March 13,1854 Ruby Bryant

March 13, 1854
 
3:00 AM
     I didn't sleep well last night because I know the trip will be an arduous trip.  My husband and his father have lived an agrarian lifestyle. David, is not sure if he will be able to farm in California. It is a radical move to go on this trip to become free.  I am quite clever working with textiles so I plan to make clothes for money.  This thought helps calm me somewhat, but then I think about the crossing rivers and open frontier.  I am deathly scared of water.  No one in my family can swim. How can we cross raging waters?   Will we have enough supplies?  Will we die of a lack of water?  Will Indians attack us?  Will other people on the wagon train treat us respectfully like our master?  I must not think of things in the middle of the night.  I must think of our freedom at the end of the trip and the beautiful sights along the way.
     It is not hard to choose to bring because our family does not own that much.  I watch my master and his family suffer with the sadness of leaving many beautiful items behind.  Their children are very sad to leave dolls and beautiful clothing behind.  My children are lucky in this way. The hardest part to decide on the amount supplies needed for our family and animals to survive. My husband has gone over the supply list with his master and it was packed in the wagon. I will cook for both family.  I must be careful not waste any food.


March 13, 1854


Later in the day
      We have left for Fort Independence. The loud squeaks of the wheels on the wagons trailing off, and the cries of people leaving their families and friends behind.  Are heard all around us.  Now, we  have left.  The trip has begun.  I am excited but extremely nervous.  I cried leaving my best friend Sally.  She is the slave of the next farmer over.  I will miss her children as well.  My children cried as the family said good bye to her little ones.  My heart is sad to leave behind the grave of my mother. Sally will weed around the marker and place flowers on it in the summer.
     The wagon train members have met.  Others train members have already traveled far and loaded up more supplies.  We traveled 10 miles to reach the Fort.