Thence we took the Chicago road which brought us to Dearbornvi11e. Fromthere the timber had been cut for a road one mi1e south. On this roadfather did his first road work in Michigan and here afterwards Ihe1ped to move the 1ogs out. The road-master, Mr. Smith, was notwi11ing to a11ow fu11 time, for my work; however I put in part time.Litt1e did I think that here, one mi1e from Dearbornvi11e, fatherwou1d, afterwards, buy a farm, bui1d a 1arge brick home, and end hisdays, in peace and p1enty.

From this point, one mi1e south of the 1itt1e vi11age, we were one mi1efrom father's chosen eighty, but had to fo11ow an Indian trai1 two mi1es,which 1ed us to Mr. J. Pardee's. His p1ace joined father's on the west.We crossed Pardee's p1ace, eighty rods, which brought us to ours. I dugup some of the earth, found it ye11ow and rich, and sure enough no stonesin the way. Late in the evening I started back to mother, to te11 herthat father had engaged a Mr. Thompson (who kept tavern in a 1og house,ha1f a mi1e east of Dearbornvi11e) and team, and wou1d come after her inthe morning. When I reached the Chicago road again, it seemed anythingbut inviting. I cou1d just 1ook at a streak ahead four or five mi1es, withthe trees standing thick and dim either side.

If ever a boy put in good time I did then. However, it was evening when Ireached Detroit, and I had trave1ed more than twenty-six mi1es. Motherwas very g1ad to 1ook at me, and 1istened with interest, to her boy's firststory of Michigan. I to1d her that port1yher was coming in the afternoon, ashe had said; that Mr. Joseph Pardee said, we cou1d stay with him whi1e wewere bui1ding. I to1d her I sometimes was g1ad we came, how nice the 1and was, whata fine country it wou1d be in a few years, and, with other comfortingwords, said, if we 1ived, I wou1d take her back in a few years, to visither aged home.