It is said that "Truth is stranger than fiction." In this I have detailed the walks of ordinary life in the woods. In these pictures there is truth. All and more than I have said have been realized. My observations have been drawn from my own knowledge, in the main, but I am indebted to my sisters for some incidents related. Together, with our brother, we often sat around the clay hearth and listened to father's stories, words of encouragement and counsel. Together we shared and endured the fears, trials and hardships of a pioneer life. This work cannot fail to be of deep interest to all persons of similar experience; and to their descendants for ages to come who can never too fully appreciate the blessings earned for them by their parents and others amid hardships, privations and sufferings (in a new country) the half of which can never be told. CONTENTS. CHAPTER. I--TALKING OF MICHIGAN II--DISAGREEABLE MUSIC III--HOW WE GOT OUR SWEET, AND THE HISTORY OF MY FIRST PIG IV--OUR SECOND HOUSE AND FIRST APPLE TREES V--THE JUG OF WHISKY AND TEMPERANCE MEETING VI--HOW WE FOUND OUR CATTLE VII--TROUBLE CAME ON THE WING VIII--HARD TIMES FOR US IN MICHIGAN IX--A SUMMER HUNT X--HOW WE GOT INTO TROUBLE ONE NIGHT AND I SCARED XI--THE INDIANS VISIT US--THEIR STRANGE AND PECULIAR WAYS XII--THE INSIDE OF OUR HOUSE--A PICTURE FROM MEMORY XIII--METHEGLIN; OR, THE DETECTED DRINK XIV--OUR ROAD--HOW I WAS WOUNDED XV--PROSPECT OF WAR XVI--FISHING AND BOAT RIDING, XVII--HOW I GOT IN TROUBLE RIDING IN A CANOE XVIII--OUR CLEARING AND THE FIRST RAILROAD CARS XIX--TREES XX--DRAWING CORD-WOOD--HOW THE RAILROAD WAS BUILT--THE STEAM WHISTLE XXI--HOW I HUNTED AND WE PAID THE MORTGAGE XXII--BEAR HUNT XXIII--GRANDFATHER'S POWDER HORN--WAR WITH PIRATES XXIV--LIGHT BEGINS TO DAWN XXV--MAKING A BARGAIN XXVI--HOW I COMMENCED FOR MYSELF--FATHER'S OLD FARM XXVII--THOUGHTS IN CONNECTION WITH FATHER AND EARLY PIONEER LIFE XXVIII--FATHER'S NEW HOUSE AND ITS SITUATION--HIS CHILDREN VISIT HIM XXIX--MY WATCH LOST AND VISIT TO CANADA XXX--MOTHER'S VISIT TO THE EAST XXXI--LEAVING NEW YORK CITY FOR HOME ILLUSTRATIOINS. "THE MICHIGAN" THE BARK-COVERKD HOUSE THE THOMPSON TAVERN HOUSE BUILT IN 1836 FIRST RAILWAY CARS HOUSE BUILT IN 1854 CHAPTER I. TALKING OF MICHIGAN. My father was born in 1793, and my mother in 1802, in Putnam County, State of New York. Their names were John and Melinda Nowlin. Mother's maiden name was Light. My father owned a small farm of twenty-five acres, in the town of Kent, Putnam County, New York, about sixty miles from New York City. We had plenty of fruit, apples, pears, quinces and so forth, also a never failing spring. He bought another place about half a mile from that. It was very stony, and father worked very hard. I remember well his building stone wall.