IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 IA£|28 |2.5 ■^ 1^ 12.2 I.I Ui 140 1.25 yyi 1.4 4" 1.6 ; V V] /] '^' ^^ /^ y Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STRUT WMSTIR.N.Y. 14580 (716) •73<4503 L1>' \ iV \\ 6^ ir CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiquas Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notaa tachniquat at bibliographiquaa Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia copy which may ba bibllographically uniqua, which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction, or which may aignificantly changa tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackaid balow. D D D n n Colourad covara/ Couvartura da coulaur I I Covara damagad/ Couvartura andommagia Covars raatorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura raataurAa at/ou paiiiculAa |~~| Covar titia misaing/ La titra da couvartura manqua I I Colourad mapa/ Cartaa g4ographiquaa an coulaur □ Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black)/ Encra da coulaur (i.a. autra qua blaua ou noira) r~~| Colourad plataa and/or illuatratcona/ Planchaa at/ou illuatrationa an coulaur Bound with othar material/ Rail* avac d'autraa documents rri Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion L^ along interior margin/ La reliure serrAe peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion la long de la ma/ga intiriaure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, those have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blenches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dana la texte. mals, lorsque cele itait possible, ces peges n'ont pas 4t* filmias. Additional comments:/ Commentalres supplimentalres: L'Institut a microfilm^ la mailleur exemplaira qu'il lui a AtA poaaibia de se procurer. Les details da cat exemplaire qui aont paut-Atre uniqjea du point da vue bibliographiqua, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent axiger une modification dana la mAthoda normale de filmaga aont indiquAa ci-daaaoua. pn Coloured pagea/ n This item Is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ca document est filmi au taux da reduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 12X 16X 20X Pages de couieur Pagea damaged/ Pagea andommagAas Pagea restored and/oi Pagea restauraea at/ou peiiiculAes Pagea discoloured, rtainad or foxei Pagea dAcoiorias, tachat^es ou piqu4aa Pagea detached/ Pages dAtachAas Showthrough; Tranaparence Quality of prir QualitA InAgaia de I'lmpression Includes supplementary matarii Comprend du matiriel supplAmentaira Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible I — I Pagea damaged/ I — I Pagea restored and/or laminated/ r~~^ Pagea discoloured, rtainad or foxed/ □Pagea detached/ Pages r~l Showthrough/ r~n Quality of print varies/ r~n Includes supplementary materiel/ I — I Only edition available/ Pagea wholly or partially obacurad by errata slips, tissuea, etc., have been refiimeri to enaura tha beat possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiallement obscurcies par un feuillet d'arreta, une pelure, etc., ont M filmAes i nouveau de fa^on A obtanir la mailieure tmege possible. 26X aox a4x 2tX 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: National Library of Canada L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la gdnirositA de: Bibliothdque nationaie du Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iceeping with the filming contract specifications. Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the bacic cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending jn the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimAe sont filmte en commen9ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film^s en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol — ^ (meaning "CON- TINUED "), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole -~^ signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seui cliche, il est fiimA d partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 ' t ' ! 2 3 4 5 6 Q »1E1 lYEW / TII HB OLD J **wisi': HURST A l:i. y f. '■^ THE ;IEIIICAI(S AT HOME; I &*i BYEWAYS, BACKWOODS, AND PRAIKIES. KUITKl) UT TIIH AUTIIOll OF "SAM SLICK," HBOLD JLJDGK," "NATURE AND HUMAN NATUKIV "WISE SAWS AND MODERN INSTANCES," ETC. ETC. LONDON: ST AND HLACKCTT, PrnUSIIERS, l.i, (iKKAT MAIILI'.OHOUCJII STIIFKT. i? iLc, 260112 I ! I i JOMN CHILOe A.NI) M>N, 1•HI^TEK(». ] Humour." tlie till(?-paji oUies and v^ well known fortunately t trmsit, conli they add bi p088csscd. ' living, and a triots, where requirements ment of clinr Tin; popi structure tlu applieahlc in orjprcMiaturc, Staid and set by ft lieteroqe settlintr 1ms , Ckdlision sooi tnda eertain is tlio natura rigidly en fore alike, and ac they are allow In the ecu of the forest, almost beyon( control, or ut public opiuioi •<, rPiEFACE. ,i«. [This work is dpsif]jncd as a companion to "Traits of American Imoiir." Tho sketches it contains are confined, as expressed in the titlc-pago, to tlic Byeways, Backwoods, and Prairies. The large oUies and vast rivers and railroads of the United States arc not only well known to all tourists, but to the reading public generally. Un- fortunately travellers, on account of the facility, safety, and comfort of transit, conliue themselves to the great public thoroughfares, whereby they add but little to the stock of information they previously poescsscd. The peculiarities of the ])eoplt', their modes of thinking, living, and acting, are principally to be sought for in the rural dis- tricts, where unrestrained freedom of action, and the incidents and requirements of a forest life, encourage and give room for the develop- ment of character in its fullest extent. The populous towns are so similar in their general aspect and struct lire that a description of any one city will commoidy be found ai^lical)lc in the main to cver\ ')thcr in the same State. Age, gradual or premature, is apparent in all. 1 lie people have become homogeneous. Staid and settled habits have superceded the foreign modes introduced by a heterogeneous mass of emigrants, and the bustle of building ami settling has given place to the indispensable cares and duties of life. CoUisiun soon wears off angularity, the surface is rendered smooth, anda certain degree of polish, according to the texture of the materials, is tlie natural result. Society has its conventional rules, which it rigidly enforces. ]lencc iu every conimunily men dress alike, think alike, and act alike, except in iucli cases where by the same rules they are allowed to agree or to disagree. In the country, and especially that portion situated on the confines of the forest, man, on the contrary, is under no such restraint, lie is almost beyond the reach of the law, and altogether exempt from the OOntrol, or utterly ignorant or regardless, of those observances which Ipttblic opinion demands and enforces. Tho only society he knows or M • PREFACE. H ■! acknowledges is that of his owr family. lie enacts the laws that a- to regulate Lis household. lie governs, but owns no obedience. 1} neighbours, if those can be so called who live several m'" ^ from hi: aid him in those emergencies for which his individual i ^.igth is i sufficient, or sustain him in those trials that require tb** sympathy a; kindness of his fellow-creatures, while they occasionally unite with hi in hunting, fishing, drinking, or carousing. These pioneers do not, as might be supposed, so much prese: samples of a class as a collection of isolated independent individuai whose characters are distinguished alike for b'iing strongly dcv loped, and yet widely dissimilar. Nevertheless there are many strikii peculiarities that pervade the entire population. They all have t: vir.,aes and the vices inseparable from unrestrained liberty. They a bold, hardy, manly, hospitable, generous, and kind-hearted; while,, the same time, they are violent and vindictive in temper, reckless, ii provident, often intemperate, and almost always without local attaci ment. They value their " locations " more for the facilities of huntiii. and the exemption they afford from all restraint, than for the fertili of the soil or their fitness for forming a family home. As the animals of the adjacent woods recede, and the wave of emigr tion reaches their boundaries, they are ready, like the aborigines, dispose of their 'improvements,' and, without a sigh of regret for wli they leave behind them, to seek a new home in the depths of the fore^ The outskirts of civilization whereon they dwel', and the newly-settl^ territories of which they are in advance, present a wide field for i picturesque delineation of men and character, and the Americans h;r availed themselves of it with more skill, freedom, accuracy, and humo. than any strangers who have attempted it. The following sketches I found disp .ocd through a variety of Iol publications and the productions of the daily press. Of the lattt *' The Spirit of the Times," a New York paper, devoted to sporting a humour, and sustained with singular ability, as well as at a vast cxpcib furnished many of the best articles. Of the former, though well kuoi in the United States, but one or two have ever found their way Engl md, as they generally contained others of a less interesting or i: ferior character. 1 have, however, found the field, even restricted ib is to the "Byeways, Backwoods, and I'rairies," more extensive than at first appeared to be. There are classes and scones of diversifunl i: terest yet untouched, the sketches of which I regret that 1 have ii been able to compress within the limits of this work. I. II. m III. DE M IV. A 1 ^• TO! 1 VI. LY '^VII- TH Jnii. A m ^^' A ] '0^ X. TH ! XI. Til 1^X11. A ] ' km. AN XIV. TH XV. A Xvr. A ] XVII. A ] XTIII. TH XIX. WH XX. Til XXI. no XXII. Die apcin. AN laws that a- jdience. IL ' from hi;. .ugth isi: sympathy a: lite with Li CONTENTS. luch prese; it individual Lrongly dev many striki: all have t: ty. They a ted; while,. , reckless, ii. local attuc. es of huntii,. : the fertil; ave of emig: aborigines, ;gret for wL of the fore; newly-settl: ! field fort: nericans h;i J, and huiiK xricty of lot 3f the latti ) sporting a vast cxpcib h well kno* their way ;rcsting or i: est rioted ;b cnsivc than liversilied i. it 1 have ii PAOB I. II. THE PRE-EMPTION RIGHT ; OR, DICK KELSY S SIGNATURE TO HIS LAND CLAIM Hoss Allen's apology; or, the candidate's NIGHT IN THE MUSQUITO SW..MP DEAF SMITH, THE TEXAN SPY . . A YANKEE IN A PLANTER'S HOUSE TOM WADE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR LYNCH LAW IN THE " SUCKER STATE;" HOW lEANK HARRIS GOT SWEETENED THE TRAVELLING TINMAN A QUILTING . . A RUNNING FIGHT UPON THE RACKENSAC THE WAY OLD BILL WENT OFF . . THE PRAIRIE AND THE SWAMP . . A PIC-NIC AT THE SEA-SHORE AN EXTRAORDINARY COON HUNT . . THE lumberer's CAMP , , A NIGHT ADVENTURE ON THE MISSOURI A HELP BLT NOT A SERVANT (CHAP. I.) A HELP BUT NOT A SERVANT (cHAP. II.) THE STAMPEDE , , WHO SHALL COOK FOR THE CAMP ? THE SWAMP doctor's FIRST CALL HOW JACK WOOD GOT THIN DICK HARLAN's TENNESSEE FROLIC AN AWFUL PLACE OR 11 20 20 28 30 43 6G 59 62 65 78 89 9G 101 107 112 120 123 126 138 141 147 CONTENTS. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII. XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL. XLI. XLII. XLIII. XLIV. XLV. XLVI. XLVII. XLVIII. XLIX. L. LI. LII. LIII. LIV. LV. LVI. TUE FEMALE COLLEGE . . ♦ . LIFE IN MISSISSIPPI . . . , SUNDAY AT THE CAMP , . A night's ADVENTURE IN THE FLORIDA SWAM! A RIDE AND WALK AFTER CHURCH WORSE THAN A COON . . , . A YANKEE PEDLAR . . . . NOT A DROP MORE, MAJOR . . SKETCHES OF CHARACTER IN FLORIDA THE trapper's STORY . . . . OPERATIVE DEMOCRACY . . HOW BOB WENT TO A WASHIN<;T0N BALL THE GREATEST GOOD OF THE GREATEST NUMBER ABEL HUCKS IN A TIGHT PLACE . . THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE . . SMOKING A GRIZZLY THE BEE-TREE LETTING HER KLIDE . . , , THE FIRST PIANO IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS . THE SLEIGH HIDE . . . . A SHORT RECEIPT FOR A POTATO PUDDING THE BERKSHIRE PIG BINGO BOB HERRING . . . . SLAYING AN ASSASSIN (CHAP. I.) DITTO, TRIAL AND FUNERAL (CIIAP. II.) ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE . . MAN V. HORSE . . . . SCENES IN ILLINOIS SKETCHES OF PINY WOODS CHARACTER OLD BLAND, THE PIONEER WESTERN TRAVEL . . . , MIKE hooter's FIGHT WITH Tllli PANTHER l: Till 1: !|hE PRE - Dick Ke :;li880uri com „Centucky dc "ered from lii -ny desire to hunting facili odded, Dick " " atured, and - 1 his rifle, aiii 2:)g-iron" was oPibutarics of "ordered upoi -kirted by a iii ;] >ith all sorts •vHck built hi '^.■^ee ; and he -ractiBing en -n his daim. o« In this we .,,i8 only comp "aster's atten -'lised togethi 3i*eir positions ,yC\\ would lia inds of serv; ''^'iendship aud .m» I THE AMERICANS AT HOME. :r [HEIl ]• PRE-EMPT ION TO RIGHT ; OR, DICK KELSY S EIOnT HIS LAND CLAIM. - Dick Kelsy was one of the earliest settlers in the Upper ^lissouri country, and a more open-hearted or careless son of .,Centucky never squattt l in the " Far AVest." lie had wan- "ered from liis parent IScate more for a change of location tluin -ny desire to improve liis condition, and if a spot oftered easy hunting facilities, it mattered not what contingencies were odded} Diclv " sot himself down Mar." Tall, raw-boned, good- " atured, and fearless, he betrayed no ambition to excel, except - 1 hit rifle, and the settlers generally conceded that his " shoot- 2:)g-iron" was particularly certain! A spot upon one of the o'CiDutaries of the ^Missouri won Dick's heart at first sight — it 'ordered upon a beautiful stream; had a far-spreading priiirie, -kilted by a fine grove of timber, for a landscape ; and abounded 'lith ftll sorts of game, from a prairie fowl to an Indian. Here .)|)ick built his cabin, beneath the shadow of his own cotton " ree ; and he used to tell his neighbours tiiat nature had, after "Tactiiing en the rest of creation, spread her finishing touches liti hil claim. Its wild beauty deserved his lavish praise. 0. In this western habitation our hero held undisturbed sway, .,,i8 only companion being a negro slave, who was at once his 'aster's attendant and friend. Kelsy and the nef ro had been -■UBed together, and from association, although so opposite 3i*eir positions, had imbibed a lasting aft'ection for each other, — ,yCh would have freely shed blood in the other's defence. The ' ini)* of servitude were, consequently, moulded into links of ''^'i«SilBhip and alfection, securing to them a feeling of coufid- 2 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. M I i ence in their lonely habitation in the wilderness. Their nc ti^ian'a ho? est neij^hboura were situated at a small trading settleiiu mept for so some ten miles distant, where Dick always repaired to exehai oofllfortaldv'. his furs for ammunition and other essentials. Here he ;; ifttlt'iiu'iit w learned tlie news from the far-off seat of government ; but itiincrits li busy world beyond little interested these roving sons of hood of the ; western forests, — a brush with the red a/cins, or a challo: meot. and as shooting match, possessed much more interest for them, opiniods wen length, however, these western pioneers were aroused fr tf*' .lud'nn' their (juietudo and inactivity by the news that Congress **iri|c)iil(lii't li passed the famous Fre-entption Law. As yet none in the '»* jj,.\^ ^a gion we write of knew its provisions, or, distinctly, what ri. <*aiBKl how dn it conferred; each squatter, therefore, laid out the bound '• I've inv Lis claim in accordance with his own desire, and stood n **n|d 1 can't to defend the title against all encroachments. The fever iSa/SX may hav emigration became an epidemic, and soon that specula: ^^fter jjro mania, which, in imagination, built fortunes in a day, spr int^ation to ( even to the confines of civilization. The axe of the pin All agreed to Koon began to startle the wild deni/ens of the forest, \\\ st^ed. On for ages the hunter alone had disturbed their repose. wilji game am One bright morning a ripple of the advancing tide, iu whit a <'ood u persons of two strangers, was discovered by Dick aboi inj^ upon the quarter of a mile from his cabin, where, apj)arently, they *et»|r(liuarv ni rested for the night. The first was a man about middle statth# strangers, of a dark swarthy complexion, with an easy eye, promiLWq||f a scowl c teeth, and clad in a dilapidated suit of Kentucky jean ; ani^jlendeavour chip hat surmounted his figure, and in his right hand he i the sceptre of the pioneer — a rifle! His companion wa pale sickly-looking little woman, clad in a coarse linsey-wo( gown, and in her hand she held a faded calico sun-boii close by stood a small waggon, with a quilt cover, to which harnessed a horse, bearing evident marks of long travel ftiT'th rce days, hard fare. sida" "How are you, strangers?" was Dick's first qii "It's this i " Judgin' from appearances, you're lookin' out a location.' malles me feel " Yes," replied the man, iu a surly tone, " I've been loifilf from home- all along, but I aint found any yet fit fur a white man.''^ f ^U)\) that "Well, you've jest got to the spot now," says P" *• Creation aint laid out any place prettier, and arter taki:*©- view of it, you'll say so. You and the missus better go ii:^ my cabin, and rest till you can take a good look at its !t' pints, and I predicate you'll come to a conclusion." " Well, guess I'll stay a 8j)ell," was the stranger's respo: and, following Dick, he was introduced beneath the K Don't io( \g Ingins rsal yeart are now. '»erc — OL love I hav or hear o Un the wild a squaw CO Well, I'm and then I JNo you wc THE PRE-EMrXION EIGHT. & rheir m tujinn'tj hospitable roof, after which Dick started to thcsettlc- settlenie jnept lor some notions with wliieh to entertain them more to exchai 0o|lit'iital)lv. On his arrival the whole conversation at the ere he a iet|L'iii"iit was i\\(^ pre-empt ion act, and during the debate on nt ; but its merits, he mentioned the "new arrival" in his nei|^ or hear one of her sex abused beneath my cabin roof, ef Itter go u*' ^^" the wilderness ; I don't like red skins, none of 'em, but Ik at its -vwi a squaw couldn't be abused here ! " j" :* Well, I'm done," was the reply. *' I'll git a cabin of my Ir's respoi?Wil and then I guess I'll do as I please." [th the K " ^0 you won't," said Dick ; " ef you stay in these diggina tly, they »i iddle stat " e, promii jean ; an liand he t >anion ws [nsey-wo< 4 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. aggon ;eriiis; "God !d. vou s eeii niasl of thoi wIkm'c 1; I'tod to iort dist; to 1,^ \vent in search of a permanent location, In pity , uuut r> foi.*p^.^ Dick consented, and tlie stranger procfM'ded to prepare eience; ^^j.^J0||gi. {'op ^ small cabin. The following Saturday, the neigh- thc trem 1 ij^jjgg gatliered, and by nightfall placed a roof over their heads, l! , , ^., kiadlv supplied them with some necessaries, and left, each more t their ho!<:^^, ^-^ '' - - , , , ]C01 itrangei j^^ ijuj-^^d off, as many sup|)osed, never to return ; ti>e natural Lartn, nin ']fin|||^P^y of the settlers was immediately manifested towards lice ^^^^i'\'' his llife, and nothing that would conduce to her comfort was 'u act. ■L'lacljj^p in the cabin of this lu'art-broken woman. . Aftir the lapse of several days, contrary to all expectation, ,^. ^^the itranger returned, ami a visible change was nuuiifestcMl in '^^^'^,^ , his Bllanner — his surliness assumed a more impudent and oil'en- er husuaigj^g character; and on i-eceiving a furthcM* intimation that it ^ . was time he was moriiK/, he insolently told J)ickto" clear out" for t ujjjjm^jl' ^'^jj. |.|j.^j. j,^. ^-ji^^. stranger) was the rightful owner of mm. I' vthe claim. Dick laughed at hiiu, and told him to be olf (juietly, " 7*'r'''"'t*'^*^* ^'^ carcass was sale while that wt)nuui clung to him. '~^^'i^'' Kelsy was laughing next lay, down at tin; settlement, as ho :er brcaki^lglgjj ^^i^^^ stranger's words, and described his insoh'ut bear- ingi but his smile of scorn was turned to a frowii of wrath, wiiKi the laud agent, who happened to hear him, informed the iger drew THE AMERICANS AT HOME. iiusiispecting squatter that the stranj^er had indeed entered glBproceedc claim Ilia cabin waa upon. Dick, on hearing this ne^^H he adji shivered tlie bottle in liis hrnd to atoms ; and, drawinn; IHBed oft" t breath through his teeth until it fairly whistled, he remarkc iilHibour's ' That stranger may have ftome of my claim, but his slcTOities toget shall be my signature to the titled life^^nd imp; The sun was fast sinking when Dick started home, rntP®*'"5''' V'-^''"'^ j)ort the weight of his rille. A lixed resolve to trace the :i^T°JJ be Hud a Bin adiled a severe cast to Dick's pale features— Sam, ;i>jt thus havinu observed him, (piietly shook his head with the remark, 'Overca tlieiii- " Ail, ah ! IMassil Dick's soon goin' Ingin huntin'— .v///'*^ "'" ''*y^ One morning early, l\.elsy ordered Sam to saddle his Ik''"**' "'^'^' ^"^ THK PKE-EMrTION RIGHT. 7 ;d entered -rtHlproceeded himself to clean his rifle; with more than usual g this iK'icturesque love- linen, grand in its vastness of extent, and rich in its yet-hid- vour ole ivden resources. Its lonely quietude was calculated to subdue daris- but^^O ^i^^^ pa.ssions which throbbed in the hearts of those who QOWibroke its stillness ; but a glance at the lirm features of tho d a knife P**^ proved that its beauty was unheeded by them as they clunti- ti)9wert; onward to the dread business of their march. AVhen )iu door w '"^itwQ ii i^^i^t) of Dick's habitation, they halted in a secluded dini' anil '^oU®'^' where they resigned their horses to the care of one of m the sill J*^® party, with instructions to turn Kelsy's horse loose about ani)lie(l i the»mo he supposed they, by a circuitous route, on foot, had ^^^ il^ ^vjj^ readied the woods, and when he heard a shot, to follow with ection of ''^®*' other horses. Dick and his cotnpanions stole unper- 3eived beneath the shadow of the wood, and cautiously ap- ^j,P,^^mv,lPW>»«h<^''l the trail leading to his cabin; ere they had reached ^',"pi^t, m),l the toot, however, one of the party descried the horse leisurely ile of miiK*'^®''^"^' '''^ ^^A^' across a strip of prairie, the llgure seated upon ills bftck swaying from side to side, so like his owner when lor with S ***»1^8P'''">n''.' that they could with dilliculty suppress a laugh, d a fewd^^® sound of the horse's hoofs brought 'from concealment fi'.nnp f„ .another iigure, whose form was indistinclly visible, emeri.nng race the ;b '°™ behind a thick covert ; and the excitement ot the monwut, jl_Sam, ;i>^* *'^"^ having securely traj)i)ed the oll'ender, had almost dis- nark ' '°^®'^^^ them— their game, however, was too intciit on his pur- ,tin'— 4vo'*®"*> ^^'' ^'^' "^vould have heard the slight exclamation which ddle his h^"**"* *'^'^'" ^^'" ^'1^^ ^^ ""^ "^' ^'^^ P''^^'^)'- Moving stealthily to THE AMERICANS AT HOME. a good position he awaited horse and rider, and taking liberate aim, ^fired. No movement of the figure indicated a| and the party could hear his exclamation of disappointiii| The horse sauntered along undisturbed by the report, ceiving which the assassin hastily reloaded, while Dick andj friends crept up unperceived almost to his side. Kaising his [against fed the c leated tl jd ahnos pallid ' Lnd frow: no pierey woi I again, he steadily poised his aim, and pulled the trigger — ( the figure held its place, and resting his rifle upon the grouncJl^p'Qf the exclaimed— loolld u])on I " I've hit him, or he's the devil himself!'^ imS his sw;: " I guess it's the old gentleman come for you, straii!:ij*^ which f( said Dick, as he snatched the rifle from his hand, and the \v^u|^ brow a party closed in a circle round him. snathe stnn The detected squatter looked paralyzed — his tongue rcf^gnji .^,,^| t^^ its oflice, whilo his form, quivering with apprehension, ^■th0Mrini<>-er i scarcely keep erect, and his usually cold uneasy eyes see^QQii iinislied fixed balls of light, so dreadful were they in their expressii ]|*gj||g(^ ^^-^ r^,^ coward fear. The party proposed to settle his business at i j^ \^ luck. ' and this movement loosened his tongue — he broke fort and Was eucltc piteous accents of supplication, anxious. In " Oh, God! oh, God! " cried he, " you won't kill nie— gjn^je count, : y^^ •'' ' . up a king, and " Well," said one of the party, " ice won't do ani/ihiiif/ '/'toeeiher with Kelsy interposed, and suggested that his death be dc\\ clt^. His ai until daylight, in order that the stranger might see how itdis^Slrdcd his done, and be put to sleep respectably. They immediately hig tjsa'n' th journed to Dick's cabin, where they found Sam hoklinL' exultation, bu straw figure in his arms, and looking in a state of stupor aijnto a scowl, \ horse ; he thought his master was " done for ; " but greiit of defeat. D his joy when the well-known sounds of Kelsy's voice as.