Posted by Seamus on May 08, 2001 at 08:33:55:
May ye 8th, 1759
Cabin Journal
At long last I have returned to Ft. Augusta and my Nancy, and what a wonderful reunion we had! I have missed her more than one can know. If the cousins had not all been with me upon return...........ah, me! Good things do come to those who are patient, though.
She was especially excited to make the acquaintance of Cousins Malcolm and Davey Gunn. After all she has heard about them, and the things they and I have been through together, she just would not leave them alone. She pestered them with questions into the wee small hours of the morning for two nights. I believe they were relieved to get on their way with Flags and Tales to Allemangel for awhile. Davey was especially quiet and withdrawn, I noticed. I believe he is missing his Colleen and the wee ones more than he wants to admit. He kept watching TwoBottle with her flaming red hair and would get misty-eyed, and lower his head and stare at the ground. When someone remarked on it, he said it was only the smoke from the fires that was making him so. I heard him talking in a low voice to Malcolm about the chances of Colleen and the wee ones coming to the Colonies. I’m thinking the old warrior has had about enough of soldiering, and I would not be surprised if the Sarjent is thinking along those lines, too.
Now that the cousins have headed east for awhile, Nancy and I are going to spend some time by ourselves at the cabin and catch up on several things that need attention. In a few weeks the cousins, all four, along with Wm. JohnsTon and young Andrew Kuntz, the artist, Quasi and I will be travelling to the Carolinas on a Scout with Lt. Col. Armstrong, so things here at home must be in good order.
We have traveled up the West Branch of the Susquehanna to Ostanwakan and thence up the Loyalsock, across country to Caleb’s Creek, up the creek and across the ridge to Blessing Mountain and home. It is always so peaceful here. The turkeys are nesting, and the gobblers are in full coloration and plumage. It is fun to watch the antics of the males of the different species court their ladies. The grouse and turkeys puff up, fan out their tails and strut around looking beautiful and tough. The grouse will beat his wings and sound like Drummer Armstrong calling the troops to arms. The songbirds are busy building their nests and laying eggs. The buck rabbit will run circles around the doe and they will leap straight into the air, showing off as they do. The squirrels and chipmunks chase each other up and down trees at a pace which makes it nearly impossible to follow. The other creatures of the forest, the deer and the bears, the bobcats and coyotes all have completed their breeding rituals and are awaiting the birth of the results of their efforts. I am certainly glad that men don't do silly stuff like that and especially glad that we don’t have just one time a year when we.... well, succumb to nature’s urgings!
It is nearly dark now and about time to turn in. Tomorrow we will start pruning the fruit trees which have begun to show good leaves and will soon be in blossom. The rail fence needs some repair where a bear decided to go through it rather than over it. It is time to till the garden spot and enlarge it some. Since two of us will be living from it instead of just one, we will double its size. We will plant the Three Sisters as the Indians do; corn, beans and squash.
It has been a long time since I have felt as complete and whole as I do now that I have fully recovered and regained my strength. Apparently Nancy has noticed that, too. She is headed toward the bed wearing the new shift I got for her from Mistress Hubbartt at the Market Faire, and has just given me “the look” over her shoulder. She certainly looks good in it, and I have just caught a whiff of that intoxicating odor of hers! I think I am about to....uhhhhh.....succumb to nature!
Seamus
*blowing out the candle on the table*