During our stay in the place they treated us very kindly, and continued to try to purchase Little Gray.  My father, however, remained firm in his determination not to part with him.

The next place of interest which we reached, after resuming our journey, was within twenty miles of Weston.  We had been stopping at farm houses along the road, and could not get anything to eat in the shape of bread, except corn bread, of which all had become heartily tired.  As we were driving along, we saw in the distance a large and handsome brick residence.  Father said:  “They probably have white bread there.”

We drove up to the house and learned that it was owned and occupied by Mrs. Burns; mother of a well-known lawyer of that name, who is now living in Leavenworth.  She was a wealthy lady, and gave us to understand in a pleasant way, that she did not entertain travelers.  My father, in the course of the conversation with her, said:  “Do you know Elijah Cody?”

“Indeed, I do,” said she; “he frequently visits us, and we visit him; we are the best of friends.”

“He is a brother of mine,” said father.

“Is it possible!” she exclaimed; “Why, you must remain here all night.  Have your family come into the house at once.  You must not go another step today.”

The kind invitation was accepted, and we remained there over night.  As father had predicted, we found plenty of white bread at this house, and it proved quite a luxurious treat.

My curiosity was considerably aroused by the many negroes which I saw about the premises, as I had scarcely ever seen any colored people, the few, being on the steamboats as they passed up and down the Mississippi river.

The next day my father and mother drove over to Weston in a carriage, and returned with my Uncle Elijah.  We then all proceeded to his house, and as Kansas was not yet open for settlement as a territory, we remained there a few days, while father crossed over into Kansas on a prospecting tour.  He visited the Kickapoo agency—­five miles above Weston—­on the Kansas side of the Missouri river.  He became acquainted with the agent, and made arrangements to establish himself there as an Indian trader.  He then returned to Weston and located the family on one of Elijah Cody’s farms, three miles from town, where we were to remain until Kansas should be thrown open for settlement.  After completing these arrangements, he established a trading post at Salt Creek Valley, in Kansas, four miles from the Kickapoo agency.

One day, after he had been absent some little time, he came home and said that he had bought two ponies for me, and that next morning he would take me over into Kansas.  This was pleasant news, as I had been very anxious to go there with him, and the fact that I was now the owner of two ponies made me feel very proud.  That night I could not sleep a wink.  In the morning I was up long before the sun, and after an early breakfast, father and I started out on our trip.  Crossing the Missouri river at the Rialto Ferry, we landed in Kansas and passed along to Fort Leavenworth, four miles distant.