^foUoHred suit ' liim of his safety. ... — t^ strange: The party seated themselves in a circle in the cabi'.i, came the r/y/;/ the culprit in the centre, and his shrinking form, treiiilfore his eyes, with fear, and pallid imploring countenance, looked most i)ii At 0ach play As Kelsy gazed upon him tiie form of his sickly wife seeiiuexprtssioii of twine her arms around his neck, beseeching as when she bi and his eyes interposed herself between him and death, and the vision >: seemed as' if i mind searched out a tender s))ot in Dick's heart. He rct^i figure before 1 to give him a chance of escape, and, therefore, ])ropose(l lifirst time a i party that they should di'cide by a f/aiiie of cards whetlur friend as slo\ stranger should die or be permitted to leave the coimstranger crusl Dick's friends protested against such mercy; but aftii'it from him, a earnest appeal from him, in behalf of the woman, they yiipart of death. - — cards were produced, and one of the party was selectcii ** Your gai THE PRE-EMPTION RIGHT. f> and taking indicated a lisappointni le report e Dick and Kaising hi:;*' trigfrer— e^^. thegrouu U as;ainst the culprit. By Kelsy'a entreaty, also, he wna ed the choice of his own game, and he selected euchre. eated themselves closer around the players — breathing d almost suspended — a jeam of hope lent a slight glow pallid countenance of the stranger, while the compressed nd frowning brow of his antagonist, gave assurance that ercy would temper his play for this fearful stake. The of the party shared his dislike for the culprit, who waa d upon as a common foe, and their flashing eyes were bent »^w^ his swarthy countenance with an expression of deadly ^^"'7'i^''^^''feat|i which forced out the cold drops of perspiration upon his ' ^^^ tue ^V3ig|fj|^ brow, and sunk his heart Avith fear. The cards were cut, and;thc stranger won the deal — he breathed with hope — ho tongue rctij^ll^ and turned up the riglithoicer — his antagonist j?«6\v6(/, and neusion, ^thelttranger raising the hoiirr, bid him play. The hand was y eyes see^QQj| ^inij^li^. j ^^uj tlie stranger counted two ! His visage L' expressit jj'gjii^jl ^,p^ j^j-j^l l^^3 ^YJpej \-^{^ brow with a feeling of confidence siness at ( j^ jjjg im-j^^ Xhe next hand the stranger ordered the card up )roke iort:^u^ ^r^^ euchered — tl'.ey now stood even, and he again looked anxious. In the next two hands they successively won each a Kili me— gjngjg count, and it was the stranger's deal again — he turned up 9k king, and held in his hand tiie queen and tc7i of trumpa, '^if'tnt/ f'hiog^hev with the eight of diamonds and the ki)7g and fen of til be aeU:^;yjj^ j[ig antagonist ordered the king up, and as the stranger ?ee Jiow It difKMirded his diamond, a gleam of certain success overspread imediatelyljig tisagi,^ — the rigid i'ace of his antagonist betrayed no sign of n hold nii: exultation, but his brow, on the contrary, became closer knit t stupor ininto a scowl, which, by his party, was looked upon as a presage but grciit of defeat. Dick's friend led the jack of chch.^— the stranger voice assifoUowed suit with his ten of clubs — then came the r)hio, which aa sters met no harmonious accord in the hearts of those whi .rxmher his \> strode amid their melodies — the sweet morning air k !B&Blsy set brows fevered with passion, and the light breeze that p. laim^ and San amid the forest grove and skipped innocently across tlu aoiuwi at the ( spread prairie, was about to bear upon its pinions the shr; •*|)at's ]Ma agony. Having arrived at a suitable spot, they bound ?| culprit to a sapling, and he hung in his bonds already, a; % entlv, bereft of life. "Stick him up at a hundred yards, boys," said Dick: he is a snake, give him a ' small show ' for life, and ef 1 him at the first fire we'll let him slij).''^ The culprit aroused on hearing this, and pleaded for smallest chance in the world. " Don't shoot me lilie a onad dog ! " he exclaimed, in : piteous accents. " You're worse, you hound," said his late antagonist ; ■ if Dick don't wind up vour business for you, /will." " Come, bovs," continued Dick, " you all know that tlii-'^^er ipecnnen iron's certain, so give the varmint this chance — it'll pleast' >^*8^ ''^^'^^ ^ and he'll die off all the easier ! " '.g^ ^^'^S' ''^j After some ])ersuasion, Dick's request was acceded to, ^''^*'**'^^f • / the parties took their positions. Life hung, for the cii *?'**^*^^ ^^^^ by but a thread, and that thread the will of Relay. Slowl »"°» •^'^•"^'^ '^ "* latter raised his riHe, while the party, breathless," intently;*^ the souther their eyes upon the victim. Dick's jiand began to tronihli.'®'*r~* T ^*^ his aim became unsteady, for the sickly form of the strau._ . ^P ^"^1^^ wife again seemed to rise and plead for mercy — he rested '®'*M*'*® ^^estt rille on the ground, without the heart to fire; but in an jus:"™*'*^^ P**!;'^ the vision fied, and his eye fell clear uj)on the countenaiii' ^fif'^ .'!^''^ °' the stranger: a morning ray lighting up his features, exhib' •'•SO '^ > '^" 1 i- • 1 1 i. • 1 1 1. 1 1 1 jnooiltiters. . a gleam or nungied triuinj)h. hatred, hope, and revenge— tl ^ ^ ,^ . , was no mistaking its dark expression of contending passi y . , The pity that had almcst unnerved Relsy and saved hi.^ ^ '® '"' H0fl9 ALLEN' - € **WfI'L, ol (rhioh has gro HOSS ALLEN'S APOLOGY. 11 Lnd yoii'vejnnied, and raising his rlflo sudden as thought, the weapon foot by twung ,out the stranf^er'a kneil. As the ball from its muzzle pedtiirough his brain, a wild shriek arose upon the air,^ and all est trees rag Main still— they loosened his bonds, and he fell forward, y adjounv'gBjf/ • midst. : His remains were consigned to the eartli without a tear, to be enafen from liis conii)anion, to whom the tragedy had been p a vietiirnpaited. His cruelties had long since obliterated from her ! his guilt eait the last spark of early fondness ; all she requested, when there en heglftve liud closed over him, was to be sent to her friends in morning >)hio, which was kindly done by tlie settlers— Dick bestowiug those will ,poii her his whole stock of line furs to defray her expenses, ing air k Kclsy set himself down in undisturbed possession of his ze that p laia, and Sam, his faithful slave, often points to a small green icross thtiottttd at the edge of the grove, with the remark — IS the sliri **pat's Massa Dick's signature to dis land claim — datis ! '* ey bound i_ already, a; # aid Dick; and ef I '■f II. leaded for w HOM ALLEN S APOLOGY ; OE, THE CANDIDATE S NTGHT IN limed in 4 '^^^^ mus(2UIT0 swamp. r.v-'Xir ■ ■ «l^ r>onist • ' **^Ef'L, old fellow, you're a Jioss ! " is a western expression, j}_" ' trhich has grown into a truism as regards Judge Allen, and a V that tlii^'^^®*^ ipecimen of a western judge, to use his constituents' lan- 11 please »***8*H "aint no whar," for besides being a sound jurist, he is . greit wag, and the best practical joker within the circuit of ceded U\'^^ States. Among tiie wolf-scalp hunters of the western the t'u *®'^'®' °^' ^li^s^^i"*'' Judge, or, as they more familinrly style »Slo\vh'^™» •fi^'^*"* Allen is all powerful popular, and the "bar " hunters intentlvi*^ th0 southern section equally admire his free and easy man- ^ tromblc ^^^ — ^^^'y consider him one of the people — none of your |.|^^/g|.j..j,) tuck-up imported chaps from the dandy States, but a real he restoil'®**^***® westerner— in short, a huss ! Some of the Judge's in an in,'^*''**'***^ l^revailed u[)on him recently to stand a canvass I'or untenaiio^® gubernatorial chair, in which he liad Judge Edwards for an res exhib'^**fi^"^^^' ""^^ '"^'^^ ^^^ *^"^ ^'^'^^ j"*^^'^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^''^'i^' political vo,no-o , ncoutiters. A marked difference ciuiracterizes the two men, in"- pass! "" more strikuig opposites in disposition and demeanour saved hiii^^'*^ be ha;d to tiiid, Edwards being slow, dignified, and or ) \ i 12 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. ed to s eld in . y the — " W( Allen.' eamt t as Ju id cban up, a b methodical, while Iloss tosses dignity to the winds, and c right down to a free and easy familiarity with the '' b Hoss Allen counted strong on the border counties, wliij antagonist built his hopes on the centre. Allen and Edwards had travelled together for a numl days, explaining their separate views upon State goveriij at each regular place of appointment, and were now iie the southern part of the State, a section where Iloss had the judgeship with great unction. Here he resolved to .'*pW^^S5 "^<1) amusing yarns about the early settlers. Having talked a *^e an n household into a merry mood, he proposed turning in f, 'Utt^har ^^jes night, but first offered his service to unlace the girls' ci: ^^ ^^''^'^ •' and in an underbreath asked tlie old woman to elope witl^* *»*e provei in the morning — Edwards blushed at this, the girls titt? yjad huns and the host and his wife said, he was a " raal hoss ! " .^°" of easy di acknowledged he was a leetle inclined that way, and as l''^,^r,'^ ; had his feed, he now wanted his straw. '• J^w&nger, In the morning Hoss Allen became " dreadfnl poorly,^® *^® candid it was with great difficulty he could be ])revailed upon i^j^^own i/eu> up. All were sym])athizing with his affliction, and the ni: , ■*• ^'^ J^^^ of the house boiled him some hot " sass-tea," which, the ol :'^?^® ♦ ^.. said, relieved him mightily. Judge Edwards assured |i".fi»*v® '^'fi^^ that it would be necessary for him to lay up for a day or i^Q^^i'^'f'j and the afflicted candidate signified the same himself 1^'^^, wi*^^| [ tliey parted Hoss requested Edwards, as he had the w k! ^fx^-^ Held to himself, not to be too hard upon him. His autag * ^ "^^ Hoss Allen's apology. la nds, and o||Hed to spare him, but chuckled all the while at having a ith the '* b.^p9eld in Allen's most popular district. Shaking the old inties, wluli>ii|by the hand, as they were about to separate, he re- lailpd — " We will meet at Benton, I hope, in a different trim, for a numl'rieilli Allen." They did 'neet in different trim, but Edwards !ite govern ttliipreamt the particular kind of trim he would appear in. re now iitJl lli^n as Judge Edwards was fairly started, it was surprising IIoss hadie lipid change which took place in his antagonist — Hoss's solved to .vjre Mt up, a broad grin spread o\ : j his features, and pulling ; south laii.ff tibe handkerchief, which was tied around his head, he among tli-jnrled it above him like a flag, then stuffed it in his pocket, they joiir:3iill|king coolly, at the same time, — " Well, that thar swamp, ght, aboii:«t ii this season, is awful! ''^ His express reported himself f their plafterlus night ride, assured Allen that all was O. K., and re- ; iufluentia aive^: his dollar for delivering the message ; upon receiving rick in j)iv;hiohi intelligence, Allen seated himself quietly and comfort- the stablcbly at his coffee, and imbibed it with a relish that drove the dollar to tlea of sickness into a hopeless decline, brks leadi J!*|ige Edwards rapidly progressed on his way, highly note dest:Patii|d at having his opponent off in this part of "the field, ith of the^ttd ai he, in this happy mood, journeyed onwards, he set his 'keep alo( rain |o work conning a most powerful speech, one that would 1 not to 1( nock!the sand from under Hoss, and leave him in a state of ess was fai?rawfing defeat. He resolved to sweep the south, from that the mean like a prairie fire. About noon, or perhaps an hour idence, waiter, Ibe arrived at Tom Walters' for dinner, and while it was their Im wpanng, inquired how far he was from JBenton. g talked!! **Jve an idea," said Tom, " you're well on to nine miles rning in f,:*Uin Ihar — ^jest an easy arternoon ride." ! girls' ou: Ws was highly satisfactory to the Judge, and perceiving elope witlMlt ^ provender preparing was of a like pleasing character, e gii'ls till? *pi«ad himself back upon a hickory-bottomed chair with a hoss ! " .^°d of easy dignity, at once comfortable to himself, and edify- and as lu'g ^J^^^ l»ost. ., "Stranger," inquired Tom, " did you scare up anythin' like .j^.'ie two candidates, Jedge Eddards aiid old Hoss Allen, on vour „' f, ay down //^' //>•/" "I did see something of them, my friend," answered tlio 3; and then, as if making u|) his mind to surprise Tom, ul pool d upon t'^y md the in the -"^ assured l^^^.g^^e 'i'f'» » striking example of democratic condescension, .' a dav 01'^ squired, " Would you know either of the gentlemen, if mself. J] ieyatood before you?" d the V Why, as to old Hoss," said Tom, « I don't know anybody :is auta^''®» «^^ ^^^^ ^^^v Jedge I aiut never seed, and ef he is tlie la His .^•' u THE AMERICANS AT HOME. slicked-up finefied sort on a character they pictur' him, Toad^^e had ivant to see him; it's my opinion, these squirtish kind a:h0.a»tter si aint perticular hard baked, and they allers goes in fur In the co tocracy notions." rhOf tt soon The Judge had no idea that Tom was smoking him, ardm while he congratulated himself that an opportunity here pre- "Did Je itself, where he could remove a wrong impression perso-: "Well, ht so, loftily viewing this southern constituent, he rcmarkeileelins*." " You have heard a calumny, my friend, for Judge El " And yoi now sits before you, and you can see whether his appeabad ? " inqu denotes such a person as you describe." " Well, 1 " No ! " shouted Tom, witli mock surprise, " yoiinto the digg comin' a hoax over a fellar ? — ^you raally are the sure e; njoyed a reg Jedge?" ^ "He's sat; " I am really the Judge, my friend," responded his lii«ide afore the highly elevated with Tom's astonishment. ake, and I al "Then gin us your paw," shouted Tom, "you're je^^on'thave mi lookin' fellar kin sweep these ) eur diggins like a cataiii " Go it, Je "What in the yearth did you do with old Hoss on the ;t'll b0 'cause I heerd he was a comin' along with you. He aint giurithoot sweet( has he ? " ^ After Hosi The Judge replied, with a smile which expressed disp;^®"* good-day ment of Hoss Allen's powers of endurance, that he was lUCCfai ot his to lie up on the route, from fatigue. Dinner being anno.^°f •^"^''i^^^ as ready, the Judge and Tom seated themselves, and the ;^hM^Toad he highly expanded his guest's prospects in the district, as« ** ^® Sp^^® him that he could lick Hoss " powerful easy, ef he v^* *^^' ^^P broken-winded." The meal being ended, the Judge dei)ii*®*^!*°^^^^™ his horse, and inquired of his host the direct road to Et . •AJIen pass which Tom thus mapped out :— nsuraly ambl " Arter you pass the big walnut, about two miles '®'***^ "^^*y» yeur, keep it a mile on your left, and take the right tra "1 about six hundred yards, when you'll cum to the ' sapliii ^ thar you keep to the right agin, and when that trail tV you up, why right over from thar lies Benton." A« n" 1 f This was a very clear direction to one who had never ■aoi.eJ "d ♦■ travelled tiie road, but tlie Judge, trusting to luck, siiiil v-Q^g i. • thought he would be able to get there without iii^i^'''a«-inff wh' »h culty,"and started otf, leaving his late entertainer gi^'''i"=ord« turned him. "TTolln Tt ;' Well, I allow you ivill, Jedge," chucUed Tom,-"l^^ Govenioi git inter that sivamp, jest as sure as shootin', and you'init,gj^'-j^g ^^. r biggest and hungryest audience of mosquitors ever a cauii^^jt preached law or larnin' to ! " To secure his finding the sw Con i Hoss Allen's apology. ur' him, load, lie had stationed his boj- Jim near the turn off, to make 5h kind a :he laatter sure. -rr *n oes in fur III the course of a couple of hours along came Hoss Allen, ^ho, tt soon as Tom took hold of his bridle, winked his eye at ing him, aidm while he inquired — here pr<'v "Did Jedge Eddards come along, Tom ? " sion persoi "Well, he did, Hoss, oncommon extensive in his political I rcmarkciieeliiis*." Judge Ell "And you didn't let the Jedge stray away from the swamp his appeabadP" inquired lloas. "Well, 1 predicate I didn't, fur by tliis time he's travcHiii' [•ise, " youQto the diggins most amaziii' innocently ;" and then the pair the sure cLnjoyed a regular gutTaw ! "He's safe as a skiu'd hm% then, Tom, and I'll spread his [ided his htide afore the Benton boys to-morrow — •jest let them into the Dke, and I allow, after that, his dandified aristocracy speeches 'you're jci^on'thave much etfect in this section." ke a catiiin " €l"0 it> Jedge," shouted Tom, " ef I ain't thar to hear it, as on the :'''U h0 'cause the breath'll leave me afore then — gin him goas le aint oinrithwit sweeten' — rumple his har, but don't spile the varmint ! " After Hoss had stayed his stomach with a cold bite, he bade 'essed disp;-''**™ good-day, and started for Benton, highly tickled with the it he was lUCW* ol ^^^ trick. As he neared the " saplin acre," he met Jim^ jeinw anno.^^^*!'^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^ spread of his ivories, when Hoss inquired 8 and the ^hic^ road he had directed the gentleman before him. li'strict as> "B'© goi^® i"to de swamp road, massa, but what de debil he Y ef he \^^^ ^^' 'cept he arter coon skins, dia niggah doesn't hab no udffe deiiii^®*'^^^*'^^™^^^^^-" road to Et ADen passed on, assured that all was right, and as his horse nsurcdy ambled forward, he broke into singing a verse of a ^o ^^ile^'eafceili ditty, which says— right tra " Thar ain't throughout the western nation, he 'saplin Another like old Hickory, , , -y (. lie was born ]est tur his Situation — ^^ trail I^ A bold leader of the free." ad never ' "^ ^^^^^^ spread her curtain over this wild district, Hoss lu.k ^.ii,'>*"*«l ^t!"<^o"' a^^^ »s his nag jogged up t'.ie principal street, out imicli® ^'°^® °^* ^"^^ ^ louder strain, repeating the above verse, on ■uer E'unv^^ ^^^^'*^' *^*® "boys," who were expecting him and Ed- ^" ' =ard», turned out, and old Hoss was received with a cheer. Tom —"1 5® ' "^^^ • -^^^^ ^^^ y°^' ^^^ ^^oss ? Give us your d vou'll lu'^* governor ! Here at last, Squire ! " and sundry such ex- ^ — ^^ oj tamihar welcome were showered on Allen by tli(i " Come in, and git a drink, old fellar, shouted one of id y"""';ieMions yer a cam^^^ iing the sw ^iM 16 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. the crowd," and forthwith all hands pushed for the hotel room, where sweetened corn juice was pushed about with liberality — at the candidates expense of course. ^L " Whar did you leave the new fellar, Eddards? " wa-«*«*l^^ ;"'. '"' general inquiry. '^ ^ r " Why, boys, I stopped to rest on the road, and he s '®^^ to git ahead of nie — I heered on him at the forks, and 6X1***"^^'^, *ii \i^ he was here. It's my opinion, boys, he's seen a bar on the °*Jlj" '' and bein' too delicate to make the varmint clar the patl,***^ '^ M'f^t'u taken a long circuit round him ! " ^TJEi^T''!-' "' This raised a laugh among the crowd, and it was fo[*®^^^ tt'iiiii Aip by the general inquiries as to what Edwards looked* J^"* ^^ " "^ but to these Hoss shook his head, remarking, as he rais^ hands expressive of how they would be astonished— wait tell you see him yourselves, boys, and then you'll be '^ fied." Let us return to Judge Edwards, who had easily four'? way past the " saplinfj acre,'' and by the aid of Jim's dinr . ,. ,, 1 • , if J -e '4. 1 imlithe nios(| progressed into the swamp road, as easy as it it were lii-r H ,, / tination. Having travelled, as he thought, about ten mi began to look out for Benton, and every now and then ir. an expression of surprise, that they had located the to v, such a swampy country; every rod he progressed h-^ more and more obscure, the brush more thick and m growth, and the ground more moist and yielding, ^'iglii, that season for the rendezvous of underbrush and taugk- ^^ • , , horrors, was f?st gathering its forces in the depths (^^* forest, and beneath the shadows of the thick bushes, shroi,| as with a dark mist, each object on the earth's surface, cretj up the trunks of the old trees, and noiselessly stealinij the light in which they had proudly spread their green lu while in lieu of their sliowy garb he clad them in a temp mourning. The song of the birds became hushed, whilq cry of the startled tvolfwas borne upon the breeze to tlkj of the affrighted traveller, interrupted occasionally h sharp m-e-O'tv ! of the wild-cat, making together a vocal d most unharmonious to the ear of the bewildered cand; To sum up these horrors a myriad of mosquitoes, as music hunger and vigorous constitutions could make them, hiin and li-z-z-zed around him, darting in tlieir stings and da: away from his annoyed blows, with a pertinacity and per? ance oulv known to the Missouri tribe of insects. Jen put ir ■'•if. the hotel bout with! 'ds ? " wa;' t'j IIOSS ALLEN'S APOLOGY. 17 g rapiJitv covering our traveller in a mantle of uncer- Tlie possibility of his escape tliat ni^lit lirst became ibable, and tlien impossible. He hallooed at the hiujiiest of liis voice, but the wolf was the only live varmint that red his crv, and a stranirc fear be^an to cree]) over his nnd he ^K*"^ ^^^ remembered well readin;; accounts of wliere and ex ***''V^ droves of these animals had eaten the horse from under ' on tl ^t>© i*^l*l'^'' ^^^^ riiler upon it, bones, hide, /lar and all, leavin^j the mtl *"''* !i ^'^'^t'ge of the victims to mark the deed, and his hnir Teifinu'asy oii his cranium at the bare thonghtof such an un- i !• 1 jolittcal termination to his canvass. At this particular moment ,j 1 1, ji(^i^ as of a thousand devils in his innnediate neii^dibourhood, 1 p •. et Ks heart Icnocking against his ribs in a fearful manner. ■ h {J^'^ff^^ '*^' partially recovered from the shock, he tied his horse >n 1 O cHllB tree and quickly mounted another — whispering the hope W ' ■-■a 1 -A- JjI _ .J_... __i.I..i_ 1 __l l._. O BfB heart, at the same tinu>, that a nu'al on his horsi; would .•1 r tatill^ the gathering crowd of varmints, who were shouting T- 5 ]•, heiffdeath song below him. Having seated himself astride a . 1 iml^;tho mosciuitoes had a fair chance at him, and they i)ut the t were liiv r* - ' . . .' i. ut ten nii;^ id then ui d the tor, jressed h ik and u Night ad taujil ?• through as active an exercise as ever was inllieted on a '..'ecrQit ; there was this ditfercnce, however, between him and a it, that fJ/ri/ are generally raw at the commencement of a ut poor Edwards was most raiv at the enu of his lesson, new yell of ihe swamp pre-emptioners, made him climb higher, and each progression upwards appeared to intro- im to a fresh and hungrier company of mosquitoes; the , ,, '^ .f6^ in the swamp were like the dwellings in Paris, their ^P } ^''tialmt tenants were the most , 1 pi!wi«v«- cv..„,..o ..v.v. I..V. .i.ost needy. Day at lemrth broke, ^ ' indOur harassed candidate, almost exhausted, clambered from ' ^ili txalted position. His frightened but unscathed steed '^ ^ 7 itteied a neigh of welcome as he bestrode him, and giving .^ , OOKft to the rein he conunitted his escape to the animal's V^ J 1 1 •iiPtv, while he aided his efl'orts by a devout sup])lication. ent tavoured the horse s lootsteps, lor striking the trail g to the road he started otf into a trot, and soon broke er's spell of terror, by turning into the main avenue g to Benton. Edwards slowly passed his pimpled hand is worse pimpled lace, sadly remarking — 'ast night's 'i/ZAv' all passed, foi i bear their stinging res all over my countenance." hen ten o'clock came, on the day following Judge Allen's at Benton, the town swarmed with the southern con- titaency of Missouri, and as soon as the tavern bell, which o a s^\^''ad||een put iu requisition to announce the candidate's readi- cure, aud * bed, whi eze to tl ion ally V, a vocal co:j red cand , as musie hem, hull gs and da:l and pei'-^nn* 18 TIIK AMERICANS AT HOME. ness, had ceased its clamour, IIoss mounted tlie balcony of hotel, and rolling up his sleeves "spread himself" for aii usually brilliant effort. "Boys!" shouted he, "I want your attention to mar of vital import — of oncommon moment,jrand replete wii nation's wel/ar." [Here looking down into the crowd at Wilson, who was talking as loud as he could bellow, abou; imported heifer he had just bought, lloss called his attentii " ISam," said he, " you'd better bring that heifer of your'u here to address the meetin', and I'll wait till the animal through ! " This raised a laugh on Sam, and IIoss procee After dilating at some length on the imported candidate was his antagonist, he '''let himself out, ^^ on some of measures he advocated, and particularly dwelt on the fact;| he went in for creating a license law fur hunting varmints " Would you have the least mite of an idea, boys,'' Hoss, " that this creatur' of a faction wants to have everv n.. riile stamped with the State arms, and then made pay a lia; to the State before he can git a bonus for wolf scalps ? " this moment a shrill voice interrupted him again; a belonging to the hotel was shouting to a couple of youngN; who had been despatched to the barn for eggs, to " quit su> them thar eggs, or the candidates would stand a mighty s chance for thur dinner.] " Jest tell that gall," said Hoss, suck ny share and stop her scrcainin'." lie again contiuik "I want to know what in yearth this jMassissippi conn; comin' to, when sich fellars iluds favour with the people— » do you think of him, boys ?" ' Why, cuss his pictur !^^ was the general response froit Inr hunters. WHiile I Toss was thus arousing public indignation a his antagonist, a stranger entered the crowd, and after listvj a moment to the speaker's imaginary ilights, he iuterru;i liiiii I)y shouting — " I deny yiur assertions, Judge Allen!" This was a I'oinb shell, and the crowd cleared a spacLM'i the stranger, in e.\iieetaii(in of a iiglit; but Allen, after ve\ing tlu> stranger, in A\hom he recogni'.ed his antag' Edwards, ct)olly iiui'iired why }i<> disputed it? " What, /y/r.'" >houti'd J](4\varils 'who can better (k your assertions false than the man ){)U are misreprescul: you know xei-y well that f wxw that Judge Edwards! " iloss Allen turned cahnly round to the crowd niul "Boys, you know I never get angry at a man insane HOSS ALLEN'S APOLOGY. 