Patty Reed's Doll

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In the winter of 1846, a group known as the Donner Party including a girl named Patty and her family pioneered from Springfield, Illinois to Sutter’s Fort California. The main characters in this story were Patty Reed, an eight year old girl, and a very special wooden doll named Dolly. She used to carry her doll everywhere she goes in her apron pocket. Back in the 1850’s news was spreading that there was gold in California. Reed’s Family and Two other families were traveling to go to California. They had thirty-five people in their party. They left on April 14, 1846. Back in the olden days people used to travel using wagons. A month passed and they were finally in Independence, Missouri. Unfortunately, this was also where Patty’s grandmother died and was buried. When the group was crossing the Great Salt Desert the children weeped and groaned for water. The sun was bright and scorching. They spent days and days walking in the hot sun without any water. Patty’s doll was the comfort to Patty, the party faced harsh winters. When they reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains they had to face bitter hardships with no food or comfort. Since the terrain was harsh many people died because they had no food for months. It was snowing on the Sierra Nevada Mountains as they tried to cross over. All of their attempts failed. Mules, oxen and people were exhausted. Now it was November, then December. The months passed by slow as molasses. They were running out of food. The pioneers ended up eating hides from their cattle that they boiled for hours. Mr. Reed, Patty’s father almost died and Patty, herself, saw angels in the snow. The Reed family made it, but unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Donner died. Patty was one of the few survivors on this treacherous expedition. The Donner Party was lead to a hazardous journey were stranded by snow storms and no water, food, comfort.While

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