Patty Reed's Doll by Lily Y.
Published on May 13, 2016
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Patty Reed's Doll
The story of the donner party
It all started with Grandma's stories about her pioneering days as a little girl. Patty would always grasp my little doll body when things got scary. Patty had a sister named Puss who would listen to the stories too. Then came the news we were going to pioneer to California hoping for better health and lives but leaving our big white house would be hard. We were going on a two story wagon we called the 'Palace Car' and Grandma managed to convince Mr. and Mrs. Reed (Patty's parents) that she should come along. Then as we were leaving, with many other families, we were glad to start our journey.
Photo by Shawn Harquail
The fire crackled as we sat there our first night out. Songs were sung, laughter rang in the air, it was amazing. The children were set to sleep. A month later we were traveling down 'the muddy roads of Illinois'. Grandma had a cough before we started the journey but she said the 'western fever' was curing it. That day it rained but we played 'hide the thimble' inside. Sometimes Patty took me over to the other Donner kids and we played. Poor Patty, 'pesky skeeters' sometimes swarmed in the night.
Photo by Travis Gray
We reached the outskirts of Independence. While Puss and Mrs. Reed bought sunbonnets they saw who Puss thought were Indians! They were just Mexican and Indian traders though. We passed through actual Indian territory! We had planed to meet up with Colonel Russel's California Company who were 3 miles ahead, we boarded a ferry with Indians!
Photo by Olivier Rdx
We had finally caught up with Colonel Russel's company and we met him for the first time. He was nice, I decided as he walked away. That night there was celebration! We met a kind family called the Breen's. It was made up of a mother, father and a lot of boys. Mr. Reed was worried we weren't moving fast enough, we only traveled six miles that day. We met Indians! An Indian chief ate from our plates, they were everywhere!
Photo by Kojack.net
. Grandma coughed all night until she suddenly stopped. She must have fallen asleep, I thought, finally closing my eyes . I was wrong, Grandma had passed away. Patty's tears fell as we buried Grandma under a oak tree. We arrived at a beautiful valley and settled to a sad sleep.
Photo by ledgr
. Grandma coughed all night until she suddenly stopped. She must have fallen asleep, I thought, finally closing my eyes . I was wrong, Grandma had passed away. Patty's tears fell as we buried Grandma under a oak tree. We arrived at a beautiful valley and settled to a sad sleep.
Photo by ledgr
We were traveling through Pawnee Indian territory. We found a little dog village. All of the children were laughing, trying to catch the quick dogs. We had been moving much faster and Mr. Reed said that we would be able to spend the Fourth of July at Fort Laramie! Soon we arrived at Chimney rock that Mr. Reed said might be destroyed one day.
Photo by blavandmaster
We reached Fort Laramie on the Fourth of July like Mr. Reed predicted and it was so lovely! Even the Sioux Indians celebrated, it was because they were planning to go to war with the Crow's and Blackfeet Indians though. They wanted to trade for Puss and her horse Billy but Mr. Reed declined. They wouldn't give up so Puss scared them away with her father spyglass.
Photo by superman_ha_muerto
We got to the point were the path had two options, the one that Mr. Reed trusted was the shorter one recommended by Mr. Hastings a man who was willing to guide anyone who wanted to come on that trail. They were informed about that trail from a letter. The one that Mrs. Reed trusted was longer but well known. We chose the unknown path.
Mr. Hastings wasn't there and we had to cross 40 miles. We crossed the 40 miles and found another letter from Mr. Hastings saying its not safe and to send a messenger to come and get him so that they could bring him back. Mr. Reed and three other men were sent out to bring Mr. Hasting back. Mr. Reed came back alone announcing Mr. Hasting refused to come. Mr. Reed said the two men were taking shelter and so he led us onto a safe path, we found the other two men starving.
Photo by Waqas Ahmed
Once the path ended, we were discouraged to find mountains in our way. We had no other choice but to cross them and soon we were struggling. We had lost many oxen, they either ran off or died. Patty was forced to leave her doll's but she was able to sneak me. We had crossed the salt desert leading up to the mountains. There were more and more arguments.
Photo by Shawn Harquail
There was a fight when two oxen got tangled a man shouted angrily and whipped them. Milt said to stop and Mr. Reed tried to 'straighten things out'. The man got angry and turned his whip on Mr. Reed but Mrs. Reed jumped in the way. In rage Mr. Reed stabbed the man in the shoulder and that killed him. Mr. Reed was banished but managed to meet up with the Donner family.
Photo by freestock.ca ♡ dare to share beauty
Our oxen got shot by Indians but help came. Two Spanish men arrived and said that Mr. Reed had survived! Patty was overjoyed then her spirit was dampened when we found out we had to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Photo by arbyreed
It started to snow while we were up there and when it stopped the mountains were covered with it. We couldn't pass because it was too cold. Our animals were getting killed for food or they ran away. We settled down for the winter hoping the weather would become nicer. Christmas soon arrived and Mrs. Reed surprised everyone with 'a cupful of dried beans, some rice, a few dried apples and a little bacon.
Photo by jjjj56cp
I am a doll. I don't eat. They were hungry thought, and Mrs. Reed decided to ask if she Puss, Eliza and Milt could walk barefoot to try and get help. They all eagerly agreed and they set off only to come back frostbitten and weak. Milt carried Puss and used a lot of his strength. Milt passed away. A rescue team came and gathered some people but we had to go on foot. Patty, me and Tommy had to be sent back for the second rescue team because we were to weak.
The second rescue party came and Mr. Reed was part of it. He carried Patty but almost died when he fell asleep on watch and the fire, that kept us warm, went out. We warmed him up and he was back to normal. Patty refused to be carried after that. She slowed down and fell. I could no longer feel her pulse next to my fragile body. Her father fed her some bread crumbs and that revived her. She saw angels but it wasn't her time.
Well that's our story, she's a Grandma herself now but still keeps me. My pioneering days are over. As long as I'm with Patty.
Photo by vestman
