Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/270

 210 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI the direetiou of the Mississippi, through an extensive tract of barrens very thinly set- tled. It was in passing through these barrens that Joseph Piggott, a ilethodist circuit preacher, in the year 1820, came near freez- ing to death, on an extremely cold night, and without food for himself or his horse. He gave the writer a narrative of his sufferings that night, four years after, at his residence on the Macoupin, Illinois, and yet we were so hard hearted as not to express a word of sym- pathy. A few stunted and gnarled trees, and a sprinkling of brushwood, with now and then a decayed log, appeared above the snow. He was nearly chilled, after wandering about a long time in search of a path, and with great difficulty with his tinder-box, flint and steel, could he get a fire. He then scraped away what snow he could, and with his blanket lay down, broadside to the fire ; but before he secured much warmth the other side was nearly frozen. Then he would turn over, but finding no relief would get up and stamp his feet, while the wind seemed to pass through him. When daylight appeared he was too cold to mount his horse, but led him while he attempted to find his way on to some lonel.v cabin, which proved to be not many miles distant. There he spent the day and enjoyed the hospitality of the squatter fam- ily. We listened to the distressing tale with amazement ! This man was born and raised in Illinois and accustomed all his life to the frontiers, and yet had never learned one of the indispensable lessons of a back- woodsman — how to camp out, make a fire and keep warm. Eating was not so very impor- tant, for any man in the vigor of life in those days in this frontier country who could not go without food for twenty-four hours, and more especially a preacher of the Gospel, ought to be sent back where he came from, to the kind care of his friends. "The writer had not been in the country one year before he had learned half a dozen lessons in frontier Imowledge of great value in practical life. One branch was how In- dians, hunters, surveyors, and all others who had to travel over uninhabited deserts, made their camping-place and kept themselves com- fortable. The first thing is to select the right place — in some hollow or ravine, protected from the wind, and if possible behind some (lid forest giant which the storms of winter have prostrated. And then, reader, don't build .vour fire against the tree, for that is the place for your head and shoulders to lie, and around which the smoke and heated air may curl. Then don't be so childish as to lie on the wet, or cold frozen earth, without a bed. Gather a quantity of grass, leaves and small brush, and after you have cleared away the snow and provided for protection from the wet or cold earth, you may sleep comfort- abl.y. If you have a piece of jerked venison, and a bit of pone with a cup of water, you may make out a splendid supper — provided you think so — ' for as a man thinketh so is he. ' And if you have a traveling companion you may have a social time of it. So now offer your prayers like a Christian, ask the Lord to protect you, wrap around you your blankets with your saddles for pillows, and lie down to sleep under the care of a watchful Providence. If it rains, a very little labor with barks or even brush, with the tops sloping downward, will be no mean shelter. Keep your feet straight to the fire, but not near enough to bum your moccasins or boots, and your legs and wliole body will be warm. The aphorism of the Italian physician, which he left in a sealed letter as a guide to all his former pa-