131
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
of them as yet although the Horse was subsequently sold for $75.00; the riflle was worth fifty dollars which sum he had been once offered for it. The note he gave to Mrs. Price at Labahia for his bill & en- dorsed by Mrs. Long, Mrs Long when at San Antonio had sell-her watch to pay it; a fine watch cha,in &c costing $250.00 she sold for $65.00 30 of which went for said note - Peck was gone nearly four months. The things of Mrs. Long which he was to have taken on to Monterrey as may be readily anticipated by the generous reader never left San Antonio. Peck agreed to take them without any intention of doing so - St, soon as he left Bexar, the articles were by his order returned to their owner. He was absent as said nearly four months. On his return, he renewed his kind offices to assist l\Irs. Long to the US. The arms &c of Long's soldiers were given for a mule & horse. Proper stores were laid in for the jorney. The party sat out on the 6th August 1823. Peck, (& Pye - his partner in trade) had 30 or 40 mules along all of the best kind & many laden with silver for the purpose of purchasing goods in New Orleans & the mules were to pack the goods. Several hirelings along; two JV]exican Multeers. Mrs. Long had her two children Peck ca.rried the infant, and Ann rode on a gentle mule purchased specially for her. The first days journey was to creek called• Seawillow, where they camped. The next day they overtook a poor family; •it was proposed that that the children should be carried on the mules; accordingly two gentlemen bound for Pecon point, took up each behind him a child, whilst poor Pye took up upon his crupper a young lady; and on they all jogged. Pye was so laughed at in consequence of his load, that he thought he would the next day get rid of her by stratagem; accordingly he caught the wildest mule in company and mounting it ,vith hi~ fair baggage behind, the mule commenced kicking like the devil was in him, and threw poor Pye and the lady head long in a ~Iudhole. This was what Pye wanted. But he was not so easily to get rid of cruppec companion. Nothing daunted, the mule being recaught & remounted by Pye, she jumped up behind him again to try it; and to be more safe on the second trial, she placed a leg on either side of the animal, which renewing his wonted habit off he went stampeding like a whilwind thro' the forest. The riders were soon left behind. Pye, not able to get rid of his anoyance, changed his mule and journeyed on with sobriety & gravity. A pad was afterward prepared for the lady & a mule furnished her for her own use; she mounted astraddle and thus finished her journy; the whole poor family reached the Trinity their place of destination sound & safe having been conveyed & supported by Peck & Pye & their travelling companions. At the Brazos, an old gentleman widower proposed marrige to :Hrs. Long; He enqurid of Peck if she would marry; Peck thought that she would as it was a kind of natural failing with widows to marry. The old gentleman tried many arts to engraciate himself in her graces; most ludiclirous ! but failed & was left to mourn her departure. He feasted them on watermellons; but it would not all do - his wife had died 10 days previously When they reached Robbins on the Trinity, a fine American mare purchased at San Antonio by Mrs. Long was claimed by Robbins; she had Robbin's
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