19 )r, and as T don't know this fellar, and never seed him afore ly life, it's the best proof that he aint Jedge Eddards ; so 11 oblige me by taking him off the ground, and keeping disturbing the meeting." Expostulation was useless ; without any ceremony he [carried into the hotel, boiling with indignation. There, jver, he had to stay, at a convenient distance, to hear that was giving him '^^ particular jessed ifter the meeting adjourned three cheers were given for Allen, and all parties gathered into the bar to take a little I, and discuss the speech. Edwards having now been red from durance, started for Hoss ; burning inside with jr, and smarting exteriorly from mosquito-bites, he looked Do you say you don't know me. Judge Allen ? " in- jdhe. Loss looked steadily at him, then, coolly taking out his tacles, he wiped the glasses, adjusted them upon his nose, I surveyed the questioner from head to foot ; he then re- ced: 'Thar is somethin' about your voice, and the clothes you [, tJKit I ought to know ; Jedge Eddards wore a coat and Bys exactly like yourn, but I'll swar he had a. better- Li' face than you carry when we parted yesterday mornin'. [ou are him, you're been the wust-i ',ed candidate I've seed ago, n nigger Vcs," responded Edwards, " tlianks to that d I Pent me into tlie swamp. 1 tell you, sir, that I have passed jlit to which the infernal regions are a scant pattern, and ^ei'n nu)S([uitoes, wolves, and wild cats, 1 should not be rised if my hair had turned gray." I begin to r^-cognize you now, Jedge," said IIoss, in ;i )atlietic tone, "and no wonder 1 didn't know you at tirst b — your head is swelled as big as a pnmkin ! I'll do the thing, Jedge," said Hoss, starting for the balcony ; " I'll )gi/.e atbr the boys, publicly, for not knowin' you." iS'o, no ! " shouted Edwards, who Knew his apology would place his night's adventure in a more ridiculous light. " 1 douiand any apology." But ho was too late, lIoss had idy called the attention of the crowd. Boys," said he, "as an honourable man who finds him- in the wrong, I am bound to apologize, publicly, to my id Jedge Eddards. The Jedge is a leetlo changed in ap- luce since we wur last together, and I did not rc-cog- 20 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. nize him; I tliarfore ask his pardon fur orderia' him off; ground." " I grant it ! " sliouted Edwards, glad hero to wind up : apology ; then, turning round, he added, " Couie, boys, let I drink good friends." " Wait a minit, boys," said IIoss ; " the Jedge and I luri smoothed that little niartcr over, I jest want to tell you wi didn't know him at fust siglit. Y"ou all kuow that the nio^ j toes in cedar swamp are au orej'id hungry breed, and when i| git a passenger they present hiui witli numerous 'relief b! AVell, I had gained considerable popularity in that swanip. presentin' their condition before the legishitur', and r.skiii relief for the distressed inhabitants; the Jedge, to heach down thar, passed all last nii^lit on a limb of one of the t:j makin' stump speeches to the varmints; and you can see] bis countenance that, expectiu' to be elected, he had accCj all their w.osqitilo hills f^' One tremendous slunit rent the air, followed by burstil laughter, from which Edwards retreated into the hotel. liave but to add that lloss carried the i>Vr counties "asu as rolling off a log ! " His antagonist in vain tried to stem tide of fun ; when he essayed to speak a m-e-o-w of a wild or the hum of a mos([uito, imitated by some of his auditJ would be sure to set the rest sni(jgcrin(j, and spoil his eU'oi: III. DEAF SMITH, THE TEXAN STY. AnouT two years after the IMexican revolution, a dilTirJ occurred between the new government and a pcu'tion oil people, which threatened the most serious consiMpiciu.j even the bloodshed and horrors of civil war. Briclly, cause was this : The Constitution had fixed the city of Ai;i as the permanent capital, where the public archives were kj with the reservation, however, of a power in the presidciij order their temporary removal in case of danger froiiif inroads of a foreign enemy, or the force of a sudden iij rection. Conceiving that the exceptional emergency bad arrivi DEAF SMITH, THE TEXAN SPY. 21 |C;unanc1ies frequently committed ravafjes within sij^lit of tlie ital itself, Ifoiiston, who then resided at \VasIiin«j;ton, on linizos. (lis[)atched an orchn* commanding his subordinate ;tion:u''es to send the State records to the latter place, |ch lie deolared to he p)'0 tempore the seat of government. jit is impossible to describe the stormy excitement which )\ve(l the |)romidgation o^ t\\\% fiat in Austin. The keepers lotels, boarding-houses, groceries, and faro-banks, were Inilcrst ruck, maddened to frenzy ; for the measure would be »atliblo\v to their prosperity in business; and, accordingly, leterniined at once to take the necessary steps to avert [(hiiipjer, by opposing the execution of Houston's mandate, iy called a mass-meeting of the citizens and farmers of tlie luinjaccut country, who were all more or less interested in ({uestion; and, after many fiery speeches against the ^rtrd tyranny of the administration, it was unanimously re- [ed to prevent tlie removal of the archives by open and led resistance. To tiuit end they organized four iuuulred one moiety of whom, relieving the otiier at regular periods lit V, should keej) constant guard around the state-house Kl tlie peril i)assed hy. The commander of this force was roloiiel 3[orton, who had achieved considerable renown in [war for independence, and liad still more recently displayed H'iMte bravery in two desperate duels, in both which he had his antagonists nearly to ])ieces with the Bowie-knife. I'd, from the notoriety of his character, for revenge, as well |(mi'au;e, it was thought that President Houston would re- Inco his purpose touching the archives, so soon as he should jn who was the leader of the opposition, piorton, on his part, whose vanity fully equalled his per- il prowess, encouraged and justified the j)ivvailing opinion is boastful threats, lie swore that if tlu; president did Jsfed in removing the records by the march of an overpower- Iforce, he would then hiu)self hunt him ilown like a wolf, 1 shoot him with little cereuu)ny, or stab him in his bed, or flay him in his walks of recreation, lie I'ven wrote to the (if Nan .Jacinto to that ell'ect. The latter replied in a note It'oiiic bravery : Mt'tlie people of Austin do not send the andiives, 1 shiill piiily come and take tlumi ; ami if Colonel JMorton can kill llu' is welcome to my ear-ca|) ! " hi the reception of this answer the guard was doubled Hid the state-house. Chosen sent'iiels were stationed along ruud leading to thu rjiipitol, the military paraded the atreets 22 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. 0" from morninf^ till niglit, and a select caucus held permane session in the city-hall. lu short, everything betokeued coming tempest. One day, while matters were in this precarious conditi the caucus at the city-hall was surprised hy the sudden apixa-. ance of a stranger, whose mode of entering was as extraoidi:. arv as his looks and dress. He did not knock at the clov. v ^ I door — he did not seek admission there at all ; but clinibii:. unseen a small bushy-topped oak, which grew beside the \v;i.J he leaped without sound or warning through a lofty wintlow He was clothed altogether in buckskin, carried a long an; heavy rifle in his hand, wore at the bottom of his left suspende a large I3o\vie-knife, and had in his leathern belt a coupled pistols half the length of his gun. He was tall, straight as a: arrow, active as a panther in his motions, with dark complexion. and luxuriant jetty hair, witii a severe, iron-like countenance that seemed never to have known a smile, and the eyes of it tense vivid black, wild and rolling, and piercing as the point if a dagger. His strange advent inspired a thrill of involuutan fear, and many present unconsciously grasped the handles i their side-arms. " Who are you, that thus presumes to intrude amongd gentlemen without invitation ? " demanded Colonel Morto!i| ferociously, essaying to cow down the stranger with his eye. The latter returned his stare with compound interest, aii;| laid his long, bony finger on his lip, as a sign — but of what t spectators could not imagine. *' Who are you ? Speak! or I will cut an answer out] your heart ! " shouted Morton, almost distracted with rage tj the cool, sneering gaze of the otiier, who now removed linger from hia lip, and laid it on the hilt of his moustroti knife. The fiery colonel then drew iiis dagger, and was in the a of advancing upon the stranger, when several caught and he him back, remonstrating. " Let him alone, Morton, for God's sake. Do you not peij ceive lie is cra/.y ? " At the moment Judge AVebb, a man of shrewd intelle and courteous manners, stepped forward, and addressed ti; intruder in a most resjiectful manner : " jNly good friend, i presume you have made a mistake the house. This is a private meeting, where none but membeij are admitted." The stranger did not appear to comprehend the words, M What!" exc DEAF SMITH, THE TEXAN SPY. could not fail to understand the mild and deprecatory manner. His rigid features relaxed, and nioviii<^ to a table in the centre of the hall, where there were materials and implements for writincf, he seized a pen and traced one line: "I am deaf! " He then held it up before the spectators, as a sort of natural apology for his own want of politeness. Judge Webb took this paper, and wrote a question : " Dear Igir — will you be so obligini;- as to inform us what is your busi- uess with the present meeting?" The other responded by delivering a letter inscribed on the Iback, ''To the citizens of Austin." They broke the seal and read it aloud. It was from Houston, and showed the usual terse brevity of his style : *• Fellow Citizens : — Though in error, and deceived by the jarts of traitors, 1 will give you three more days to decide whether you will surrender the public archives. At the end of that time you will please let me know your decision, "Sa^i. Houston." After the reading, the deaf man waited a few seconds, as if [for a rei)ly, and then turned and was about to leave the hall, jwhen Colonel Morton interposed, and sternly beckoned hitu back to the table. The stranger obeyed, and Morton wrote : j"You were brave enough to insult me by your threatening looks ten minutes ago; are you brave enough now to give me 1 satisfaction ? " The stranger penned in reply, " I am at your service ! " IMorton wrote again, " Who will be your second ? " The stranger rejoined : " I am too generous to seek an ad- I vantage, and too brave to fear any on tlie part of others ; there- Ifore I never need the aid of a second." Morton penned, '* Name your terms." The stranger traced, without a moment's hesitation : ["Time, sunset this evening; place, the left bank of the Colo- rado, opposite Austin ; weapons, rifles ; and distance, a hun- dred yards. Do not fail to be in time ! " He then took three steps across the room, and disappeared [through the window, as he had entered. *' What!" e.vclaimed Judge We!>b, "is it possible. Colonel IMorton, tluit you intend to light lluit man F lie is a mute, if not a positive maniac. Such a meeting, I fear, will sadly tarnish vour laurels." " You are mistaken," replied jNIorton, with a smile ; "that Imute is a hero, whose fame stands iu the record of a dozen 21 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. DEA bfittlcs, and at least half as many bloody duels. Besides, he is \i favourite emissary and bosom friend of Houston. If I lia;] the good fortune to kill him, I think it will tempt the preside:; to retract his vow against venturing any more on the Held honour." "You kn:>w the man, then. Who is he? Who is he': asked twenty voices together. " .U(>af ►Smith," answered Morton, coolly. " AV^hy, no ; that cannot be. Deaf Smith was slain at Sal Jacinto," remarked Judge AVebb. " Tiiere, again, your honour is mistaken," said Mortor " The story of Deaf Smith's death was a mere fiction, got up b' Houston to save the life of hi.s favourite from the sworn veiu'? ance of ciM'tain Texans, on whose conduct he had acted as; spy. 1 fathomed the artifice twelve months since." " If wliat you say be true, you are a madman yoursell! exclaimed AVebb. " Deaf Smith was never known to misshJ mark. He has often brought down ravens in their most rapj flight, and killed Camanclies and Mexicans at a distance of ti| hundred and lifty yards ! " " Say no more," answered Colonel Morton, in tone of deen deterniination ; "the thing is already settled. I have agrcj to meet him. Tliere can be no disgrace in falling before siid a shot, and, if I succeed, my triumph will confer the greiitt; glory ! " Such was the general habit of thought and feeling prevaki throughout Texas at that period. Towards evening avast crowd assembled at the place a'l pointed to witness the hostile meeting; and so great was tlJ popular reclvlessness as to alfairs of the sort, that numerous ai.| considerable sums were wagered on tlie result. At length 11 red orb of the summer touched the curved rim of the westerj liori/.on, covering it all with crimson and gold, and Ulling ti;j air with a Hood of burning glory ; and then the two mortsl antagonists, armed with long ponderous rifles, took their static] back to back, and at a ])reconcerted signfvl — the waving of whit.> liandluMrhief — walked slowly and steadily off in opposiJ directions, co\niting their steps until each had measureil llt'nf They both c()mj)leted the given number about the same instaiil and then thev wheeled, each to aim and i <} when he choeoiids — loiJ enough for the beholders to flash their eyes from one to ftj other, and mark the striking contrast betwixt them. The hi of Colonel Morton was calm and smiling, but the smile it W'i a most murdo ance of Deaf S e view of his fe:i in cast-iron. th, the other i; iVreuce in Texa; sidcred peers, arils. Presently two iloiicl ]\Iorton g; the earth a cor Iv began to rch ef task, he hast( Three days aft af Smith and te it further opposi The history of tlie most cxtraoi advent in Texa re until his dea hough he had i r learn either tl vious biography finger on his li| tbed, and his d;i could write wit oriug his situa asure and [)rice Iture had given h r-sei'ing as an ea; a raven. Jle t far-off prairie, rth and sky ; an( tch the scent of a buzzard could These were the hvhiih capacity 1 [iiy during the w |(l <];enerally obta pvate life were uled to sleep u It cloth. AVrap '11 air, under tlu irs, or gaze with DEAF SMITH, THE TKXAN SPY. 25 a most murtloroiis meanini:;. On the contrary, the coun- iaiice of Deaf Smith was stern and passionless as ever. A |e view of his features might have been mistaken for a profile 10 ill cast-iron. The one, too, was dressed in the rieliest Ith, the other in smoke-tinted leather. But that made no IVrence in Texas then, for tiie heirs of heroic courage were isiili'red peers, the class of inferiors embraced none but ranis. Prosentlv two rifles exploded with simultaneoiis roars, Lionel ^Morton gave a prodigious bound upwards, and dropped the earth a corpse. Deaf Smith stood erect, and immedi- i\\ began to reload his rifle ; and then, having finished his lief task, he hastened away into tlic adjacent forest. Three days afterwards, General Houston, accompanied by Baf Smith and ten more men, appeared in Austin, and with- it further opposition removed the state papers. The history of tlie hero of the foregoing anecdote, was one [the most extraordinary ever known in the AVest. He made advent in Texas at an early period, and continued to reside ;re until his death, which happened some two years ago ; but kliougii he liad many warm personal friends, no one could ;r learn either the land of his birth, or ii single gleam of his jvious biography. AVhen questioned on the subject, he laid finger on his lip ; and if pressed more urgently, his brow itl'.ed, and his dark eye seemed to shoot sparks of livid fire ! could write with astonishing correctness and facility, eon- lering his situation ; and although denied the exquisite ensure and priceless advantages of the sense of hearing, [tare had given him ample compensation, by an eye quick and -seeing as an eagle's, and a smell keen and incredible as that a raven. Jle could discover objects moving miles away in far-olf prairie, when others could perceive nothing but rth and sky ; and the rangei'S used to declare that he could tch the scent of a IMexican or Indian at as great a distance a buzzard could distinguish the odour of a dead carcass. These were the qualities which fitted him so well for a spy, [which capacity he rendered invaluable servi( es to Houston's [ny during the war of independence. He always went alone, |d generally obtained the information desired. His habits in [ivate life were equally singular. He could never be per- uled to sleep under the roof of a house, or even to use a it cloth. AV rapped in bis blanket, he loved to lie out in the tn air, under the blue canopy of pure ether, and count the lis, or gaze with a yearning look at the melancholy moon. 26 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. When not employed as a spy or guide, he subsisted byhuntij being often absent on solitary excursions for weeks and i;\- months together in tlie wilderness. He was a genuine son nature, a grown-up child of the woods and prairie, which worshipped with a sort of pagan adoration. Excluded b\ J infirmities from a cordial fcHowsliip with his kind, he madeti inanimate things of tlie eartl; his friends, and entered hvtj heart's own adoption into brotiierhood with the luminaries heaven ! Wiierevcr there was land or water, barren moiintaij or tangled brakes of wild waving cane, there was Deaf Siiiitil home, and there he was happy ; but in the streets of i^'rej cities, in all the great thoroughfares of men, wherever tlicj was flattery or fawning, base cunning or craven fear, tlitj Deaf Smith was an alien and an exile. Strange soid ! he hath departed on the long journey, awjl among those high bright stars which were his night lamps ; aJ he hath either solved or ceased to ponder the deep mystery the magic word " life." He is dead — therefore let his errol rest in oblivion, and his virtues be remembered with hope. IV. A YANKEE IN A PLAKTEE S HOUSE. I PAUSED a moment at the gate for a view at the old fnnii mansion. The northern front is not nearly so attractive as t,| southern. The trees which had been recently planted at iij last visit, were now finely grown ; and it was evident tlii another month would make the spacious lawn one of the iid beautiful spots in the wo Id. The house was large, ])aiiitrf white, and fnrniahed with dark-green shutters. Huge chiiiiiif j were built at both ends outside the house ; and, on tii northern side, a broad piazza, supported by half a score columns, extended along the whole length. An hospitable deii bench ran along the weather-boarding ; and at one end of ta piazza was a sort of shelf attached to the balustrade, on wliidi neat unpainted bucket, with shining hoops and bail of brazil was always standing. In a hole of this same shelf, fitted ti the purpose, was the ewer ; and near this, on a roller, wasf towel white as the snow. Through the centre of the buildin A YANKEE IN A PLANTER S HOUSE. 27 in a hall, some ten or twelve feet in width 1 may be per- litted to say here, for the benefit of my northern reader, ^vho jav not have seen the south, tliat, for three-fourths of the fear, the hall and the porch of a southern mansion are in con- Itaut requisition. Tou sit, lounge, or take your siesta, in litlier. Both, but more commonly the piazza, serve you for four promenade. In the hall you very frequently see the ap- pliances for sporting — guns, belts, pouches, horns — while on [he walla you will perhaps see engravings of celebrated horses. [n tlie piazza, the dogs consider themselves privileged ; and ken the hounds sometimes intrude. The youngsters romp [here, and there the hobby-horse performs his untiring gallop. '• I swear," said Sancho Panza, and he might have said the [ame without swearing, " I think the world is everywhere the line." But the sanguine squire, it will be remembered, was intravelled. There is no record that he ever left the chimney- korner before his marriage ; and Donna Teresa Panza first (iwoke and missed his conjugal presence on the first night of lis world-renowned pilgrimage. With many grains of allow- Jince, therefore, shade of the squire of squires ! do I repeat [hy immortal words ; much, I confess, in thine own spirit, but levertheless " so as with a difference." Else why have the ?rms " haughty Southron " and " weasel Scot" been bandied cross the Tweed? Why else have " La Belle France" and I* Le Diable Angleterre " played fisticuffs across the Strait of )over ? Why else the epithet " proud " for the Spaniard, and ' passionate " for the Italian? Why else swells the world of rords, as the sands of the sea for multitude, with these latter- lay additions of Blue-Nose, Yankee, Sucker, Hoosier, Buckeye, Tolveriue — what not ? " Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds, But Harry Harrj ; " lid the new-made king Henry V. " No, Sancho," thought I, as I came down the next morn- |ng, " the world is not everywhere the same ; and you yourself rould not have said so on a second knight-errant pilgrimage." Lud, as if to confirm my remark, the voice of Professor j\lat- ers, in no very gentle tones, saluted my ear. '■ Git a-o-u-t ! Don't ye s'pose I kin put on my own klothes? Same thing, a'nioat, yew tried to dew last iiiglit. ^est as if a man couldn't pull off' his own trowsia ! Who told K' to come here ? " " Mauasa John." 28 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. '» Clear out. I guess I kin dreJ " "Who's mauasy John ? " " De colonel, maussa," " AVhat in the name o' human natur du ye call me mausij for? I aint nobody's master." " Yes, maussa." " There it is ag'in. Yew kin leave these diggins." " Yes, maussa." " Wal. why don't ye go ? myself. AVliat's yer naine ? " Name Grief, maussa." " Name icJiat .'"' " Name Grief." " Git aoiit ! yevv're jokin' ! What's yer name, anyhow?' " Name Giuef, maussa." " Wal, yew kin take my hat." * Here there was a short pause. " No, no, yew consumed fool ! Yew're giitin' all the nap off on't. ^vith ye this time. I al'ays wait on myself to hum ; and J don't want nobody to wait on me atrai/i'vom hum. I'm a fretl and independent citizen of ISteventown, State of Maine." " I al'ays waits on do gemmen, maussa." " Childern of Isril ! can't you take a hint, yew darneJ nigger ! JMake yourself scarce now, or I'll make you think ttJ end o' the world's comin'. Ef I don't I hope I may die! " Here Grief evidently became alarmed ; for 1 heard his stt;| at the head of the stairs. As he passed me, a moment afte:l wards, his mouth displayed its "whole inventory of interki decoration, as he said — *' Ki ! ben gwiue 'stracted, sure's you bawn I " hruuli'-] I don't want it Yew kin go. I'm thrv: B.if lie had beei Y. TOM WADE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR. It was upon a cold November night that about a dozen us were seated or lying in a half-faced camp, with a bhiziJ lire in front, that dispensed a very cheerful warmth in oil * Synonymous with another Yankee phrase — *' "Well ! that beats mc."' TOM WADE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 20 jidst, but which occasionally sent a very cheerless crust of loke with it. The day's hunt was over. AVe had recouutcd u' exploits until each one was as familiar with all the details ». it" he had been personally present, and the plan of opera- ions for the morrow had been canvassed and decided on, until ich man knew his direction and his post. The oilice of cook )r the ensuini; day had fallen on nie, and I was busy inixinj^ le Hour, slicini^ the middling, cutting up the fat ribs of nmtn, and running them through with hazel switches, so as secure both tlie early departure of our hunters, and myself uninterrupted nap in the morning. Oiu' horses were tied hard by, except one or two old }]li)\vs, whose established habits gave assurance that we woidd Ind tlujiu close at hand in the morning, or whose sagacity iiiij;ht them that the safest and most comfortable place for iK-in was in the neighbourhood of their masters, to whoui lev were very willing to render service for pi-otection, JIais tvt'iwns, &c. All was comfortable for the night. Our saddles furnished j glorious pillow, and our buffalo skins a glorious bed. AVitli }e's feet to the fire, and on such a couch, I defy any one, ftor a hard day's hunt, to rise in the morning without a sense energy that would face a lion, and without an appetite that fould devour him when faced, and handled a la Samson. You kav talk about your reunions, your soirees, and your dejeuners, 1(1 all that sort of conventionalism that the world calls social ^tinemeiit ; but let me tell you, that, for true-hearted bene- lenee, for that freedom of expression that convoys and faves no stiug, for an unreserved intercoursic as void of selfish- ss as it is of parade, commend me to a hunting-party in a i!t'-taced camp. Politics are never introduced, religious dif- ^rence^ find no entrance there, trade is excluded, and in this pe community, where every man is the e(]ual of his neigh- )nr, the jest goes round as harmless as it is general, and when ie conversation takes a graver cast, many a story is told of eeds of daring, and of hair-breadth escapes, that startle the Btcner into deep attention, for the story is generally a story 'truth. It is one of these that I now propose to tell you. After all my arrangements for the night had been com- leted, I turned around to lie down, when my eye rested on le stout form of Tom Wade, who was busily patching up, Itli a needle a shade smal.ler than a sail-maker's, the rents liia krments had suft'ered in the day's hunt. His broad shoulders. H 30 THE AMEUICANS AT HOME. deep clicst, and sinewy arm, gave unerring indication of grea: strength. Like all very powerful men, Wade was proverb, ially good-natured. I never knew of his having alight ; I havJ heard of his having had two, but you can never get him to talii about them. Humour speaks of a threatened grand jury tha;| followed his last combat, and of Tom's mysterious disappear- anee until the storm blew over. Yet rumour never dared t hint that anything in that fight was foul. It was the fearful result of a tremendous blow in a, fair Ji/j/ht, that frigbteiiei Tom into temporary retirement. The consciousness of lii; immense strength and the recollection of that scrape have ktp him from that time the most peaceful man in the coniniuuity. His courage no one doubted. He was generally selecte;! as the most fitting agent to execute civil or criminal processbl that were attended with danger. On such occasions, when ht always obeyed with reluctance, and when no one else could be found to do the duty, he was always successful. Ic must havel been the general opinion of his great strength and courajtj that induced submission to the law whenever Tom Wade liaci the process to serve. He told me that he had never mei ji'm resistance but once, and that was from a gambler naniefll Hinkson, and tiiat after that " fuss " Hinksou was the bes:| friend he ever had. On some rainy day, when I hav^e nothing else to do, I mail tell you of that scrape between Bill Hinkson and Tom Wadel I felt no disposition to sleep, so turning to Wade, I said ti| him — " Tom, as soon as you have done sewing up those greal gaps, I wish you would tell me of some of your old hunts. Tl judge from your success to-day, you must have killed a gooJ deal of game in your time. I am very anxious to hear you taJ of hunting, for you know it was only yesterday I had the builij ague, and last night they had to sit up with me, so that la: very keen to hear something of your earlier deeds with tlil gun." " I have not much to tell you, Phil, except that I have skJ a good deal when this country was fresher than it is now, anil have killed various varments in that time." " Ail, that reminds me," I replied, " that I heard Billii]s| speak the other day of your having had a hand-to-hand ei> counter with a grizzly bear on the prairies once. Was that so r I " Yes," he answered, " I did have a light with a grizzi!] bear once." " Well," I anxiously said, " do tell me all about it. I ss TOM WADE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 31 fou are not sleepy, and I don't feel like going to bed, so let's kave it. "You may well say," he gravely replied, "that I am not jleepv. I never think of those times and go to sleep very Ihortly afterwards. I try to forget tht'iii, but whenever I lave little to do, some of the scenes of that hunt are sure to )me into my mind, and recollection almost gives me the hor- )r3. 