RK-376

St. Pauls August 1^st

Dear Charlie

I thought you might like these moccassins, more from the connections associated than their real utility – I bought them of Sargeant a trader from Selkirk Settlement Brit. Am. – They were made by a Blackfoot woman from the head waters of the Missouri – they are made of elk skin above and the soles are “parflesh” – that is ^raw buffalo hide merely scraped without tanning or smoking at all – They have not a stitch of thread in ‘em – all sewed with elk sinew – There are no deer ^{or very few} up there they say – You observe the shape is different from the common moccasins we usually see –

- Brother Bob

July 1^st –

I thought to send this letter with the moccasins but enclose it here instead

I send the moccassins by Mr Charlie Hammond of firm of Bassett & Hammond ^Hatters Corner Wells & Lake St Chicago Ill – He will leave them at the store for you – When you go for them – or send – will you not please take Hammond a showy boquet if possible – I promised him one – He has been very kind to me here – He is here buying furs and his friendship has been of use to me – Take it to him any time after July 10^th – He will not get home much before 5^th to 10^th –

Ill bring a Buffalo Robe from Pembina.

with me – I will bring home some souvinirs of my trip – I wish you could once see the carts they go with – Maybe Ill yet buy one instead of a waggon – These carts are light and strong considering their clumsy appearence – There is not one ounce ^bit of iron about one of them – Their harnesses are made of raw hide – some drive oxen some horses - , Ill have a horse anyway as that will be easiest and safest – I have the offers of a fine horse from Mr Kittson – A horse thats been over the road six times already and will give me no trouble – By paying $5 I can have him taken care of harnessed etc the whole way up – I shall mess with Mr Cavalier who is owner of the train – he offered to charge me nothing for provisions but I pref prefer to pay my share and let his cook do for us both – I shall buy a buffalo Robe and two “8 points” blankets for bedding – coming back Ill buy another buffalo – I will have a musquetoe net and a cover to my cart or waggon – I am very glad major was willing to let me have his gun – now I shall be able to shoot heavy shot –

I shall byuy every necessary comfort and you may all envy me instead of feelig bad about me –

It will take me 25 or 30 days to go – I shall have to stay one or two weeks before the train returns and will be 20 days coming back – so I may not be at Home till late october – of course

2

there is always a bare possibillat possibility of my wishing on being forced to stay all winter – at Pembina – But Ill have no trouble in getting home – Indeed I can hire a guide for $30. – I have got money enough and Ill use it rather than [illegible] run risks – I say all this for mothers benefit

- I feel that this trip will do me much good – the thing will make me feel more like a man – Ive quite gotten over my babyish bit of the blues and dont think twill return at all – If it does Ill be too busy to heed it –

I may start to night – may not till 3 or 4 days – I can write back (perhaps) when two weeks out – and I can then turn back or stay at south bend Laphams town etc – any way – after two weeks of camping out Ill know my mind any way – Ill go ahead of the train to “Lapham” and “Breckenridge” and wait till it comes up – Cavalier will bring any letters that may get here by last of next week or about 9^th July –

I’ll write from St Cloud. Tell major I would be glad to have him get me some shells from Des Plaines if he comes across them without too much trouble –

I leave my trunk and superfluous clothes at the American House here –

My bill for expenses against N. W. University is about $300. for this trip – about $125. of this will be refunded to me on my return with the horse this fall –

I shall start with a first rate outfit and light load - and good horse & cart.

Mother must not feel badly about me at all - that was very foolish to give way to my babyishness as I did before here – one thing is sure I am feeling quite well a bodily & mentally – I shall not have it as hard as I did down south at all –

I cant write to all as I must e'en be in a hurry – Give my love to all –

Affectionately Bob.

Better not forward any more letters of great value – let Bairds come as Ill want them – and there is no danger of loosing any – direct to me care of Forbes Forbes & Kittson St Pauls. – No letters have reached me, at all -

[partial postmark] SAIN A 7 ILL

[handwritten] Chas Kennicott West Northfield Cook Co Ill

[stamped] J. Kennicott Brenton Collections