Today I’m moving west! Papa said he is moving west for a homestead. Now I am in a wagon,we are the second family in the wagon train. We have been on the road for hours it seems but I’m rough and tough like the pioneers. I made it through the night. Oh my! There’s a stampede. Indians let our bison loose from our wagon.  Okay we are as far west as we can go so that means we are in California. People were not kidding when they said there was a gold rush. Papa sent me and Mama to go search for gold and with any luck we will find some. Here is a little secret, I only came to california to find gold. I am going to be rich. I found five ounces of pure gold. Well I guess my dream of having a log cabin instead of a shack and having clothes instead of old rags is becoming true!