1 don't like to think about it. Excuse me — we'll talk If something else." " Just as you like, Tom, but I would take it as a great ivour if you would tell me of that light." Well," he rejoined, "it will periiaps do no harm. AVhen get to thinking about those days, I can think of little else jr some time, and talking about the matter is no worse tluin linking about it ; so, if you will hsten, I'll tell you about lat hunt on the plaius. It is now about fifteen years since a party of us, ten in lumber, started from the lioon's-lick, to take a buli'alo-hunt on ie Santa To route. We took along with us some ])ack mules, 1(1 two or three good horses, to ride the builalo down. We jid not think it necessary to carry mani/ ])rovisions with us, as lie game would supply our wants in this respect, and it would ltivith such tierce greediness as did my couipauioiii the pittance allotted to them. My own share I added to the hide and bowels, and gave to the hound. That dog, Phil, imui have known the condition of the camp, for, though he was as hungry as 1 was, yet I saw him cast one look at the knot ^i\ men, and then one look at me ; a moment afterwards ho turm i away from his food, and lay down at his usual place in. cain,' I turned to pat my dog for his noble coiuUit't, and, when I looked back, the hound's share had disappeared. " A return was now spoken of more openly, but an accidiui the previous day had rendered tha^/ (piite a dilllcult operation, In cur eagerness to hunt, we had omitted the usual precaiitiorJ to secure our animals, and they had strayed oil". The partj despatched to Hud them reported that they had seen nothiu; of thorn, and it was concluded that we liad better remaiu ti^- gether, and advance, than run tho risk of separation m starving if we attempted to regain them. It was better tJ TOM WADE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 33 hunt tlian to look after the horses. If, percliance, any of us should see them during the day, he could drive them up, or come to tlie camp for assistance. Fortunately for us at the time, one horse had remained, lie was toe old or too poor to run away. "That night, after the prairie dog had been disposed of, a snort was heard in the rear of the camp ; the horse was seen to raise itself suddenly on its hinder legs, and the next instant lie was lying on his side, with the lil'e-blood spirting from a hole ill his forehead. In less than an hour, my famished com- panions had gorged themselves into a deep slumber. Brutus and 1 came in for our share. It was a glorious repast. It seemed to me then the most lusciods food I had ever tasi 'd. The iir.st morsel I swallowed half-raw, and entirely unchcwed. 1 could not resist the overpowering sense of drowsiness that stole upon me, and leaving to Brutus the task of keeping watch, i resigned myself to that deep sleep that always follows excess. " There was not much need for the hound's wakefulness. lie might have slumbered on too, for aught that we knew, or cared. If Indians were near us, they were welcome, for wj could have taken from ihem the means of their subsistence ; but nothing disturbed us that night. *' The horse lasted us nearly a week, and at last gave ont. We were still advancing, and r' ill there was no game. On the day when the horse-flesh was entirely consumed, the party re- turned with the usual tidings that no game was seen, not even a prairie-dog, or a snake. I saw Joe Winn, a large, fat man, catit a longing look at Brutus, and instinctively the dog crept to mv side and Jay down. "On the next night, it was proposed by AVinn tliat Brutus siiould be killed. I seized my gun, and sv,()re that the iirst lan that laid his hand on the houml should die. K"ot a man I ill the camp stirred, for they knew how I loved tl"it dog. All this lime, Phil — would you believe it: — the dog kept his eye K^toaihly fixed on mine, as if to read his i'ate in the expression [of my glance. When he saw iue seize my gun, h(> seemed to ^iiow my determination, and wagged his tail ajul went to nestle |iii his usual plai-e of re[iose. '"1 do not know how it was, but that night the ])rayers, Iniiil entreaties, and arguments of my companions maile me pi,'ni'd witli less aversion the loss of my favourite hound, and jfinally to give a silent assent to his death. AVhcn I saw Joo rViuu rise to get his hatchet I rose to leave the camp, so as ^^ • ^ = 84 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. not to see the last of my faithful friend. I turned, however, to take one last look, and there w(?re his eyes fixed softly and imploringly on mine, as if he had heard all tliat was said, and w\inted me to protect him. lie did not stir from his place, but kept his eye firmly on me. The least motion of mine would have sent him headlon;^ on AVinn's throat ; but he did not move. 1 turned away, and as I did so 1 lieard the hatelici descend with a dull cru(>liing sound upon his skulk The moment after I felt sometliing touch my leg', and as I looked down I saw my hound licking my foot. Tlie blood was pouriii;,' from a drcadl'ul gap in his forehead, yet the noble dog had bounded, after the blow, to the feet of liis master, and expeudtd his last consciousness in this demonstration of his devotion. I could not stand it. I wept like a child." Here Wade put his hand to his face. Touched with sym- patliy at the sight of this strong man in tears, I turned aside to let his emotion have its way. At length he resumed. " Joe "VVinu, it was v.ell for you at that moment that my gun was not within my reach. I forgive you ; yet I shall never forget that act of yours, that deprived me of one of the noblest and the truest of the brute creation. And poor Brutus ! tluit last look of yours has haunted me many a time since. Often when I gaze steadily f.t any object, it assumes the soft and imploring look that was tlie last you ever hxed upon your master! 1 have not told you, Phil, of tlie remain- ing horrors of that expedition, but to mo tluit moment was the most dreadful. " ]My share of the dog was allotted to me, but I could not touch it. I stole secretly out of camp, and buried it in the Fand. JMy tears flowed frec-ly over the shallow grave, and 1 left it with a iceling of deep and utter desolation. 1 suppose 1 wm watched in my retreat, for on the next morning, when I cast one last look at the restiiig-|)lace, I saw that the remnant of| poor Ih'iitus had been disinterred, and gone to feast some uf my famished conn-ades ! " In the course; of that dav, all trace of the dog had (lis- * I nppean>d. At night, after the usual n-port of the ilay's hunt liad been made, it becanu^ with us a very grave tjuestion, what was next to be done. The ])rosi)ect of gauie was utterly hope- less. The chance of returniug, and the expectation from :i| further advaiu*e, ecpuilly desper;'*^?. I'lverythiug had been c!! yununl that could contribute to the support of human lite, when some one — 1 forget now who it was — proposed that, as| we were all likely to perish, it would be better to sacridce oatil TOM WADE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 35 of us, for the sake of the rest, and commence our return im- mediately. This proposal was received witliout a solitary murmur of dissent, and it was agreed to try one more day's hunt, and, if that was unsuccessful, then to select some one of our party, who should either kill himself, or be killed by souie one to be designated by some lot. " The next day was spent as usual, and we all returned to camp, filled with dismay and the most direful forebodings. AV'ith cue consent, and without one word being said, we formed ourselves into a circle. The silence was at length broken by- gome one proposing that the lot should be decided in the fol- lowing manner : — Ten sticks, of unequal length, were to bo cut, and to be ])iaced in the ground on the end by some one blindfolded. Each man, blindfolded, was to draw, lie who drew the shortest stick was to be the victim. He who drev/ the longest was to be the executioner, " The twigs were cut from the wild sage, put in the ground, land each man advanced to draw. Not a word was said. No- thing was heard save the irregular step and hurried breathing of each man as he was led, blindfolded, to the spot. The deci- sion was at length made. It was found that I had drawn the longest twig, and the shortcvst had fallen to the lot of Joe [AVinn, the nuirderer of Brutus ! "I have been, Phil, to several executions — I have seen many [men die ; but I never, so help me God, sav/ such a look of mingle 1 dismay, despair, and mortal anguish, as tliat man ex- jliibited when it was decided tiiat he was to be the victim! It was jtlie most painful view in which T oversaw human nature. Wo LU involuntarily turned Jiway, and all that remained for th(! lunfortunate man was to designate the way in which he would |xt monuMit 1 f(dt that iu5 jliiid seized me by the arm, and as he did so we all lu'ard him i'ter, in th'i nu)st piteous and hearl-remling aeccnls — "Oh ! AVade, Rave mo ! — save me, Tom! I know that you ["an do it if you try. If you just say so, the boys won't see me ^'IkHl. ] know they won't ! Just say so, dear Toin, and I |^vill do anything in tl)e world for you! Oli ! Tom, don't shoot ait'! — don't shoot me now ! We can go one more day without so THE AMERICANS AT HOME. food. One more day won't luirt us much. I think we'll kili sonietliing to-morrow. Yoii, v\ill kill something, I know ! Oli! don't let me die now ! I don't want to die now ! < Oil! savo me, Tom ! I will die to-morrow without saviufja sinijle word. I killed jour dog, Tom, I know ; but them other boys put me up to it. You can jest ask them about it, if you don't believe me. If he was alive again, I wouldn't let one of them touch a liair of his hide ! Oh ! Tom, save me ! You can save me, if yon Jesf say the word! Won't you say it, dear Tom F ' "And the fellow absolutely devoured my hand with kisses. I felt a deep loathiug for such an abject coward. The allusiuii to Brutus had made mo mad ; but a better feeling, and a strou;- re])uguance to shed human blood, in perfect composure, piv- vailed ; and, turning to my comrades, I asked them to let Wiim oif until to-morrow night, and that we'd try one more dav's hunt. This was at once agreed to, on condition that if i; became necessary Winn should be the Hrst victim. " AV^e slept that night as well as we could. The dawn foiiiul us all prep.'ired for our usual hunt, and we started in different directions, with an agreement to meet at sunset at the prcseut camp. " r had spent about the day in the fruitless search for game, when my eye rested, and became in a moment intensely fixed, on the most delightful si)ectacle ever presented to its viev.'. It was the fresh track in the sand of some very larije animal ! ]\[y heart lea[)ed into my thi'oat as I tightened my belt and started in ])ursuit. As I advanced, the sign grew freslier, until I was conscious that I was approaching the pie- sence of the animal. " A few stejjs more solved all my doubts. In a little thicket of sage J saw, lor Ine ilrst time in my life, a griz/ly bear! AV'e must have see:i each other at the same monieii:, for we advanced at the same time. lie was an iuHiieiiHl animal, but iiearly starved to death lilce myself. 1 raised my rille and lired, but I must have been too much excited to take good aim. I found afterwards that my bidl had taken elleet i;; liis shouldiM', but then 1 did not know it. A\'e advanced tc- wards each other until we met. I well renunnber his simii! red eye as he glared uium me, and the fierce sUapping ol' lud iaws, covered as thev were with bhioilv foam. I had heard from old hunters of ihls terrible animal — that everything iK'Ji before him — that bullets had no perceptible ell'ect on his liiilt'. und that his attack was certain death ; but if I thought of any of those things at all, they must havo been lost sight of in tlicl TOM WADE AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 37 iiiaddcning rage inspired by the near prospect of food. If, instead of one bear, there had been a dozen, I should have thro'A'n myself on the nearest ! " AVe met ! I bear on this shoulder (here it is, I'll show it to you) the mark of our first collision. I did not feel it then, tliou'di it has left, as you see, an ugly scar. I afterwards ex- amined my first blow, and found, just behind his left shoulder, a l;irgo gap wher^ my laiife had entered. AVe were now hand to luuul. I was determined he should not escape me. Death luM'o was preferable to death in the camp. My antagonist R'enied inspired with the same determination, and blow and thrust were given with fearful frequency, and in profound siliMice. We fought from the same frightful cause ! l\imino iKul rendered us both perfectly reckless of life. Oh, Brutus! how I missed you then ! One good five minutes' service would liavc saved me many a hard blow, and many an ugly scar ! "At length a well-directed thrust, or an accidental slip in the blood, threw the bear upon his side. I was npon him in a inonient! The efibrts he made with his fearful claws (I have one of them at homo now) nearly unseated me, but my knife was as busy as his claws. I do not know how long this con- te^it miglit have lasted, or how it might have ended, but for- tunately he seized my powder-horn and wallet with his teeth. I had the presence of mind to thrust them still further down his throat, and while my left hand kept them there, my right hand was busy with my knife in his side. I soon found that suflbcation would ensue, if I could continue this operation long onough. I scarcely know how I managed to keep my place on his body, for his struggling eflbrts were tremendous. But I (lid hold on, and at length perceived, to my great satisfaction, that they were getting less frequent and less violent. A few inonieuts more, and a few more thrusts, terminated the contest, and my enemy lay dead before me ! '• You need not aslc me what was the first thing I did. If you had been there, a« I was, you would have done likewise. 1 cut IVom his palpitating carcass morsel after morsel of his jciuivering flesh, and devoured them, raw and bloody as they hvoro. My next thought was of my companions. I carried nvith mo towards the camp part of the bear, and having hidchui it in the neighbourhood, 1 awaited the return of the party. At 'h'liijlh they dropped in, one by one, Joe AV^inn last. J'Vcling Yiry comfortable, in spite of my wounds, which I had bound hip, I was determined to punish Winn for his cruel slaughter 3t'my dog, and 1 asauiued aa grave and dismal a face ua tho THE AMERICANS AT HOME. agreeable state of my bowels would permit. The hunt had been, as usual, unsuccessful, and Joe's face was the very seat of anxious terror. As soon as the report had been made, I turned to Winn — " ' "Well, Joe, you have beard the report ; are you ready to- night ? ' " I do not know whether it was the sight of blood on my clothes, whether my satisfied look was by him construed into a smile, or whether his peculiar position made him unusuallv observant, but certain it is, that after fixing on me the intens. est look I ever saw, he dropped on his knees and screamed be- tween joy and anguish. " ' Oh God ! I'm saved ! I'm saved ! Tom's killed some- thing. Look at his clothes, look at his mouth, look at tlie blood and hair ! Lord Grod, I'm saved ! I'm saved ! ' " And the wretch sprang to his feet, and fairly danced. "The latter part of this speech could not have been heard by any one save myself, for every man had started to his feet, and after surveying me for an instant, had dashed ofi', with Joe, into a dance, that, for wildness and fervour, would have shamed a Comanche. I soon satisfied their doubts, told them of my success, and of my having brought a part of the meat, and hidden it near the camp, and added — "' jNTow, boys, you know your condition. It won't do for you to cram like wolves, for it will hurt you ; but if you will go with me (and liero we all started), I'll show you the plaee where I hid it. Now walk up to it gently, and take a small bite, and go at it again. Now, yonder it is, under that little patcli of sage. Don't hurry.' " If you have ever seen a flock of wild pigeons dashing Avildly through the woods, if you have ever seen a ilock of par- tridges scattering along madly with a hawk in full pursuit, if ever you have seen a dozen horses started for a sweepstake, you may have seen good speed — but you never have seen any running like that. I fairly screamed witli laughter. And who ilo yoii think ivas thejirst man that reached the hush — it was Joe Winn. " The camp that night rang with jests upon poor Joe, am! shouts of laughter would go up as some one would occasionally utter, in a dolorous tone — *' ' Pear Tom, I'll do anything in the world for you. Jll^t say the word, Tom. AVon't you say it, dear Tom ? ' " On the next day we started for the remainder of the bear, | and having saved everything, for fear of accident, wc left lor home. This pr ivycit-LAw ] LYNCH LAW IN ^^ SUCKER STATE." 39 home. This provision lasted until we reached game, and we at ItMi'^h arrived in the settlement in safety. YI, LT>'CH-LAW IN THE "SUCKER STATE;" OR, HOW HANK HARRIS GOT SWEETENED. The little incident I am ahout to relate actually occurred at the place named, and some of the persons engaged in it can testify to the same. About a mile above the village of C a, on the opposite bank of the Ohio, and on that part of Kentucky known as "The Purchas," stands an old log-cabin, on a rising piece of (ground some thirty yards from the river, just out of the reach ot'tiio Spring freshets, though at that time it is entirely sur- rounded by " back water," that covers the bottom land for miles above and below. A squatter had formerly kept a wood- vard there, though no one appeared to lay claim to the owner- ship ; in fact, 'twas looked upon and used as public property. One Sunday afternoon, two long " dug-outs," loaded with "plunder" (a term in the AVest for baggage, etc.), stopped at the cabin, which was then uninhabited, and shortly afterwards a sinoke was seen, and several persons to be moving around. This was the family and projierty of Hank Harris, a largo hickory-faced, busliy-headed-looking ftdlow, with his wife and three children. They took up then* abode at the old wood- yard, and remained about three months. The history of Harris, that is, what little we heard of it, was not calculated to raise him much in the estimation of the inhabitants of C a. It was reported by some flat-boat men that '" tied up " one ni£];ht at the village, tliat Harris "lied left Paduky 'twi>en two days, and no one hed seed a site on him since;" also that " Hank was an orful piert hand with his shootin'-iron, and as he never feed ary hog, the folks there thought he et more pork tliau ho paid fur or come by on the fr/nar ;'' and also, that one day Harris was kindly allowed twenty-four hours to " pack up en travel." One day Hank tied his canoe to the Hlinois side, and caaie up to Bill Hughes's store and exchanged some deer- skins foj? "store truck" — meal, and a jug of " Olo liectv," as 40 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. he called it ; that night screams were heard from Harris's cabin, and his bo_ys told us " Dad bed been trainin' tli' olu 'ooman with hickories," and as such cries were often board, both from his wife and boys, Harris bci^an to be sbunn'd and hated. He was, when sober, silent and morose, and when in liquor (which was whenever he could get it), he was (jiiarrti some and fierce; he had fought several times with some of the villagers, and they were generally badly punished. Ilurris always carried his rifle and hunting-knife with him, wliirli was a common thing in that country, tliough, as lie lived just acr ss the river, he had no use for them. A couple of snarling, ii^ly curs, alvvays followed him, and he appeared to think more of them than of his children. The people of C a were anxiuiis to get rid of him, as some of their hogs had strayed oil', and hadn't returned, but they had not suflieient cause to gi\e liim a hint " to travel." They didn't have to wait long, thoin^h. for one day, while in liquor, he beat and nearly killed an did hunter who was a general favourite with the settlers, luiving been in all the border wars with the red-skins. Some dozen men met in Bill Hughes's store, and agreed to rid themselves of Itarris at once; and forming themselves into a band of " llegulators," under Hughes and Bill liiley (a lar^e powerful fellow), they laid their ])lans, and put them into execution at once. Two or three of them lounged in Demmit's store, where Harris Avas drinking and bantering the bystanders to fight. Bill Kiley entered iirst, and as one of Harris's do(];s stoo(l convenient, liiley kicked in Vifcw of his ribs, by way of a starter. " Cuss you, Bill liiley, wot'd ye kick my dog fur ? Yoii'r the biggest man 'mong these yere suckers, but I ken y^^t knock the ' hind sites ' orf er you, or ary other sneakin' dtivil in this crowd." Bill was a peaceable, honest wood-cutter, and more than a match for Harris when he (Harris) was in licpior ; but it was part of the plan for Bill and Harris to quarrel, or Bill would not have kicked his dog. " Ijay down that thar shootin'-iron en knife, and you shall swaller that ar lie or yer teeth, you hog-stealin' cus ! " " lloopee! fact," sung out Bill Hughes. The tools were laid down on the counter, and they stepped out in fi'ont of the store and clinched. A western rough-and- tumble fight is understood generally to be a " bite and guu^c" afl'air, and Twill leave the descri])tion to the imagination of llio reader. I never saw a fiercer, and hope I shall never see a LYNCH LAW IN "sucker state." m Iriorc bloody one. Harris soon intimated that Bill needn't :hatc Ids countenance anij more, and that he'd ooi'nuj/'. I've licked you in a fair fifjht, Hank Harris, and now Iwe're i^wine to pay for 'husin ole Uncle Xat. Come, boys." " I'll make buzzard's bait of some on ye fust ! " yelled jITnrris, as he f=prang to the counter for his knife and pistol. iTIu'i/ were gone ! The furious strugr^lc that man made to free himself from the hands of the liegulators, were terrible. Young as I was It the time, I shall never forget them — he raved and cursed Imost horribly, and fairly foamed at tiie mouth. " }5oya, fetch some cat-line and a rail — a good sharp 'un,'* sang out Kiley. '' Yes, and a bar'l of tar and some feathers," said Hughes. The two first were easil}' procured, but tar was not to be laci, and as to feathers, the si'ttlers iu C a were strangers to such luxuries ; consequently, they were non comatihus in iicampo. " Boys," said Bill Hughes, " go up to my store and roll down bar'l of m'lasses: we'll sweeten t\us hunfer of Kcntiickcy.''* "He's gin many a hog the ear-ache," said another. Harris said not a word, but his eyes looked the fierce rage that burned within him, while his teeth were hard set and lips .)inpressed. The barrel of molasses was brought and the head Btove in. " Now, boys, pick cotton like INIississip' niggers, while we md him," said Kiley. Fcal'd, and with hands and feet tied, Kiley and Hughes lifted him and dipiied him candlcwise several times into the thick molasses. " Now, then, slinf pan, ole fellcx-, or ye'll get sn-eetened inside •)hl out'' said Hughes, as Harris's feet cut a half circle in the lir, and his head disai){)eared down in the barrid. ■' You cussed suckers, will you strangle me ? " he sputtered )ut when his head came to daylight. " Wal, yes, putty much, not quite, I reckon," said one of tlie Reo;ulators ; and down went the bushy head again. " Thar, ijou is swretcned! " said Kiley. " Now, boys, we'll ill him a dressin\'* and the little patches of cotton were lastercd on thick. "Tiiar, you look like a specfahJe vJ/ife man, Hank Harris! ,^en'lnian in disguise," said Hughes. ".list rite for them Orleans fancy-dress and masquerade balls," said another. 