Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/308

298 timber and brush, and but a few acres were susceptible of cultivation. Therefore my mother was compelled to support her little brood in some other way. This she did for five years after the death of my father by spinning the wool and flax with which to make the clothing not only for the family, but burning the midnight oil (or tallow candle) in cutting, fitting, and making clothes for others and for the trade." However, this life of hard work was comfort and peace compared with what followed owing to an unfortunate second marriage. The commendable traits of the stepfather's character, says Mr. Warren, were "that he was temperate and industrious, and finally accumulated considerable property in Illinois;" but such was his brutality in the family as to destroy all comfort or peace at home. The caprices of this man merit recollection only for the bearing they had upon directing the four sons toward their journey to Oregon. The neighbors at length were so outraged as to drive the stepfather from the community, and he went to Illinois, then the far West. Here he seemed to have reformed, and made so favorable an impression upon the uncle of the lads as to win from him a recommendation for the mother to again live with him. The family therefore went to Illinois in 1848, making a new home at Princeton; but this soon proved as unhappy as the old. The boys found work with the neighbors, from whom the stepfather attempted to collect their pay, and they were in fact forbidden to see their mother, on pain of severe punishment. This led to troubles and scenes which made it almost imperative to break forever all home ties, and separation from their devoted mother was the least of the evils. D. K. found work with a kindly farmer named Judd, at Princeton, and although but a slender lad of thirteen, performed his work so well that at the end of the year he received pay at the rate of