lost my chance at a nice buck. So be it. The doe was taken on our last day and I packed it into a travois, artist Andrew and I taking turns as we dragged it back here to the new cabin.
We waved farewell to MacFarlane who headed back to Bedford by a Northern route, and to Seamus who stood on the cabin's porch sipping the amber liquid. Several nights while with Seamus, he would begin to drool and roll his eyes, and taking a cue from Uncles Quasi and Angus, I would give him sips of the amber liquid. This would immediately bring Seamus back to reality. Speaking of the Uncles, as we were leaving and the cabin went out of sight, artist Andrew stopped, cocked his ear and told me he thought he heard sheep baaing. I told him that it was the Uncles returning to stay with our dear Seamus.
Ahh, how I love this wedding cabin! I am sitting here at dusk, the smell of fresh venison stew and cornbread, as my dear Magdalena readies our meal for Abendessen. Andrew has stayed on with us. I have taken a liking to the young man and he produces such fine images. Magdalena clapped her hands and was quite gleeful as she viewed the images which Andrew had made while at Seamus's cabin. Magdalena has done wonders with our small home here in the woods. Her sisters came and stayed a few days, while I was away. It is warm and cozy, decorated with some redware and some fineries which were given as gifts, some tatting and other female folderol. But, I must be honest. After years of longhunting, soldiering, and scouting, the gentleness and soft ways of a wife are very welcome.
Meat is still short in the area. We pray that we have enough dried and crockery goods - corn, root vegetables, kraut and the likes - to keep us through this winter, which although has not been too overbearing with snow, has been very cold. I spend hours each day cutting wood to keep our cabin warm. Artist Andrew's help is greatly appreciated. And, this morning we had good news. While cutting wood about 100 yards from the cabin, we had a Hallooo, and a neighbor, who lives nearby brother Tales and the aged parents, came into sight. This man, who lives with his brother, unmarried sorts they are, Rauthmall by name, are butchering hogs on the morrow. Herr Rauthmall asked if Andrew and I were interested in helping and he would see that we received a share of the meat, panhaus, liverwurst, kracklins, lard, and so on. When I told Magdalena, she danced with glee. So, tomorrow we will travel to these brothers' cabin and spend the day butchering. I will have to pay some, but probably in trade, possibly cutting wood for these brothers, or tanning some hides, a craft which Tales and I learned from our Vater, the Deutscher, we tan the hides with brains which produces the softest, whitest leather. The Rauthmall Brudern have asked other neighbors to help, so a large crowd will make it seem like a Fest....Ja, ein FleishFest mit Schweine wie Gasten! Ha!
One final note. We had more word of this "redbud" while at Seamus's cabin. Late last night, after I had snuggled my dear Magdalena into our warm bed layered with quilts, I stayed awake by the fire and spoke with artist Andrew about this mystery. I related my story of the man who was killed near to this cabin, while Tales, brother Robert, and I were building it. How the man had died whispering the words "redbud". Andrew also thought it a curious story especially with the experience we had at Seamus's cabin with the neighbor Herr Wagner, who had jibbered the words "redbud" after we had heard a shot fired in the woods. I have kept this story from mein Honig, for I do not wish to strike fear in her. There is something evil about this "redbud" word, it always being accompanied with death or a nearby gunshot. Gott shutz uns!
I close now. I think oft of my cousins and comrades stationed at Fort Bedford, but I do not miss the life. Life is too good here with my Magdalena in our warm cabin.
Pax Aye!
Many Flags, Mann von mein Magdalena Viele Fahnenin