42 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. " If you don't keep a carriage, you shall travel by rail road," said Bill Eiley, as they seated him on the edge of tiie rail, and tied his hands and feet, and, with one on each sid,, trotted him about the village, giving him rather more joltiu^. however, than, as a passenger on a rail-road, he might expect! " Thar, boys, we'll gin him a chance to pay his rent in Kentuck, and make swanJcey of the Ohio," said Hughes, as they placed him in a skiff, which they rowed to a sand-bar uiar the other shore ; here they tied him to an old snag, and jjlaici his rifle (without a flint) and a knife beside him, and left hiin there — the Ohio Eiver risinr/ eight inches an hour. As tLv started for the shore, the Kegulators sang out — •' You won't shoot nary nuther hog, Ilank Harris ! " "Nor gouge ole Uncle iVat, I reckon." " Tou won't hick'ry your wife much more, ole boss ! " " AVho's buzzard's bait now, Hank Harris ? " " I'll gin yer dogs a pill as 'ill settle their stomicks for 'i':;i, Hank." " Buftalo fish is great on cotton, you know, Harris ! " The next morning, the bar was covered, also the snag, anJ Hank Harris icas not to he seen. The llecrulators visited liii cabin ; his family and " plunder " were gone. He would have undoubtedly been left to perish on the bar, but for his wife, ^^ilo, notwithstanding his treatment of her, clung to him to the last. She went to him after dark, released him, took him home, cleansed and clothed him, and, paclciug up, they floated out ui the Ohio and down the muddy Mississippi, and we never saw them again. Some six mouths after, a steam -boat got agrounJ on the "Little Chain," about two miles above C a, aii^ I took my little dug-out and paddled to her, to get some gooil cigars and hear the news from below. From the clerk I learueJ that a man answering Hank Harris's description had beei- killed in a fight with the blacklegs at " j^utchez-under-tke- Hill." [••And indeed, sir, th 43 YII. THE TRAYELLTNG TTN-iTAX. [•'And indeed, sir, there are cozeners abroad; therefore it behoves men to bo- wary." — Shakespeare. Mtcajah AVarxer was owner and cultivator of a small farm in one of the oldest, most fertile, and most beautiful jcoimties of the State of Pennsylvania, not far from the Mary- land line. Micnjah was a plain quaker, and a man of quiet and Iprimitive habits. He was totally devoid of all ambitious jcraviii<;s after tracts of ten thousand acres, and he aspired not to the honour and glory of having his name given to a town ia the western wilderness, — though TVarnervUh would not have Ifiouiided badly — neither was he possessed of an unconquerable Idosire of becoming a judge, or of going to Congress. There- ll'ore. he h.ad always been able to resist the persuasions and ex- iniple of those of his neighbours, who left the home of their fathers, and the comforts of an old settlement, to seek a less tedious road to wealth and consequence, on the other side of the Alleghany. He was satisfied vv'ith the possession of two iimdred acres, one half of which lie had lent (not given) to his Boii Israel, who expected shortly to be married to a very pretty and very notable young woman in the neighbourhood, who na3, however, no heiress. Upon this event, Israel was to bo establislied in an old frame house that had long since been abanrloned by his father, in favour of the substantial stone dv/elling which the family occupied at the period of our sto y. Tlie house had "been taken up and transplanted to that part of the farm now allotted to Israel, and he very prudently deferred repairing it [till he saw whether it survived its progress across the domain. jBut as it did not fall asunder during the journey, it \tas judged rorthy of a new front door, new window-panes, and new shin- gles to cover the vast chasms of the roof; ail which improve- ments were made by Israel's own hands. This house was. [deposited in the vicinity of th^ upper branch of the creek, and [couveuiently near to a saw-m il which had been built by Israel p person. Like most of her sect, whether in town or country, Bulah, 44 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. the wife of ]Micajah "Warner, was a woman of even temper, un- tiring industry, and great skill in housewifery. Her daiig]it(r«. commonly called Amy and Orphy, were neat, pretty little quaker girls, extremely alert, and accustomed from their earliest childhood to assist in the work of the house. As her daughters were so handy and industrious, and only went half tlie year to Kchool, Mrs Warner did not think it necessary to keep anv other help than an indented negro girl, named Cloe. Except the marriage of Israel, which was now in prospect; a flood in the neighbouring creek, which had raised the water so hijjh as to wash away the brick oven from tlie side of t!,* house ; a tornado tliat carried off the roof of the old stabk\ and landed it whole in an adjoining clover field ; and a visit from a family of beggars (an extraordinary phenomenon in tl;e country) ; nothing occurred among the AVarners for a Inn;' succession of years, that had occasioned more than a mnntlij talk of the motlier, and a month's listening of the children. *'They kept the even tenor of their way." The occupations of Israel and his father (assisted occasionally by a few hired men) were, of course, those of tiie farm, except when Israel took a day, now and then, to attend his saw-mill. With regard to domestic arrangements, everything con- nected with household afiairs went on in the same course ye;ir after 'year, except that, as the daughters of the family im- proved in capability of work, Cloe, the black girl, retrogradoii. They washed on Monday (with the assistance of a wom:ii!, hired for the day), ironed on Tuesday, performed what tluy called "the little baking" on AVednesdav, and "the bi,' baking " on Friday ; cleaned the house on Saturday, anl clear-starched their book-muslin collars ; rode on horseback to Friends' meeting on Sundays morning, and visited their neigh- bours on JSunday afternoon. It was the day after the one on which Israel and his bride- ■elect had passed meeting, and, consequentlv, a month before the one fixed for the wedding, that something like an adventure fell among the AV^arner family. It was a beautiful evening at the close of August. The father and son had been all day in the meadows, mowing the second croj) of grass ; Mrs Warner was darning stockini^s in the porch, with her two daughters knitting on the bench be- tside her ; Amy being then fourteen, and Orphy about twelve. •doe was absent, having been borrowed by a relation, about five miles off, to do the general work of the house, while the family were engaged in preparing for a quilting frolic. rattling down the THE TRAVELLING TIN- MAN. 45 4. vk i '' Come, girls," said Mrs "Warner to her daui^liters, *' it's just lg;in-do\vn. The geese are coming home, and daddy and Israel will ycxm be here. Amy, do thee go down to the spriug-houso auJ bring up the milk and butter ; and, Orphy, thee eau set Ithe table?' The two girls put up their knitting (not, however, till tlicy Iliad knit to the Uiiddle of the needle), and in a ^hurt time Amy hvas ;^een coming baek I'rom the i^[))"ing-house, with a largo hiitehi'r of milk and a plnte of butter. In the mean time, Or|)]iy hid dniwn out the ponderous claw-footed walnut tabh; that stood all summer in tiie porch, and, spreading over it a brown linen cloth, placed in regular order their every-day supper |t't|uipage of pewter plates, earthen porringers, and iron spoons. The viands consisted of an innnense round loaf of bread, [nearly as large as a grindstone, and made of Avheat and Indian meal; the half of a huge cheese, a piece of cold pork, a peach pie, and an apple pie; and, as it had been baking day, there hvas the customary addition of a r' -e pudding, in an earthen pan of stupendous size. The last linish to the decorations of itlie table was a large bowl of cool water, placed near the seat i occupied by the father of the family, who never could begin I any of his meals without a copious drauglit of the pure element. In a few minutes, the farmer and his son made their ap- Ipearanco as they turned tlie angle of the peach orchard fence, preceded by the geese, their usual avant-couriers, who went [out every morning to feed in an old field beyond the meadows. As soon as Micajah and Israel had luuig up their scythes, land washed themselves at the pumji, they sat down to table ; the farmer in liis own blue-paintrd, high-backed, high-armed cliair; and Israel taking the seat always allotted to him, a low chair, the rushes of which having long since deserted the bottom, had been replaced by cross pieces of cloth listing, ingeniously [interwoven with each other ; and this being, according to tho general opinion, the worst seat in the house, always fell to the- share of the young man, who was usually passive on all oc- icasions, and never seemed to consider himself entitled to tho [same accommodation as the rest of the family. Suddenly, the shrill blast of a tin trumpet resounded through the woods that covered the hill in front of tiu* house, to the great disturbance of the geese, which had settled thein- pelves (|uietly for the night in tludr usual bivouac around the ruius of an old waggon. The Warners ceased their supper to [listen and look j and they saw emerging from the woods, and rattling down the hill at a brisk trot, the cart of one of thoso 46 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. Ti itinerant tin merchants, who orij^inate in !N"ew Eng"'an(l, and travel from oi.e end of the Union to the other, avoiding the cities, and soe'anf^ customers among the country people ; who, besides hm iiig their ware, always invite them to a meal and a bed. Ttie tin-man came blowing his horn to the steps of the porch, and there f;topping liis cart, addressed the farmer's wife in tlie true nasal twang that cliaracterizes tlie lower class of iS^ew Englanders, and inquired " if she had any notion of a bargiiin." IShe replied that " she believed that she had no occa- sion for anytliing ;" her customary answers to all such questions. But Israel, who looked into futurity, and entertained views towards his own houselveeping, stepped for\vard to the tin cart, and began to talce down and examine various mugs, pans, kettles, and coffee-pots — the latter parti 'ularly, as lie had a passion for coU'ee, which he secretly de^^ermined to indulge both morning and evening as soon as he was settled iu his domicile. "Mother," said Amy, "I do wish thee would luiy a new coifee-]iot, for ours has been leaking all summer and 1 have to stop it every morning with vye meal. Thee knows we can give the old one to Israel." " To be sure," replied IMrs Warner, " it will do Avcll enough for young beginners. But I cannot say I feel quite free to buy a new cofiee-pot at this time ; I must consider about it." ''And tliere's tlie cullender," said Orphy, " it has such a big crack at the bottom, that when I am smashing the squashes for dinner, not only the water but the scpiashes themselves drip through. Better give it to Israel, and get a new one for our- selves." "What's this?" she continued, taking up a tin water dipper. "That's for dipping water out of the bucket," replied tlic tin-man. " Oh, yes!" cried Amy, "I've Rccn such a one at KacM .Tohnsou's. AYhat a clever thing it is ! with a good loiiij liandle, so that tluM'e's no danger of splashing the wattr on our clothes. Bo buy it, mother. Thee knows that Israel iniii have the big cahibash : I patched it myself vesterdny, where it was broken, and bound the edge with new tape, and it's now as good as ever." "I don't know," said the farmer, "that we want anything but a new lantern, for ours had the socket burnt out long be- fore these moonli candle into the sti The tin-man 1 extremely liberal plantations, are fi [averse to parting more on account c in tact, the price c [lower than they cc Old Micajah 1 Ian-thing except t pnrtunate for the dipper, that finall) tin-man in vain en some large patty j; [eyes ; and he rem would look at thei Ilut this purchas (juaker woman, all {and vanity, and tli jt'uougli baked in r The travelling [phials of quack me i' those articles, j Lind inscribed with these, he said, " tl liu natur ; draps fo h;ilvGs for ring- wo r,id pills for cone luahiab^e of all ph> Tlie young pec jfurclKisu of any ot jtiu-nnm was invite [with the fainily- The twilight w Ifliid all'Drded sudlc jTlie tiii-nuin took jl.t'r usual invitatio pe arc poor liands las it is "—he had jpiirk, and an cnori "rringer of millf, (iie pcuch-pie, and THE TRAVELLING TIN- MAN. 4f fore tliese moonliglit nights, and it's dcangcrous work taking a I candle into the stable." The tin-man knowing rhat our plain old farmers, though extremely liberal of evorytldng that is produced on their plantations, are frequently very tenacious of coin, and r:ueh averse to parting with actual money, recommended hisw^ires jinore on account of their cheapness than their goodness ; and, in ilict, the price of most of the articles was two or three cents I lower than they could be purchase'^l for at the stores. Old Micajah thought there ■•■. as no absolute necessity for I an 'thing except the lantern; but his daughters were so im- portunate for the coffee-pot, the cullender, and the water dipper, that finally all three were purchased and paid for. The tin-man in vain endeavoured to prevail on Mrs Warner to buy [some large patty pans, which the girls looked at with longing [oves ; and he reminded them how pretty their pumpkin pies hvould look at their next quilting, baked in scollop-edged tins. ]]ut this purchase was peremptorily refused by the good hjuaker woman, alleging that scollop-edged pies were all pride laud vanity, and that if properly made, they were quite good jcuough baked in round plates. The travelling merchant then produced divers boxes and Ipliials of quack medicines, prepared at a celebrated manufactory ' those articles, and duly sealed with the maker's own seal, Liud inscribed with his name in his own handwriting. Among these, he said, " there were certain cures for every complaint jiu natur ; draps for the agur, the tooth-ache, and the rheumatiz ; Jt:dves for ring- worms, corns, frost-bitten heels, and sore eyes, |i'.iid pills for consumption and fall fevers ; beside that most |\valuable of all physic, Swaim's AVormifuge." The young people exclaimed with one accord against the Ipurchasu of any of the medicines ; and businc;Hs being over, tho jtiu-manwas invited by the farmer to sit down and take supper [with the family — an invitation as freely accepted as given. The twilight was now closing, but the full moon had risen. jniid atlovded sulllcient light for tiie supper-table in the porch. I'liK' tiu-num took a seat, and before iMrs AVanier liad fhiished lit r usual invitation of "Stranger, reach to, and help thyself; rvoaro jioor hands at inviting, biit thee's welcome to it, such las it is" — ho had already cut himself a huge piece of the cold jp'irk, and an enormous slice of bread, lie next poured out a I'Ti'inger of millc, to which he afterward.s added one-third of i'W peaeli-pie, and several plates full of rice-pudding. He theu 48 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. said, "I suppose you hav'nt got no cider about the house/' and Israel, at his fatlier's desire, immediately brought up j pitcher of that liquor from the cellar. During supper, the tin-man entertained his entei-tainerx with anecdotes of the roguery of his own coumrymen, or rather, as he called them, his "statesmen," In his opiiiiou,,; their general dishonesty, Mrs AVarner most cordially juiiuj, She related a story of an itinerant Yankee, who persuaded !.-■ to em])ty some of her pillows and bolsters, under colour of ex- changing with him old feathers for new — a thing which t-h] acknowledged had puzzled her not a little, as she thouglit i: strange that any man should bargain so badly for himself. He produced from his cart a bag of feathers which he declared wciv quite new; but, after his departure, she found that he ImJ given her such short measure that she had not half enough to till her ticking, and most of the feathers were ])roved, upon examination, to have belonged to chickens rather tiiaii to geese — nearly a whole cock's tail having bceu found aniuug?: them. The farmer pointed in to tlie open door of the house, aiiil showed the tiu-mau a large m ooden clock, put up without i case between two windows, the i)endulum and tiie weight? being "exposed and bare." This clock he had bought i'oi- tea dollars of a ti'avelling Yankee who had set out to supj)ly tlio country Avith these machines. It had only kept tolerable timo for about two months, and had ever since bei'U getting faster and faster, though it was still faithfully wound up every Aveik, Tlic hands were now going merrily round at the rate of tun miles an hour, and it never struck le^s then twelve. The YanUee tin-man, with a candour that excited the ad- miration of the whole family, acknowledged that his statesmen were the greatest rogues "on the face of the yearth ; " anj rc^counied instances of their trickery that would have sturtW the belief of any but the inexperienced and credulous pi'Dpl; Avho were now listening to him. lie told, ibr example, oi sausages being brought to market in the eastern towns, that when purchased and pri>pared for frying, wei-e found to hv liiieJ with chopped lui'ni[) and shreds of red llannel. I'or one(>, thought the Warners, we have found an liuiicst Tunkee. They sat a long while at table, and though the tin-ma;- seemed to talk all the tin)e he was eating, the quantity of \lv tuals that he caused to disa[)p(\ir surprised even ?lrs Wanid') accustomed as she was to the aj)petito of Israel. THE TRAVELLING TIN-MAN. 49 "When the Yankee had at last completed his supper, the farmer invited him to stay all night ; but he replied, " that it was mooiishiny, and fine cool travellin' after a warm day ; he preferred putting on towards Maryland as soon as his creatur was rested, and had a feed." He then, without more ceremony, led his horse and cart into the harn-yard, and stopping near the stablo-door fed the auimtil by the light of the moon, and curried him a bucket of water from the pump. The girls being reminded by their mother that it was late, and thav; the cows had long since come home, took their pails and went out to milk, while she washed up the supper things. While they were milking the subse"quent dialogue took place between them : Orpliy. I know it's not right to notice strangers, and to be sm'e the man's welcome; but, Amy, did thee ever see any- body take victuals like this Yankee ? Amy. Yes, but he didn't eat all he took, for I saw him slip a groat chunk of bread and cheese into his pocket, and then a big piece of pie, while he was talking and making us laugh. • Orpliy. Well, I think a man must be very badly off to do 8uch a thing. I wonder he did not nsk for victuals to take away with him. lie need not have been afraid, He must know that victuals is no object. And then he has travelled the road long enough to be sure that he can get a meal for no- thing at any house he stops at, as all the tin-men do. ]Io must have seen us looking at his eating so nuich, and may be his pride is hurt, and so he's made up his mind, all of a sudden, to take his meals no more at ])eople's houses. Amy. Then why can't he stop at a tavern, and pay for his victuals ? Orphy. May be he don't want to spend his money in that trilling way. Who knows buj he is saving it up to liclp an old mother, or to buy hack l.uid., or sonuthing of that sort? I'll bo bound he calcnlnlo': upon eating nothing to-n»orrovv but what he slipjxcd olf from our table. Amy. All he took will not last him a day. It's a pity of him. anyhow. Orphy. I wish he had not been too bashful to ask for victuals to take with him. Amy. i\nd still he did not strike me at all as a bashful I man. Orphy. Suppose we were just in a private way to put some victuals into hia cart for him, without letting him know any- 50 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. thing about It ? Let's hide it among the tins, and how glad he'll be when he finds it to-morrow ! Amy, So we will ; that's an excellent notion ! I never pitied anybody so much since the day the beggars came, Miiich was five years ago last harvest, for I have kept count ever since ; and I remember it as well as if it were yesterday. Orphy. AVe don't kno\ ' what a hard thing it is to want victuals, as the Irish schoolmaster used to tell us, when he saw us emptying pans of milk into the pig-trough, and turning the cows into the orchard to eat the heaps of apples lying under the trees. Amy. Yes, and it must be much worse for an American to want victuals, than for people from the old countries who are used to it. After they had finished their milking, and strained and put away the milk, the kind-hearted little girls proceeded to accom- plish their benevolent purpose. They took from the large wire-safe in the cellar a pie, half a loaf of bread, and a great piece of cheese ; and, putting them into a basket, they went to the barn-yard, intending to tell their mother as soon as tbn tin-man was gone, and not for a moment doubting her ap- proval, since in the house of an American farmer victuals, as Orphy justly observed, is no object. As they approached the barn-yard, they saw, by the li^ht of the moon, the Yankee coming away from his cart and re- turning to the house. The gii'ls crouched down behind the garden-fence till he had passed, and then cautiously proceeded on their errand. They went to the back of the cart, intend- ing to deposit their provisions, when they were startled at seeing something evidently alive moving behind the round opening of the cover, and in a moment the head of a little black child i)eeped out of the hole. The girls were so surprised that they stopped short and could not utter a word, and the young negro, evidently afraid of being seen, immediately popped down its head among the tins. " Amy, did thee see that ?" asked Orphy, in a low voice. *' Ves, I (lid so," replied Amy; "what can the Yankee bf doing A", ith that little neger, and why does he hide it ? Let's go and ask the child." " No, no ! " exclaimed Or|)hy, "tlie tin-man will be an^rry.' " And who cares if he is ? " said Amy ; " he has done some- thing he is ashamed of, and we need not be afraid of him." They then went quite close to the back of the cart, auJ THE TRAVELLING TIN-MAN. m, Amy said, " Here, little snowball, show thyself and speak ; and do not be afraid, for nobody's going to hurt thee." " How did thee come into this cart ? " aslied Orphy, " and why does the Yankee hide thee ? Tell us all about it, and be sure not to speak above thy breath." The black child again peeped out'of the hole, and looking cautiously round, said, " Are you quite sure the naughty man won't hear us." " Quite sure," answered Amy, " but is thee boy or giil ? " " I'm a little gal," replied the child ; and, with the charac- teristic volubility of her race, she continued, " and my name's Dinah, and I'm five year old, and my daddy and mammy are free coloured people, and they lives a big piece off, and daddy- works out, and mammy sells gingerbread and molasses-beer, and we have a sign over the door with a bottle and cake on it." Amy. But how did this man get hold of thee, if thy father and mother are free people ? Thee can't be bound to him, or he need not hide thee. Dinah. O, I know I an't bounded to him — I expect he stole me. Amy. Stole thee! "What here in the free State of Penn- sylvany ? Dinah. I was out picking huckleberries in the woods up the road, and I strayed off a big piece from home. Then the tin-man corned along, driving his cart, and I run close to the road-side to look, as I always does when anybody goes by. So he told me to come into his cart, and he would give me a tin mug to put my huckleberries in, and I might choose it my- self, and it would hold them a heap better than my old Indian basket. So I was very glad, and he lifted me up into the cart, and I choosed the very best and biggest tin mug he had, aud emptied my huckleberries into it. And then he told me he'd give me a ride in his cart, and then he set me far back on a hox, and he whipped his creatur, and druv and druv, aud jolted me so that I tumbled all down among the tins. And then he picked me up, and tied me fast with his handkercher to one of the baok posts of the cart to lieep me steady, he said. And then, for all 1 was steady, I couldn't lielp crying, and I wanted him to take me home to daddy and mammy. But he only sniggered at me, and said he wouldn't, and bid mo hush ; and then ho got mad, and because I couldn't hush up just in a niinute, ho whipped me quite smart. Orphy. Poor little thing ! Biuah. And then I got frightened, for he put on a wicked r 52 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. look, and said he'd kill me dead if I cried any more or made tlie least bit of noise. And so he has been carrying ine iilourr m his cart for two days and t"'o nights, and he makes me hide away all tjae time, and he won't let nobody see me. And I hate him, 'and yesterday, when I know'd he didn't see me, I iipit on the crown of his hat. Amy. Hush ! — thee must never say thee hates anybo.ly. Dinah. At night I sleeps upon the bag of feathers: and when he stops anywhere to eat, he comes sneaking to t\v) back of the cart and pokes in victuals (he has just now brmiL; me some), and he tells me he wants me to be fat and good-lookiiifr, I was afoard he was going to sell me to the butcher, as Xace Willet did his fat calf, and I thought I'd ax him about it, and he laughed and told me he was going to sell me sure enoiif^li, but not to a butcher. And I'm almost all the time very sorn, only sometimes I'm not, and then I should like to phiy with the tins, only he won't let me. I don't dare to cry out loud, for fear the naughty man would whip me; but I always inoau when we're going through woods, and there's nobody in sight to hear me. lie never lets me look out of the back of the cart, only wiien there's nobody to see me, and he won't let me sing even when I want to. And I moan most when I think of mv daddy and mammy, and how they are wondering what has b^ come of me ; and I think moaning does me good, only he stops me short. Amy. Now, Orphy, what's to bo done ? The tin-mnn has. of course, kidnapped this black child to take her into ^lary- land, where he can sell her for a good price; as she is a tar, healthy-looking thing, and that is a slave State. Docs ih.r think we ought to let him take her oif ? Orphy. No, indeed ! I think I could feel free to liirh: for her myself — that is, if fighting were not forbidden In IVienda. Yonder's Israel coming to turn the cows into lia clover-lield. Little girl, lie (piiet, and don't otl'er to show thyself Israel liow advanced — " Well, girls," said he, " what'.s thee doing at the tin-man's cart ? Not meddling among his tius, 1 hope? Oh ! the curiosity of women-folks ! " " Israel," said Amy, " step softly — we have something to show thee." The girls then lifted up the corner of the cart cover, and displayed the little negro girl, crouched upon the bag of fcathtrj — a part of his merchandise which the Yankee had nob tlioiii,'li: it expedi(Mit to produce, after hearing IMra Warner's anecdote | of one of his predecessors. THE TRAVELLING TIN-MAN. The young man "was much amazed, and his two sisters befTjiii both at once to relate to him the story of the black child. Israel looked almost indignant. His sisters said to him, •• To be sure we won't lot the Yankee carry this child olf with him." " I judge we won't," answ ered Israel. '■ Then," said Aniy, " let as take her out of the cart, and hide her in the barn or somcvvhere, till he has gone." '' No," replied Israel, " 1 can't say I feel free to do that. It would be too much like stealing her over again ; and I've no notion of evening myself to a Yankee in any of his ways. Put her down in the cart and let her alone. I'll have no under- handed work about her. Let's all go back to the house; mother has got down all the broken crockery from the top shelf in the corner cupboard, and the Yankee's mending it with a sort of stuft' like sticks of sealing-wax, that he carries about with him ; and I dare say he'll get her to pay him more lor it than the things are worth. But say nothing." The girls cautioned Dinah not to let the tin-man know that they had discovered her, and to keep lierself perfectly (juiet : and they then accompanied their brother to the house, teeling very fidgetty and uneasy. They found the table covered with old bowls, old tea-pots, old sagar-dishes, and old pitchers ; whose fractures the Yankee was cementing together, while Mrs Warner held the candle, aud hor husband viewed the operation with great curiosity. "Israel," said his mother, as he entered, "this friend is making the china as good as new, only that wc can't help see- ing; the join; and we are going to give all the mended things to thee." The Yankee, having finished his work and been paid for it, I said it was high time for him to be about starting, and he must f,'o and look after his cart. He accordingly left the house for itbat purpose; and Israel, looking out at the end window, exdaiined, " I see he's not coming round to the house again, jbut lie's going to try the short cut into the back road. I'll go jaiid see that he puts up the bars after him." Israel went out, and his sisters followed him to see the tin- 1 man oil'. The Yankee came to the bars, leading his horse with the part, and found Israel there before him. "Arc you going to let down the bars for me ? " said the |tin-niaii. "x\o," replied Israel, " I'm not going to be so polite, but 54 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. I intend to see that thee carries off nothing more than belongs to thee." " What do you mean ? " exclaimed the Yankee, changing colour. " I expect I can show thee," answered Israel. Then, step- ping up to the back of the cart, and putting in his hands, he pulled out the black ?hild-and held her up before him, saying, " Now, if thee offers to touch this girl, I think we shall be apt to dilfer." The tin-man then advanced towards Israel, and with a menacing look raised his whip ; but the fearless young quakcr (having consigned the little girl to his sisters, who held her between them) immediately broke a stick from a tree that grew near, and stood on the defensive with a most steadfast look of calm resolution. The Yankee went close up to him, brandishing his whip ; but before he had time to strike, Israel with the utmost cool- ness, and with grf at strength and dexterity, seized him by the collar, and swinging him round to some distance, ilung him to the ground wi^'i such force as to stun him. saving, " Mind, I don't call myself a fighting character ; but if thee offers to get up, I sliall feel free to keep thee down." The tin-man began to move, and the girls ran shrieking to the house of their father, dragging with them the little black girl, whose screams (as is usual with all of her colour) were the loudest of the loud. In an instant the stout old farmer was at the side of his Bon, and, notwithstanding the struggles of the Yankee, they Fucc'cded by main force in conveying him to the stable, into which they fastened him for the uight. Early ne::t morning, Israel and his father went to the nearest magistrate for a warrant and n constable, and w>:? followed home by half the township. The county court was then in session ; the tin-man was tried, and convicted of liaviii!,' kidnapped a free black child, with tiie design of selling her as a slave in one of the southern States ; and he war, jj.inished by fine and imprisonment^. The Warner- family would have felt more compassion fur hi?n than tiiCy did, only that fill the mended china fell apart again the next day, and his tins were so badly soldered that all th!.nr bottoms came out before the end of the month. ]Mra Warner declared that she had dcnie with Yankee tin- men for ever, and in short with all other Yankees. But the store-keeper, Philip Thompson, who was the most sensible man THE TRAVELLING TIN-MAN. SB of the neifrhbourhood, and took two Philadelphia newspapers, conviiu't'd her that some of the best and fj^reatest men America can boast of were natives of the Xew Eiii^land States. And lie even asserted that in the course of his life (and iii« ajj^e did not exceed sixty-seven) he had met with no less than live pofcctli/ honest Yankee tin-men ; and, besides being honest, two of them were not in the least impudent. Among the latter, how- ever, he did not, of course, include a very handsome fellow, that a few years since made the tour of the United States with hi3 tin-cart, calling himself the Boston Beauty, and wearing his own miniature round his neck. To conclude, — an advertisement having been inserted in several of the papers, to designate where Dinah, the little hlack girl, was to be found, and the tin-man's trial having also been noticed in the public prints, in about a fortnight her father and mother (two very decent free negroes) arrived to claim her, having walked all the way from their cottage at the extremity of the next county. They innnediately identified her, and the meeting was most joyful to them and to her. They told at full length every particular of their anxious search after their child, which was ended by a gentleman bringing a newspaper to their honse, containing the welcome intelligence that she was safe at Micajah Warner's. Amy and Orphy were desirous of retaining little Dinah in the family, and as the child's parents seemed very willing, the girls urged their mother to keep her instead of Cloe, who they said could be very easily made over to Israel. But, to the astonishment of the whole family, Israel on this occasion proved refractorv, declarinn; that he would not allow his wife to be plagued with such an imp as Cloe, and that he chose to have little Dinah himself, if her parents would bind her to him till she was eighteen. The atl'air was soon satisfactorily arranged. Israel was married at the appointed time, and took posses- sion of the house near the saw-mill. Jl;) prospered; aiiu in a few years was able to buy a farm of his own, and to build a stone house on it. Dinah turned out extreaely well, and the Warner family still talk of ♦^he night when she was discovered ill the *'art of the travellinjr tin-man. 66 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. VIII. A QUILTING. I MUST toll you, however, of a quilting which I did not share with Mr Sibthorpe, though I wished for him many times during the afternoon. It was held at tlie house of a very tidy neighbour, a Mrs Boardinan, the neatness of whose dwelling and its out-works I have often admired in passing. She invited all the neighbours, and of course included my unworthy self, although 1 had never had any other acquaintance than that which may be supposed to result from John and Sophy's having boarded with her for some time. The walking being damp, an ox cart was sent round for such of the guests as had no " team" of their own, which is our case as yet. This equipas^e was packed with hay, over which was disposed, by way of w«>svi?<(^, a blue and white coverlet : and bvthis arraufjement half a dozen goodly dames, including myself, found reclining room, and were carried at a stately pace to Mrs Boardman's. Here we found a collection of women busily occupied in preparing the quilt, which you may be sure was a curiosity to me. They had stretched the lining on a frame, and were now laying ileecv cotton on it with much care ; and I understood from several aside remarks which were not intended for the ear of our hostess, that a due regard for etiquette required that this layiiifj of the cotton should have been performed before the arrival of the company, in order to give them a better chance for tin- ishing the quilt before tea, which is considered a point of honour. However, with so many able hands at work, the prepar- ations were soon accomplished. The " bats " were smoothly disposed, and now consenting hands, on either side, Tu^lucod a splendid cover, green and blue, Yellow and red — wherein stars and garters, squares and triangles, figured in every possible relation to each other, and produced, on the whole, a very pretty matliematical piece of work, on which the eyes of Mrs Boardmau rested with no small amount of womanly pride. Now needles were in requisition, and every available space direction, while A QUILTING. 57 round the frame was filled by a busy dame. Several of the company being left-handed, or rather ambidextrous (no unusual circumstance here), this peculiarity was made serviceable at the corners, where common seamstresses could only sew in one direction, while these favoured individuals could turn their double power to double account. This beginning of the solid labour was a serious time. Scarcely a wortl was spoken beyond an occasional request for the thread, or an exclamation at the snapping of a needle. This last seemed of no uufrerjuent occur- rence, as you may well suj)pose, when you think of the thick- ness of the materials, and the necessity for making at least tolerably short stitches. I must own that the most I could accomplish for the tirst hour was the breaking of needles, and the pricking of my lingers, in the vain attempt to do as 1 was bid, and take my stitches " clear through." By and by it was announced that it was time to roll — and all was bustle and anxiety. The frame had to be taken aj)art at the corners, and two of the sides rolled several times with mucii care, and at this diminished surface we began again with renewed spirit. Now all tongues seemed loosened. The evidence of progress had raised everybody's spirits, and the strife seemed to be who should talk fastest without slackening the industry of her fingers. Some held t/ie-a-trtc communica- tions with a crony in an uuder-tone ; others discussed matters of general interest more openly; and some made observations at nobody in particular, but with a view to the amusement of all. i\Irs Vining told the symptoms of each of her five children through an attack of the measles ; Mrs Keteltas gave her opinion as to the party most worthy of blame in a late separa- tion in the village ; and Miss Polly Mittles said she hoped the quilt would not be " scant of stitches, like a bachelder's shirt." Tea-time came before the work was comj)leted, and some of the more generous declared they would rather finish it before tea. These oilers fell rather coldly, however, for a real tea- drinker does not feel very good-humoured just before tea. So Mr Board man drove four stout nails in the rafters overhead, corresponding in distance with the corners of the quilt, and the frame was raised and fastened to these, so as to be undisturbed and yet out of the way during the important ceremony that was to succeed. Is it not well said that "necessity is? the mother of inv^ention " ? A long table was now spread, eked out by boards laid upon carpenters' "horses," — and this was covered with a variety of table-cloths, all shining clean, however, and carefully disposed. THE AMERICANS AT HOME. The whole table array was equally various, the contributions, I presume, of several neighbouring log-houses. The feast spread upon it included every variety that ever was put upon a tea- table ; from cake and preserves to pickles and raw cabba2;e cut up in vinegar. Pies there were, and custards, and sliced ham, and cheese, and three or four kinds of bread. I could do little besides look, and try to guess out the dishes. However, every. thing was very good, and our hostess must have felt compli- mented by the attention paid to lier various delicacies. The cabbage, I think, was rather the favourite ; vinegar being one of the rarities of a settler's cabin. I was amused to see the loads of cake and pie that ac- cumulated upon the plates of the guests. When all had finished, most of the plates seemed full. But I was told after- wards that it was not considered civil to decline any one kind of food, though your hostess may have provided a dozen. You are expected at least to try each variety. But this leads to something which I cannot think very agreeable. After all had left the table, our hostess began to clear it away, that the quilt niight be restored to its place ; and, as a preliminary, she went all round to the difterent plates, selecting; such pieces of cake as were but little bitten, and paring oil' the half- demolished edges with a knife, in order to replace them in their original circular position in the dishes. When this was accomplished, she assiduously scraped from the edges of the plates the scraps of butter that had escaped demolition, and wiped them back on the remains of the pat. This was doubtless a season of delectation to the economical soul of Mrs Board- man ; you may imagine its effects upon the nerves of your friend. Such is the influence of habit ! The good woman doubtless thought she was performing a praiseworthy action, and one in no wise at variance with her usual neat habits ; and if she could have peeped into my heart, and there have read the resolutions I was tacitly making against breaking bread again under the same auspices, she would have pitied or despised such a lamentable degree of pride and extravagance. So goes this strange world. The quilt was replaced, and several good housewives seated themselves at it, determined to " see it out." I was reluctantly compelled to excuse myself, my inexperienced fingers being pricked to absolute rawness. But I have since ascertained that the quilt was finished that evening, and placed on Mrs Boardman's best bed immediately ; where indeed I see it every time I pass the door, as it is not our custom to keep our hand- A RUNNING FIGHT. 59 some tilings in the background. There were some long stitches in it, I know, but they do not show as far as the road ; so the quilt is a very great treasure, and will probably be kept as an heir-loom. I have some thoughts of an attempt in the "patchwork" line myself. One of the company at Mrs Boardmau's remarked that the skirt of the French cambric dress I Avore would make a " splendid " quilt. It is a temptation, certainly. Mr Sibthorpe's vexations and trials with his workmen are neither few nor small, but I shall leave the description for his pen. We never enjoyed better health, for which I fear we are not as thankful as we ought to be for so great a blessing. IX. A EUNNING TTGHT UPON THE EACKENSAC. In the fall, I found myself in Little Eock, the capital of Arkansas, and very tired, too, of that " brisk " little city. I came to the determination, therefore, of leaving it, and going down the river. As ill luck would have it, there was but one boat bent upon the downward trip, and that a small one, a very small one indeed. To look at her as she lay by the landing, she reminded you of a large hen-coop, with a stove-pipe sticking out of the roof. She was so small that the most remote point of her that you could reach from the furnace, was just near enough to subject you to the agreeable process of a slow baking ; and Heaven knows an Arkansas sun is, about this season, hot enough of itself. She was named the " Olive Branch," though a less appropriate name could hardly have been thought of — for instead of being a boat of pacific principles, she was the most quarrelsome, card-playing, whiskey-drinking little craft, it bas ever been my misfortune to put my foot upon. Thoroughly tired, however, of "life in Little K-ock," I had made up my mind to leave it ; so on the morning of the boat's departure, I stepped aboard, paid my passage-money, and was soon on my way down stream. My fellow-passengers amounted to about two dozen — rough-looking fellows — hunters, planters, traders, and "legs," all on their way for the lower country. About ten miles below Little Eock, our captain put in to 60 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. the shore, and took on board a tall lathy gentleman, with a peculiar hang-dog look, whom I had frequently seen in the city, and who went by the sobriquet of " The Colonel." I imagine that he held some public office in the " Eackensac " capital. The evening before our departure I had accidentally over- heard the following fragment of a dialogue between him and the captain of the " Olive Branch." " You'll take me through for two hundred, cap'n ? " " Three hundred, Ke-nel — three — not a ligger less." " Too much, cap'n — say two-fifty ? " " No ! three hundred — look at the risk ! " " Oh, hang the risk 1 " " Besides, it hurts the rf^pitation of the boat." " ,Sa;y you'll take two-seventy ! " " No ! the even three hundred, I'll take you through as slick as goose grease — I've said it, and by I'll do it iu spite of all." " Well, I suppose you must have it — here ; you'll find nie in "Willis's AVoods, ten miles below. What time will you be down ? " " By ten in the morning, or a leetle after." " Very w^ell, I'll wait for you." So saying, the Colonel walked ofl\, and I saw no more of him until he became my fellow-passenger at Willis's AVoods. From what I had heard and seen, I concluded that he had found the " Bock " a little too hot for him. All tiiis, however, was no business of mine ; and getting as far from the furnace as I could, T aat down by the after-gua;;d, determined upon making myself as comfortable as circumstances would permit. The excessive hv,at had made me drowsy, and I soon fell last asleep. " Tliey are conn'n', captin ! they're comin' ; By . that's (dd Waley on the gray! 1 could tell liim ten miles oil'!' These words, with an unusual nin.ijng to and fro over the boat, awoke me from my nap. and on starting up and lixdviii;,' towards the shore, I beheld about a do/.ei. horsemen coming at full ga!l()[) down the bank of the river, and apparently en- deavouring to overtake the boat. Tliey were mostly dresscnl in jean coats, with broail-brimmed white hats, and each of tlictii balanced upon bis left shoulder about six feet of a Kentucky riile. They were the sherilf and his posse in pursuit of ii runaway defaulter, who was supposed to be ou board the "Branch." A RUNNING FIGHT. et "What'? to be done, eap'n ? " inquired the Colonel, evidently alarmed at the approach of the sheriff's party. " Done ! why nothinj^ ! Do you s'pose I'm goin' to let that party stop my boat ? " " But they may fire upon you ! " " Let them fire and be hang'd ! Didn't I expect all that ? Here, Bill ! Nick ! get out the muskets, and make ready to handle 'em ! Look out, passengers ! go to larbord and get be- hind the cabin ! Now, Nettles, keep her close to the bank, and give 'em a wide berth ! Do you hear ? " Not having any ambition to be killed in the quarrel of an Arkansas defaulter, I took the captain's hint and got behind the cabin, where I found most of my fellow-passengers already assembled. We had hardly ensconced ourselves in a safe corner, when the voice of " Old Waley " roared out from the shore — " Stop the boat, or we'll fire into her ! " " Fire and be hang'd ! " was the captain's reply. He had hardly uttered the words, when a bullet was heard crashing through the glass top of the wheel-house. I could not help thinking that Mr ISettles, the pilot, was placed in rather a nettlish position, but it appeared afterwards that the lower part of the wheel-house was lined with strong sheet-iron, and was bullet proof. "Whether this precaution had been taken in anticipation of such skirmishes, I never learnt ; at all events, it was useful in the present emergency, as Mr Nettles ill a crouching position could sufficiently manage the boat, while he was sheltered from the shot to all intents aud pur- poses. Bang! — spanr/ ! — wJiizf and several bullets came crashing through the slight frame-work of the cabin-wiudows ; some struck the wheel-house, while others glanced upon the iron chimneys, causing them to ring aud vibrate. But our captain, upon his side, was not idle, and a volley of musketry from the crew sent two or three of the sheriira oilieers sin-awling upon the bank. In this way a running lire was kept up for several miles — the boat going at the top of her speed — while the sheritfand his posse kept pace with her, galloping along the bank, loading aud liriug in their stirrups. A'ictory, however, declared for our captain, for the river !!;raduiiily widened, and as the boat was kept closer to tho larbo;u\l bank, the rifle bullets fell far siiort of their mark. See- ing this, the pursuing party were reluctantly compelled to halt. 62 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. expressing In their looks and gestures the highest degree of anger and mortification. " Come, boys," shouted the captain, " give them a last volley and a cheer ! " A volley of musketry was followed by a loud cheerin,? from every part of the little boat, in which even the passengers joined, so exciting is the cheer of victory, eren in a bad cause. " Now, Kernel," cried the captain, " I've got you out of a tarnal scrape — ten thousand at least — so we expect you tf) Btand treat for all hands ! Hurrah ! bring on the licker ! " X. THE WAT OLD BILL WENT OEF. ^Father AVilltam, or, as he was familiarly known, " Old Bill," was an early settler " out West." He left the old North State when young, and settled in a choice spot, near one of our little streams, lie grew and prospered, and not many years after he was married, and from that time than he a more Mifliuntial personage could not be found. He was Justice of the iVace, held two or three posts of honour, and could knock daylight out of a turkey's eye two hundred yards with his favourite gun. I remember several of his exploits in shooting ; and one of them would not be out of place here. I heard it from " Old 13111 " himself. He had a fine young horse once, he said, stolon from his stable, and he set out to overtake the thief, taking his favourite piece along for company. His horse was shod dillur- cut from any other, and he tracked hiin to a thicket, throuiiii that, and for two days, when he lost sight of his track. " Hero," said Old Bill, " I bogan to give out ; but I knew the boys would laugh at me, and I'd never hear the end of it if 1 didn't bring him back. Presently I heard some one whistling away ahead of me, and rode fast to catch up. Turning round a bunch of vines, who should I see but the man on my horse; nnd justat that time he looked back and saw me. Thou w liad it. He spurred and I kicked, and both our horses seeniod to tly. AVe ran almost 'mile a minii;' for three houra, ami neither gained an inch. He waj running for life, and I for my horse. But I couldn't pull up to hiui uo way, for he was on THE WAY OLD BILL WENT OFF. the best horse. I had my gun, but was afraid to shoot. I found I couldn't do any other way, for he was now a hundred yards ahead, and gaining. I raised my gun, let it fall to a gentle level, and took aim at the saddle girth. It cut it east/ one hindred and thirtij yards ! and the rider fell to the ground in the saddle. I got my horse, and left the rascal whipping the saddle alone. I never heard of him after that. AVhether he got to his journey's end I never heard, but I made a good shot, and took mi/ horse hack to his paster /" " Old l^ill," in his early days, went through many troubles, aud often thought his day of grace was nearly ended. He would give up to the " hi/ppo,''' and when in one of his ways, he'd keep his bed for weeks at a time, trying to " settle up " accounts, but he couldn't make it out. Daring this time he woukhi't say a word, but " Vm not long for this icorld.'' Fifteen years after his horse-race — he was getting along in years then —he went oft*. A deep snow covered the ground, and he could not venture beyond his door. He curled himself up in bed, and for two days his eyes were closed, and he spoke not a word. His couch was watched in silence — his pulse quick — his breathing com])ressed ; but the fourth evening he came to. His boys, who had watched by his side, were now relieved, a good dinner was prepared, "Old J5ill " ate heartily, and, after a social drink all round, the boys were for a hunt. "You musn't go, boys — 1 begin to feel like going off"," said Old Bill, with a sigh. " Come, daddy, you're well — never was better in your life 1 " said one of the boys. "Letter not go — you shan't — you'll find mc dead when you [get back," continued the old num, returning to bed. " But we must, daddy. AVe'll make a big fire for you, and Ke'U have a fine roast when wo return," said the boys, and oft' Itlioy started. Old Bill got mad as "tucker," because the boys left him, jaiul jumj)e(l right out of bed, put on his thick coat, went out Ito the wood-pile, cut a snuiU cart-load of wood, carried it jiiilo the house, and raised a roasting fire. He then warmed his jltct cleverly, undressed, jumped back into bed, and sent over lloi' 'Squire 'l\ to irrife his will. The '8([uiro took paper and started, but recollecting a fresh p'lnijohn of the best French brandy, he turned back and tilled quart bottle for liis use while writing the will. He found tl Bill in bed, anxiously awaiting \\\\\\. " Well, 'yquiru, i'm not long for this world j I'm sinking 6di THE AMERICANS AT HOME. very fast. I want you to write my will," said the old gentle- man. " Sorry to find you so low, Uncle Billy," said the 'Squire. "I've been hsiiikiiig a long time, but i kept it to myself. I don't think I sliall live till morning." The 'Squire put on his " speeks," unrolled his paper, and proceeded to his duty, as Old Bill thought. He wrote alonnf, stopping now and then to ask a few questions, lie took down the small articles first, and stopped to take a horn, and set the bottle on the table. " AVhat' s that, 'Squire ? " asked Old Bill, sorter bracin himself up, "Nothin' but inh, Uncle Billy," said the 'Squire. A long list of articles was put on paper, ana the 'Squire turned up the bottle again. He smacked his lij)s, and pro- ceeded with due solemnity to finish his task. This done, he wiped his eyes and commenced reading. " Draw up your chair a little closter, 'Squire." The 'Squire did as requested, and read aloud. "It's all right, 'Squire ; but you've not got all the things down yet." The 'Squire stept to the uGcr, and Old Bill reached over to the table to get the paper, but his fancied weakness prevented him. 5^" I'm nearly gone ! Oh, them naughty boys ! I knew I'd die before they got back ; they'll see it now ! " " Well, Uiicle Bill;,,^' said the 'Squire, "won't you take a glass with me before you go ? " " Take a what i — what's tliat ? — take a gl — ," said Old Bill, shnr|)ly. The 'Sipiire knew where to touch him. He had seen him that way before. He took a notion to go off every year, or every time the boys didn't go the way he wanted them. Old Bill sat ujt in the bed while the 'Sipiire handed him a glass of braiu/j/. The uld fellow drank it olf like he was used to it. " I'm getting better now, 'Squire. You needn't take dowu them other articles yet ! " "Supi)ose you get up, Uncle Bill, and let us talk over things, /)('/())'(! i/ou go ! " Old Bill's "dander riz " at that, and ho with it — almoiit mad enough to whip the 'Squire. Bath of them took seats by the fire; the table between them, and liquor and sweoteiiiu' plenty, (ilass after glass was laid in the shade, until both f,'ot up to the third story. The boys, meauwhile, had returned, uud THE PRAIRIE A THE PRAIKIE AND THE SWAMP. oo nostcd an old fiddler at the chimney corner, and then stole into the roo:n. "I tell you, 'Squire, I've got the best gim in ," he stopped short like he heard something. " What's that ? " hollered Old Bill, as the sounds came foster. "Darned if it ain't old Josey with his fiddle. Won't you take a reel, 'Squire ? " The 'Squire took him at his word. The boys ioiued them, and about two hours before day, the two old '" hosses " were so mellow that they had to be carried to bed. Aud that's the " loaij Old Bill went of!" XI. TUE PRAIRIE AND TUE SWAMP. AN ADTENTURE IN LOUISIANA. It was a sultry September afternoon in the year 18 — . My friend Carleton and myself had been three days wandering ahout the prairies, and had nearly filled our tin boxes and other receptacles with specimens of rare and curious plants. But we had not escaped paying the penalty of our zeal as naturalists, in the shape of a perfect roasting from the sun, whit'h had shot down its rays during the whole time of our ramble, witli an ardour only to be appreciated by those who have visited the Louisianian prairies. What made matters worse, our little store of wiue had been early expended ; some tallia, with which we had replenished our flasks, had also dis- apj)eared ; and the water we met with, besides being rare, con- tained so much vegetable and animal matter, as to be undrink- able unless qualiiied in some manner. In this dilemma, we came to a halt under a clump of hickory trees, and despatched Martin, Carleton's Acadian servant, upon a voyage of discovery. He had assured us that we must ere long fall in w'tli como party of Americans — or Cochon Yankees, as ho called them — who, in 8|)ite of the hatred borne them by the Acadians and Creoles, were daily becoming nu)re numerous in the country. AfttM' waiting, in anxious expectation of jNlartin's return, Itirafuil hour, during which the air seemed to get more aiul more sultry, my companion began to wax impatient. "^ What Hui tlie fellow bo about?" cried he. " Give a blast on tho liorn," he added, handing me the instrument : " I cannot'sound 6 6G THE AMERICANS AT HOME. it myself, for my tongue cleaves to my palate from heat and drought." I put the horn to my mouth and gave a blast. But tlie tones emitted wera not the clear echo-awakening sounds that cheer and strengthen the hunter. They were dull and sliorl, as though the air had lost all elasticity and vibration, and by- its weight crushed back the sounds into the horn. It was a warning of some inscrutable danger. We gazed around u^, and saw that others were not wanting. The spot where wo had halted was on the edge of one of the pine forests that extend, almost without interruption, from the hills of the Cote Greloo to the Opelousa mouniains, and of a vast prairie, sprinkled here and there with palmetto iiehls, clumps of trees, and broad patches of brushwood, which appeared mere dark specks on the immense extent of plain that lay bo- fore us, covered with grass of the brightest green, and so loiii,' as to reach up to our horses' shoulders. To the right was ;i plantation of palmettos, half a mile wide, and bounded by r. sort of creek or gully, the banks of which were covered witii gigantic cypress trees. Beyond this, more prairie and a wood of evergrejm oak. To the east, an impenetrable thicket (u magnolias, pa])aws, oak and bean trees— to the north, the piiiij wood before mentioned. ;:.!: Such was the rich landscape we had been surrounded by ;i short hour before. But now, on looking around, we found il; ■ scene changed ; and our horizon became far more limited by rising clouds of bluish gray vapour, which approached us rapidly from the wind quarter. The air was so hot and parching, that our horses' coats, which a shoi't time previously had been dripping with sweat, were now perfectly dry, and the hair plastered upon thciu; the animals' tongues hung out of their mouths, and they seemed jianting for cooler air. " Look yonder! " cried Carle- ton, and he pointed to the line cf the horizon, which liaJ hitherto been of gray, lead-colou»'ed vapour. It was ii )>v becoming reddish in the south-west quarter, and the vapom had taken the appearance of smoke. At the same time \.e heard a sort of distant crackling, like a heavy running-lire ti musketry, and which was repeated at short intervals. Ivi '. time it was heard, our horses api)eared scared and trenibli'i.: The creek was getting ra])idly wider, and the ground ^ pwampy that it was impossible to proceed further. 8eeiiu this, we agreed to return to the prairie, and to try if it weiv not cooler among the palmettos. But when we oamo to the THE PRAIRIE AND THE SWAMP. place where we had crossed the creek, our horses refused to take the leap again, and it was witli the greatest dilficulty wc ;it length forced them over. All this time the redness in the horizon was getting brighter, and the atmosphere hotter and drier ; the smoke had spread itself over prairie, forest, and plantations. AVe continued retracing our steps, as well as we could, to the spot where we had halted. " See there," said Carleton ; " not half an hour ago those reeds were as fresh and green as if they had just sprung out of the earth, and now look at them — the leaves are hanging down, parclied and curled up by the heat." Tlie wliole prairie, the wdiole horizon to the south-west, was now one mass of dense smoke, througli which the sun's dise looked scarcely brighter than a paper lantern. Jiehind the thick curtain which thus conceaeld everything from our view, we heard a low hissing like t!iat of a multitude of snakes. Tiie smoke was stifling and unbearable ; our horses aijuiu turned panting round, and tore madly towards the creel:. On reaching it we dismounted, but had the greatest dilllculty to prevent them from leaping into the water. The streaks of red to our right became brighter and brighter, and fi'leamcd through the huge dark trunks of the cypress trees. The crackling and hissing grew louder than over. Suddenly the frightful truth flashed u[)on us, and at the very same mo- ment Carleton and I exclaimed, " The prairie is on fire ! " As wo uttered the words, there was a loud rustling behind us, and a herd of deer broke headlong through a thicket of tall reeds and bulrushes, and dashed u]) to their iu>cks into the \\ater. There they remained, not fifty paces from us, little more than their heads above the surface, gazing at us, as though imploring o u" help and compassion. We fancied we could see tears in the poor beasts' eyes. We looked behind us. On came the pillars of flame, fli(kering and threatening through the smoke, licking up all beioro them; and, at times, a gust of so hot and hlasling a wind as seemed to dry the verv mai'row in our bones. Tho roarnig of the fire was now distinctly audible, mingled wifh hissing, whistling sounds, and cracking noises, as uf mighty fives falling. Suddenly a bi'ight llauio shot u\) through tho stilling smoke, and inunediately afterwards a sea of fii'e burst: upon our aching eyeballs. The whole palmetto field was in flames. The heat was so great, that wo every moment oxpeeLed to see our clothes take lire. Our horses dragged us still nearer 68 THE AMERICANS AT IIOMF, to thj creek, spranp; into the water, and drew us down tlio bank after them. i\nother rustling and noise in the thicket of reeds. A she bear, with her cubs at her heels, came towards us ; and, at the same time, a second herd of doer rushed into the wator not twenty yards from where we were standing. AV^e pointed our guns at the bear?. ; they moved off towards the deer, who remained undisturbed at their ap- proach : an*' therr vh( y stood, bears and drcr, not five pace, apar: bat fr-iri.; no m.tre notice of each other than if they had been aiumalw of the same species. Most beasts now came flocking :■ the river. Deer, wolves, foxes, horses — all came in crowds to seek :'helter in one element from the fury of another. Most of them, however, went further up the creek, where it took a north-easterly direction, and widened into a sort of lake. Those that had first arrived began to follow the new comers, and we did the same. Suddenly the baying of hounds was heard. " Hurra ! these are dogs ; men must be near." A volley from a dozen rifles was the answer to our explanation. The shots were fired not two hundred yards from us, yet we saw nothing of the persons who fired them. The wild beasts around us trembled and crouched before this new danger, but did not attempt to move a step. W^e ourselves were standing in tlic midst of them up to our waists in water. " Who goes there ? " we shouted. Another volley, and this time not one hundred yards oil. We saw the flashes of the pieces, and heard voices talking in a dialect compounded of French and Indian. We perceived that we had to do with Acadians. A third volley, and the bullets whistled about our cars. It was getting past a joke. " Halt ! " shouted we, " stop firing till you see what you are firing at." There was a dead sihnico for a moment, then a burst of savage laughter. " Fire ! fire ! " cried two or three voices. " If you fire," cried I, " look out for yourselves, for wo shall do the same. Have a care what you are about." " Morbleu ! Sacre ! " roared half a score of voices. " Who is that who dares to give us orders ? Fire ou tlio dogs!" " \f vou do, wo return it." " Sacre ! " screamed the savages. " They are gentlemen from the towns. Their s])cech betrays them. Shoot them— the dogs, the spies ! What do they want in the prairie ? " " Your blood be on your own heads," cried I. And, widi the feelings of desperate men, we levelled our guns iu tlio THE PRAIRIE AND THE SWAMP. ..,, I \vc riili tlio ^'rection in which we had seen the flashes of the hast volley. t that moment — " Halt ! AVhtit is here ? " shouted a sten- "rion voice clos" to us. "Stop filing, or you are dead aien," cried five or six other .oiccp. " Sacrc ! ce sonf des Aiuericains," muttered the Aeadians. " Monsie^ir C .rleton ! " cried a voice. " Here ! " replied my friend. A boat shot out of the smoke, between us and our antagonists. Carloton's servant vas in it. The next moment we were surrounded by a score of Aeadians and half a dozen Americans. It appeared that the Aeadians, so soon as they per M-ed the prairie to be on fire, had got into a boat and desccKte' : .i creek that flowed into the Chicot creek, on which e n • ' wcTC. The beasts of the forest and prairie, ilyin" L'- the water, found themselves inclosed in the angle formed '>•■ the two creeks, and their retreat being cut oft' by ^"he fire, they tell an easy prey to the Aeadians, wild half-sava; ff Hows, L who slaughtered them in a profusion and with a Orutality that excited our disgust, a feeling which the Americans seemed to share. " AV^ell, stranger ! " said one of the latter, an old man, to Carleton, " do you go with them Aeadians, or come with usr" " Who are you, my friends ? " "Friends!" repeated the Yankee, shaking his head, "your friendships are soon made. Friend^, indeed ! AVe niii't that yet ; but if you be minded to cciue with us, well and good." " I met these American gentlemen," now put in ]Martin, '"and when they heard that you had lost your way, and were out of provisions, they were so good as to ccnne and seek you." "You be'n't much used to the prairie, I reckon ?" ob- H'l'ved the American who had spoken before. " Xo, indeed, my friend," said I. "I told you already," replied the man with some degree <'f pride, '' we ain't your friends ; but if you choose to accept American hospitality, you're welcome." A\'e glanced at the Aeadians, who were still firing, and draifging the be.ists tliey slaughtered into their boat and to the shore. Tliey appeared perfect savages, and there w^as little totiiptation to seek guidance or assistance at their hands. "If it is aj^reeable to you, we will accoinjjany you," said i to the American, making a step towards the boat. We were 70 THE AMERICANS AT HOME c iL>cr to be off, for the heat and smoke were unbearahlo. The Yankee answered neither yea nor no. His attentiou seemed taken up by the proceedings of the Acadian s. " They're worse than Injuns," said he to a young man standing by him. " Tliey shoot more in an hour than they could eat in a year, in tlieir tarnation French w^astefuhiess." " I've a notion o' makin' 'em leave off," replied the young man. " Tlie country's theirs, or their masters' at least," rejoined the other. " I reckon it's no business of ours." This dialogue was carried on with the greatest posail)le degree of drawling deliberation, and under circumstances in •which, certainly, none bnt a Yankee Avould have thought of ■wasting time in WT)rds. A ])rairie twenty miles long and ten broad, and a couple of miles of palmetto ground, all in a blaze — the flames drawing nearer every minute, and havinj];, in some pl;ice)s, ali'cady reached up to the shores of the creek. On the other side a couple of dozen Avild Acadians firint!; right and left, without i>aying the least attention where or whom their bullets struck. Carleton and myself, up to our waists in water, and the Americans chattering together as unconcernedly as if they had been sitting under the roofs of their own blockhouses. " Do yon live far from here? " said I at last to the Yan- kee, rather impatiently. " Not so far as I sometimes wish," answered he, witli a contemptuous glance at the Acadians ; " but far enough to get yon an appetite for your su])per, if you ain't got one already." And taking a thin roll of tobacco out of his pocket, he bit off a piece of it, laid his hands upon the muzzle of his I'ille, lent his chin upon his hands, and seemed to have forgotten all about us. ,. This apathy became intolerable to men in our situation. " My good man," said I, " will you put your hospitable offer into execution, and take " I could not continue, for I was literally suffocated with the heat and smoke. The very water of the creek was getting warm. '* I've a notion," said the Yankee, with his usual drawl, and apparently only just perceiving our distress, " I've a notion we hail better be movin' out o' the way o' the fire. Kow, strangers, in with you." And he helped Carletou and inyisell' into the boat, where w^o lay down, and became inseuisi- ble from heat and exhaustion. THE PRAIRIE AND THE SWAMP. ft When we recovered our senses, we found ourselves in tlio bottom of the boat, and tlic old Yankee standing by us willi a bottle of whiskey in his hand, which he invited us to take. AVe felt better for the cordial, and be<];an to look around us. Before us lay an apparently interminable cypress swamp- behind us a sheet of water, formed by the junction of the two creeks, and at present overhung by a mass of smoke that concealed the horizon from our view. From time to time there was a burst of flame that lit up the swamp, and caused the cypress trees to appear as if they grew out of a sea of fire. " Come," said the old Yankee, '' wo must go on. It is near sunset, and Ave have far to go." " And which way does our road lie ? " I asked. " Across the cypress swamp, unless you'd rather go around it." " The shortest road is the best," said Carleton. " The shortest road is the best ! " repeated the Yankee contemptuously, and turning to his companions. " Spoken like a Britisher. Well, he shall have his own way, and the more so as I believe it to be as good a one as the other. James," added he, turning to one of the men, " you go far- ther down, through the ►'Snapping Turtle swamp ; we will cross here." " And our horses ? " said I. " They are grazing in the rushes. They'll be took care of. AVe shall have rain to-night, and to-morrow they may come round without singeing a hoof." I had found myself once or twice upon the borders of the swamp that now lay before us, but had always considered it iinpenetral)le, and I did not understand, as I gazed into its vioomy depths, how we could possibly cross it. • '' Is there any beaten path or road through the swamp ? " inquired 1 of the old man. " Path or road ! Do you take it for a gentleman's park ? There's the path that natur' has made." And he sprang wpon the trunk of a tree covered with moss and creepers, "ivhicli rose out of the vast depth of mud that formed the ^^vamp. " Here's the path," said he. "Then we will wait and come round with our horses," I replied. " Where shall we find them ? " "As you please, stranger. JFe shall cross the swamp. Only, if you can't do like your horses, and sup off bulrushes, }'ou arc likely to fast for the next tweuty-four hours." 72 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. " And why so ? There is game and wild-fowl for the shooting." " No doubl; there is, if you can eat them raw like the Injuns. Where will you find, within two miles round, a S(juare foot of dry land to make your fire on ? " To say the truth, we did not altogether like the company we had fallen amongst. These Yankee squatters bore iu general but an iudifi'erent character. They were said to fcjir neither God nor man, to trust entirely to their axe and their rifle, and to be little scrupulous in questions of property ; in short, to be scarce less wild and dangerous than the Indians themselves. The Yankee who had hitherto acted as spokesman, and wlio seemed to bo in some way or other the chief of the party, was a man apparently near sixty years of age, upwards of six feet high, thin in person, but with such bone and muscle as indicated great strength in the possessor. His features were keen and sharp ; liis eyes like a falcon's ; his bearing and manners bespoke an exalted opinion of himself, and (at least as far as vre were concerned) a tolerable degree of con- tempt for others. His dress consisted of a jacket of skins, secured round the waist by a girdle, in which was stuck a long knife ; leather breeches, a straw hat without a brim, and mocassins. His companion was similarly accoutred. " AVhere is Martin ? " cried Carleton. " Do you mean the Acadian lad who brought us to you ? '' " The same." The Yankee pointed towards the smoke. " Yonder, no doubt, with his countrymen ; but I reckon their infernal hunt is over. I hear no more shots." "I've a notion," said one of the younger men, "the stranger don't rightly know what he wants. Y^our horses are grazing half a mile ofi". You would not have had us make the ]3oor beasts swim through the creek tied to the stern of the boat ? 'Lijah is with them." " And what will he do with them ? " " Joel is going back with the boat, and when the fire is out he will bring them round," said the elder Y'^ankee, "You don't suppose — ?" added he — He left the sentence unfinished, but a smile of scornful meaning fiitted over his features. I looked at Carleton. He nodded. " AVe tvill go witl'. 3'ou," said I, " and trust entirely to your guidance." "You do well," was the brief reply. "Joel," added he THE PRAIRIE AND THE SWAMP. 7.3 tuviiinc; to one of the young men, " where are the torches ? AVe si 1 all want them ? " " Torches ! " exclaimed I. Tiie Yankee ^ave me a look, a?< much as to say — You must meddle with everythini^. " Yes," replied he ; " and if vou had ten lives, it would be aa much as they are all worth to enter tiiis swamp without torches." So saying he struck lire, and selecting a couple of pine splinters from several lying in the boat, he lighted them, doing everything with such extraordinary deliberation, and so oddly, that in spite of our unpleasant situation we could scarce help laughing. Mean- tin^ > the boat pushed off with two men in it, leaving Carle- ton, myself, the old man, and another American, standing at the cdi^e of the swamp. '• Follow me, step by step, and as if you were treading ori e;'<;s/' said our leader ; " and you, Jonathan, have an eye to the strangers, and don't wait till they are up to their neck« in the mud to pick them out of it." "We did not feel much comforted by this speech ; but mustering all our courage, wo strode on after our plain.^ spoken guide. AVe had proceeded but a very short distance into the swamp before we found out the use of the torches. Tiio huL^e trunks of the cypress trees, which stood four or five yards asunder, shot up to the height of fifty feet, entirely free from branches, w^hich then, however, spread out at riglit an(,des to the stem, making the trees appear like gigantic umbrellas, and covering the whole morass with an impenetra- ble roof, through which not even a sunbeam could find a passaij;e. On looking behind us, we saw the daylight, at the entrance of the swamp, as at the mouth of a vast cavern. The farther we wont the thicker became the air ; and at last tlie eilUivia were .- > stifling and pestilential, that the torches burnt pale and diiu, and more than once threatened to g& out. "Yes, yes," muttered our guide to himself, "a night passed in this swamp would leave a man ague-struck for the rest of his days. A night — ay, an hour would do it, if yon.r pores were ever so little open ; but now there's no danger ; the prairie fire's good for that, dries the sweat and closes ( tie pores." He went on conversing thus with himself, but slilJ striding forward, throwing his torch-light on each log or tree trunk, and trying its solidity with his foot before he trusted 74 THE AMERICA^.S AT HOME. liis wcifrlit upon it — doinj^ all this with a dexterity and r-^pecd that proved his familiarity with these dangerous paths. " Keep close to me," naid ho to us, " but make yonrsclvcs Hi^ht — as lii^ht at least as Bi'itishcrs can make themselves. Hold your oreath, and ha! what is that lor-? Hollo, Nathan," continued he to himself, "what comes to you, man ? I)out you know a sixteen-foot alligator from a treo ? " He had stretched out his foot, but fortunately, before setting it down, he poked what he took for a log witli the liutt of his gun. The supposed block of wood gave way a little, and the '^Id squatter, throwing himself back, was within an ace of pushing me into the swamp. " vVh, friend ! " said he, not in the least disconcerted, "you thought to sacumvent honest folk with your devilry aud cunning." " AVhat is the matter ? " asked I. "Not much the matter," he replied, drawing his knife from its sheath. " Only an alligator : there it is again." And in the ])lace of the log, which had disappeared, the jaws of a huge alligator gaped before us. I raised my gun tc my shoulder. The Yankee seized my arm. " Hon't fire," whispered ho. " JJon't fire, so long ns you can help it. Wa aint alone here. This will do ns well," l'^" added as ho stooped down, and drove his long knift^ into tlio alligafor's eye. The monster gave a frightful howl, niid lashed violently with its tail, besprinkling us with the Mac!; slimy mud of the swamp. " Take th.it !" said the squ'^itor with a grim smile, " niid that, and that ! " stabbing tlio lu'ute repeatedly between \\>v neck and the ribs, A\hile it writhed and snap])ed furiously at him. Then wiping his knife, he stuck it in his belt, aiiJ looked keenly and cautiously around him. " I've a Uvjtion there n\nst be a tree trunk hereaway; it jiin't the first time I've I'ollowcd this tracdv. ''I'liere it is, hut a good six foot oil." And so saying he gave a spriiiL!,', aud alighted in safety on the step|)ing-i)lace. "Have a care, man," cried I. *' Tlu^re is water there. I eeo it glitter." " Pho, wat er ! AVhat you call wafer is snakes. Coiae on," 1 hesitated, and a shudder came over me. The leap, a-* regarded distance, was a t illing one, but it v»as ovei* an alino.st bottomless chasm, full of the foulest mud, on wliicli the mocassin Muakes, the deadliest of the American reptik';', vere swarming. THE PRAIRIE AND THE SWAMP. /o " Come on ! " Ts'ecessity lent me strength, and, prcpsinj]^ my left foot firmly against the Ioq^ on which I was standing, and which ^vas each moment sinking witli our weight de^^per into the soft slimy ground, I sprang across. Carleton i'ollowcd me. "AV^cll done!" cried the old mnn. "Courage, and a couple more such leaps, and we shall bo getting over the ■\voryt of it." AVe pushed on, steadily but slowly, never setting our foot on a log till we had ascertained its solidity with the butts of our c;uiis. The cypress swamp exi ended four or live miles alon^^ ihe shores of the creek ; it was a deo]) lake of black i,U(l, covered over and disguised by a d(H*eilful bright green voil of creeping plants and mosses, which had spread them- H'hcs In their rank luvuriance over its whole surface, and over the branches and trunks of trees scai-terod about the swrnnp. These latter were not placed with any very great regularity, but luul been evitlently arranged by the hand of man. "There seems to have been a sort of path made here," said I to our guide, " tor,"- "Silence!" intcrrupled he, in a low tone; "silence for Vdur life, till wo are on tinn ground again. Don't mind the Miakc's," added he, as the torch-light revealed ^^ome enormous 011C8 lying coiled up ou the moss and lianas close to us, "Follow me closely." But just as I stretched forv/ard my foot and was about 10 place it in the vciy print that his iiad left, the hideous [jaw of an alligator wa^^ suddenly stretched over the tree trunk, not six inches from my leg, and the creature snai)ped lit mo so suddenly, that 1 haci just time to lire my gun into Ills flittering lizard-like eye. '^Phe monster bounded back, littered a sound between a bellow and -.i groan, and, striking ^vildly about him in the morass, disappeared. The American looked rmind when I lired, and an ap]irov- inu; smile ])laycd about nis nKuilh as he said sonu'thing to mg ^\liieh 1 did not iiear, owing to the infernal u[)roar that now ai'oso on all sides of us, and at lirst completely deafened me. Thousands, tens of thousands, of hirds and reptiles, alli- ^•ltors, enormous bnll-frogs, night-owls, ahiii'i-as, hci'ons, whoso !igerness to lind myself oiu*e more on dry laiii 1 scarcely heard tlie Vankee's words; and as th»^ stcpiiint:- Bl jdaces were now uviw together, 1 hastened on, anil got a littlt' in front of the party. Suddenly 1 felt a log on whi(di 1 lin'l just ])laced my foot, give way under me. 1 had scarcely t'"'^' to call out " Halt ! " wlien t was up to the armpils in tin jswamn, with every prospect of sinking still deeper. TH " You ivill h at the same ti: hair. " Take ^\. me out of the n I did look, I crawling in the a . y- I live miles from the residence of the family with which ' vaw staving, and as yet (but this was many years since) it rould. I boast of neither hotel nor boarding-house. JlOwever, had linrings ; and therefore the passengers are *' smartly exercised" by the prevailing fashion of driving ;it a brisk trot, Avhencver the heaviness of the sand docs ni>t ('ompel the horses to a slow crce|)— this last was our paccMiu the road to Squan. Behind us followed, at a still slower gait, * I l)(>liovc that Sipinm is tlic iiowpst rciulins', but iit tlio pi'ri.xl I ulliiil*' io, till' word certainly tt'riiiiiiatcil witli an //. Tho gcooTaphrrs ol' pustri'iiy Avill iloulitii'ss be at j^roat jiaiiis to scltli' tbo truo version, iiud t(»thoir rre passed by ^"nie years beft ''•nu'ing creek, ^■'•e if entire I V ;"''Pl'ed of tlu '""i|'<-lics, and .. 'flic road a\ wood.s ; and th( '111' rarriage, h\ ^niuch to the < "'f'l u shower ''■'I'f'Ugh them. ;■ '"''I almost ha, '^■iun(s of c-ivili; ^>i(h some of th ''■'^^'■'llicinata "' e baskels. A PIC-NIU AT THE SExV-SIIOEE. 81 a true hona-fide waggon of vant strength and dimensions, con- (hu'ti'd l)3't\vo hired men (something like what in Europe are i'iiIUmI s(;rvants),va\(\. loaded with baggage. This baggage con- (^isttnl of trunks of apparel, boxes containing ])lates, dishes, knives, i'orks, etc. ; baskets of cold provisions (for there had Ijccii extensive cooking the day before) ; mattresses, bolsters, pillows, and other bedding ; guns and lishing-tackle ; and, in ijiiort, everything that \va- judged imUspnimhh/ necessary for our convenience, during the few days that we were to sojourn at a place where nothing was to be had. The iiunates of the carriage, as by courtesy we called it, were my friend and her baby, lier niece and myself, and an Irish girl in the capa- tiiy of child's-maid. The gentleman sat on the front seat and (li'ove. The delights of our ride were not great. It was all the vay through pine woods that seemed interminable, and ilirouii;!). sand that seemed unlathomable. AVo saw no house, not even the cabin of a hunter, though these f'^iosts abound in wild animals. There was some relief to tl * 'i uiotony of the scene when we came to the traces of a reccu^. couflagra- tiuu, such as often rages in the wilderness for several days .siu'ccssively. We recognized its course by the large open spaces (covered with coals and ashes) that it had made in the depths of the forest ; and by the remains of blackened and LaU'-burnt trees, with many of their trunks still standing oi'jct amidst heaps of charred and fallen branches. And once Vic passed by a deep narrow^ valley or bottom, which had i^ome years before been overflowed by a freshet from a ueigh- liouriug creek. The water, lodging in this I'avine a long time ire it entirely subsided, had killed all the trees, which, ^tripped of their bark and foliage, interlaced their naked 1 ranches, and looked like an army of gigantic white skeletons, The road was scarcely nu)re than a j)ath through the woods; and the boughs meeting across, ami ])ro1ruding into ilic carriage, frequently saluted us with a blow on the head (iiuu'h to the discomfiture of our bojuiets), and covered us with a shower of leaves aiul twigs, a- we forced our way I'arough them. Everything looked ^o wild and lonely Ihat I ' Mild ahuost have fancied myself a thoii-and miles from the l^unils of civilized num. AVesto}>ped once to ivvi\ the horses with some of the provender brought in the hi;; ivot/ifon^ and lo \\ato;' them at a little brook, and to refresh ourselves from one "t the baskets. AVe then j)ursued our toilsome way, the saiul la'uuiiug deeper and the pines mure impervious. Tlie melau- G 82 THE A^klERICANS AT HOME. oholy sicrliing of thcso nfloomy trees, as the breeze af::itatc3 their lol'ty branches, resembles no other sound tliat I ha^■e ever heard. The heat had now become almoiL't intolerable ; our hands Avere \itting-room, the floor of wliich was slippery with sand, and the walls black with flics ; the furniture consisting of six tall, narrow-bottomed, yellow chairs, and a pine table painted rod. One of the windows had the sash ])ropped up with a hroken sLovel, the other with the mush-stick. After awhile the landlady made her appearance in a clean cap, and handkerchief stilf-starched and highly blued, and a short-waisteJ, narrow-skirted gown of dusty black, bombazet, Avith long tiglit sleeves very small at the shoulders. She brought in her hand a coarse muslin shirt, at which she began to sew most vehemently as soon as she took her seat. She informed us that her husband was a squire, and that he bad 'j;one to court, — meaning the county court-house. On being asked if we eomld have dinner while the horses "estcd, she repluMl that " she reckoned we could." And lorthwith slie cilled in her eldest daughter, a tall, danglivig ;'irl of fourteen, vrith long thin arms and very long straw- ooloured hair. This girl the mother denominated "Yon lamcy," meaning Enjdiemia, and ordered h.er to "go up "liainber and put on a clean apron, and then set table and get victuals." \^ hen victuals came, our hostess (who thought it good "aimers to remain with tis for company) was still busily and 'Icntly engaged at her sewing ; but she invited us to " sit by '!ifl reach to," which signified to go to tiie table and helj> our- i\es. The family of course had dined at twelve o'<'h)ck, the ''ual hotir for country people. It being now near three iiL 81 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. the afternoon, our repast was evidently intended as a melange of dinner and supper, and consisted of the weakest of tua in a japanned tea-pot, and the coarsest of brown su^iir in a flowered glass tumbler ; a quantity of thick hard cider in a pitcher, wliose ornamental device was a frightful portrait of Washington ; a plate piled with sour, heavy rye-bread, which might almost have been mistaken for the pieces of iron ore that are frequently found on the surface of the earth in the pine forests ..xonmouth county ; a fowl, split and broiled, looking like a small spread-eagle, and which Famey luid hunted down and killed after our arrival ; a square of cold salt pork ; an enormous species of sausage called a Tom Thumb ; a plate of coarse, hard gingerbread, and another oi huge pickled cucumbers nearly a foot long. It was evident that at this early period, a taste for lux- uries had not yet found its v/ay into the town of kjquankuni, which I have no doubt, however, is now a city, according ti the usual time requisite for the growth of cities in tli'j republican section of the North American continent. During our re])ast we were objects of great euiiosity in seven children with white hair and dark brown faces, all (it whom hung painfully on the window-sills with their heads ii, and their legs out, for the purpose of surveying us at their ease. One mischievous rogue jumped down slily, and catching liii little brother by the feet, tilted him up and pitched limi, head-foremost, through the window into the room, and tluu ran away half laughing, half frightened. The child screamed, his sister Pamey — who was waiting on table — took him up inul Avashed the bump on his forehead with vinegar from thepickk^- dish ; and the mother, laying down her sewing, ran out, and breaking a thick switch from a newly felled tree, set off into tlu; woods in quest of the offender, llowever, she soon i-etunicd from her fruitless pursuit, very much out of breath, and declaring that '' she might as well sarch for a needle in a hay- stack as for Joss when ho ^ook to the woods, and that she (lid not expect to see no more of him till daddy came home, who, instead of whooping him as he desarved, would only out;' him on to further mischieve; and that poor little Madisou had not the peace of a dog with him." After this outbreak, the landlady resumed her work, and said no more, till, hearing that we were bound to .Squai), s^l't- infoi'med us that we had gone nine miles out of onr road. Wlien dinner was over, we ])roceeded on our journey, and the afteruoou passed on much in the same way as the morn; A PIC-NIC AT THE SEA-SIIORE. ss Inrr. Towards eveninf:^ we felt tlio freshness of tlio sea-air as WQ approached the shore ; and finally we p;ot out of tlio pines, and into a flat open country bounded hy the oceaii. We sa\^ three or four houses that seemed seveial miles apart, and a1 lon'jjth we came to the one that was to terminate our journey. Like all the others, it was of wood, and minjht have been called a farm-house, onlv that nothing: worlliv the name of farminjx could be effected on a soil so sandy and barren. A\'e found, liowcver, that the attempt was made ever}' year, but always Avith little or no success. This domicile belonged to an old man and his wife, who Avcrc now its sole inhabitants, their children having long since 'narried, and gone from them. Tlieir wants were lev, and they helped themselves along, as their neighbours did, by letting their house, during the summer season, to successive shore-parties. AVhere the proprietors slept and ate during the sojourn of their lodgers, was then, and still is, a mystery to me, — as every nook and corner of the house was filled, and move than filled, by the strangers and their a])purtenances, I have a strong suspicion that the old couple must have " cani;)ed out." All the ]iarty, except ourselves, had arrived the day hcforc. AVe found eight pairs of married people ; one couple, 10 our great annoyance, being a bride and bridegroom. The only young girls were my friend's niece aiul myself; but as ihere were no beaux, we made no attempt at being belle's. When we arrived the husbands had not yet returned from fishing and shooting; but all the wives came out to welcome us, each in a simihar costume of d:irk gingham gowns and plain muslin collars ; their hair parted smoothly on their ibi'ohcads, and tucked behind their cars witli side-combs. Mo«t of them looked like what arc called < diahlc women, that is, women of few words and fewer thoughts ; and all of them were knitting. I afterwards understood that when single they had all been romps. As the sleeping acconnnodations were known to be on a, very limited scale, none ot the ladies, except my friend, had Itrought with them a female servant. But as they were all notable (an honourable characteristic of the Jersey women), they had made arrangements for executing with their own hands whatever work was necessary. Therefore, soon after 'A 7 7 /A Hiotographic Sciences Corporation m 4 1 \ V ^\ # '* <^.'ie. JSo we took lights aiul proceeded up-stairs. I had been trying many times during the day to peryuade myself that I was in a state of great f'elicily, and that every- thing was pleasant and agreeable ; but all my sophistry fell to the ground as soon as 1 saw our dormitory. There wero two bedsteads jammed together, foot to foot, in a room so small that there was barely space to get in and out. There was not a spot for a table, chair, washing-stand, or even for u trunk ; all the washing and dressing having to be performed in the passage between the rooms. The heat of our cell ^va.s intense. Tliere was oidy one Avindow (a small one, contain- ing but four panes), and it seemed to have been made not to ojjen, and was found iunnovable. lu those two beds bcvou A PIC-NIC AT THE SEA-SHORE. 87 persons deposited themselves. The other youn<; lady and tuo of the wives occupied one ; I had a place in the second with my married friend and her baby : and diretiil to relate! we were oblii^ed to admit the scrvant-<;ir] as the seventh occupant, there being no other way of bestowinjjf her. Ncc'ssity has no law: and she stretciieJ, or rather contracted herself, in what spaco was left for lior on the lower part of both beds, her head on one and her feet on the other. AVhat a nij^dit ! AVe were fevered with heat: suffocated for want of air : stuni; witli musquitoes till our faces and necka were as full of lumps as the surface of a squash : the baby crici!, and the maid complained freciuently of being kicked in the face ; no wonder when we were all tossing about the whole night. I longed to camp out. At length, "wished morning came;" and we were all to ri;'e Jis soon as the sun was uj), particularly as the said sun bt'iuiicd most fiercely into our uncurtained window, directly upon the beds. The Irish girl had by iier lady's order taken up the wide-awake bal)y at the lirst glimpse of dawn, and was now washing it in the passage, and trying to appease its screams by singing at the top of her voice, *' Green were the fields where my forc^fathers dwelt on, Though our farm it was sniuU yot we were content on." AVe took it in turns to make our toilets one at a time : a busiiu'ss that wo were unable to accomplish very tlioroughly, as water was scarce, and we had but one looking-glasb. lireakfast was got in the same manner as supper, with the addition of oysters of vast size, brought to the house by a lishcrman, but I could not relish tliem, as they were out of season, and had, I thought, a queer tasle. After breakfast the ceremony of bathing was to take place ; and for that purpose we were all to ])roccenl not yet learned the difference between pleasure and pain ; t'tr I found that they still designed, next season, to pay a visit in a similar manner to the same place, as they had dono !itrnia)iy successive summers. — " Habit is second nature," and -liey had a habit of going to Sc[uan. u>uai Icni in Ickily, houKl lot lief (lead lok to that XIII. AN EXTRAORDINARY COON UUNT. I'll proceed, ])lus a few preliminaries, directly to a boy'n i*^"on Hunt. It was our custom (Harry and J) to steal from Uur shod rooni two or three times a week, after tlie lights hnro out, and tho govcruor'« deep suoro resouudod througii 90 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. wainscot and hall, and hasten beyond the garden watliiit; to the try sting spot, where we found faithful Peter ard thedoL's. These latter have been alluded to as hare catchers, and beiiiu' the only ones obtainable, we had to lead them or none ajjjainst opossums, racoons, and lh)ws. In a short time the do;,'s were verv busv, and cru\viiev hadn'r run another hundred yard.s before tliev were in a whopping' live-minute light. It seems we had invaded the plensurc-u;i ')unds and inter- rupted the domestic peace of an entire family. One of the juniors was the lirst victim of our char;:;e ; the other juniors we had eitliei" passed or overrun. The ilam, who was a short 'listance ahead, hearinn; the death-cry of one that was dear, either tai'ried in her gait or hurried to assist. Fatal atl'ection ! it lured her to the dogs, who, in live minutes, hustled her beyond that bourne from which no coon has e'er returned. " Look yoiuler, Pete ! " said I. "Golly bless my soul, M.is John ! I dunno what to think ; for I ]iever see Bet do dat way b'fore — but run on you and ^his Harry, while I put dis one in do bag, and Pll catch up." It appeared that jMV Coon, Ivup, the father of his family, liiulhehaved disgracefully. Instead of bringing ui) the rear, "}■ which — as we presently shall bo convinced— he could have l^iiived the lives of his consort and their little ouo if not hi^i 92 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. own, lio led in the stead a furious retreat when Bet's first bark rang on liis tympanum. He rallied not to the rescue like his noble and martyred companion, when the mortal wail of their young was borne on the air — he " heeded not, he oared not, he reeked not for aught," but to gain some l)ig tree or some hollow ; but the dogs were so near to his ring tail, that he was forced up an ordinary-sized white oak, without a hiding-place or hollow about it, and with no other tree near. The branch was fifty yards distant, but the ground was s))ongy with water ; numerous pools spotted the area, con- taining from a bushel to a hogs-diead of water each, and encircled by clusters of brittle and pitchy bushes ; liere and there was a clear space of a few yards sciuarc. There nu;st hav(i been an acre or two of tliis character of earth. Before reaching ^he tree, all exclaimed, " I see him ! " but getting nearer Pete said, "By Golly! ^las John, d' is two nn 'em!'' and so 1 was thinking, but Harry, who had ])eeii stooping to bring the object in a line with some bright stars, sang out — " Pete, 'taint but one — I wonder if it's a coon." Just then the moon emerged from a cloud, and tlicre, plain enougli. vn : out one coon. "By Gemini! Mas John," exclaimed Pete, "1 never sec iiuiEn like dat b'fore ; he big as a small bar. I wish we liaJ ii gun or a bull-dog ; we never gwnne to git ////;/." 1 had seen Pete do many deeds that to my youthfulness and weakness ap])eared great, and ranked him as an irresisti- ble Samson, and this time being the iirst in which I liad seeu him in doubt, it caused me to say — "What yer talking about, old nigger! — ver gwinc t' kt der coon whip yer ? " "Now, Mas Johnny, what make you tink dis child fraid o' anv coon, or any dozen on 'em. I'll bring him "own like de debbil ! " And the determined and hostile Pete ascended the tree Avith a stick in his mouth. As he iieared the second croteli, the varmint, who had been quiet, ran out on an expanded limb, whitherwards Pete cautiously followed. " Now, Mas John, I'm gwine to try and knock him in do head, for I'se afraid of dem dogs ; de coon's too big for him. And as the coon, by his movement, had showed plainly his proportions, I scarcely knew what to think of it, lor lie was twice as largo as any one of the hundreds I had pre- viously seen. The dogs being under him, he wouldn't jump in '^'^ endea^ AN EXTRA ORDINVRY COON HUNT. m off, and so Pete, beinpj now near enouj^h, he raised his arm to knock h^in in the liead ; but before the stick had descended, the coon, with his peculiar angry whine, rushed towards Pete in '^ '^ endeavour to leap on a higher limb. The eager darky foi hip position, and, in attempting to strike the animal with the left fist ere he had recovered from the impeius of his . ,iit-handed blow, the poor fellow fell heavily to the ground. He tried to rise, but with a groan sank back ; he had broken a bone. When he told us so, little Hariy, with tears for tlio trarjedy, asked him what lie should do for him. After con- sidering a while, Pete raised on his elbow and answered — " ]Mv little masters, I aint in much misery, but 1 can't jxet up, and I mus^ lay here till dey come for me from de house in de morning. You better go home to bed. I'm mighty sorry, too, d.it I took you all out dis night, I is, indeed ; for (le t^overnor '11 stop all our hunting, and whip you, 1 reckon, too; so dis '11 be de last coon hunt we have together.'' Tlu'ii, raising on his arm still liigher towards the tree, he sliook his now impotent fist at the squatting coon. '' Oh I ]\Ias Johnny, I'm mad wid dat coon ; I don't want him to eat my chickens, and den say lie beat Pete ; and if J thoii2;lit as how I could make dem dare dogs drag him here, so's 1 could get my hand on him, I'd give all de world." I had been feeling distress and embarrassment, but as reflection showed me clearly that our hunts were ended, and the governor's switch the next probability — a change came over me. Pete's earnest passion inflamed me, and as I sympathized in his desire I felt strong and big ; I was swell in;; with anger, and grew bold and reckless. Pete tried to (hssuade me from climbing the tree, but I was not to be j^liakcn in my ])urpose, and, with much perseverance and trouble, succeeded in reaching tne llrst crotch. After resting iuvhile I calculated my forces ; I had on thick boots, pulled. on my buckskin gloves, tied on my leather cap, buttoned my jiU'ket, and open'}d my spring-back knife. I suppose, as I ^vas very little, that the coon wasn't afraid, for he let nic 'ipproach him so near that his retreat to any other part of the tree was cut oil", unless over my head and body. Knowing my weakness, I saw that my success must bo the result of coolness and superior cunning. At last he came ^\itli Ills swinging tail, and his oo'e, oo'c, but the extended Kiiile it was, and not my hand, that he bit so furiously. \\ ith a gash in his gums he made a backward spring, and as ^^ tore up the bark with his teeth and claws, his gleaming. m THE A^IERICANS AT HOME. and dctcrminocl eyes burned upon mo. "Without delay Iio came apiain nith a rippin;^ charge, as if he Avould brush mo from the limb that I clasped with my lcjj;s ; but, as tho steadily directed knife entered his jaw, he took an iucautiou.i leap that carried him to the ground. Now, dopfs — bravo dogs — dasli on your foe, 8iiik deep your fangs, and drink his gore ; (iive not the: s'lvagc van. ant r»';;t — Hang to his throat, and crush his breast. And they did pounce upon him, to be sure ; over in a heap they'd roll witli growls, and shakings, and yelps; tliere was tumbling and splashing in tlie pools, ripping and crashing; through the elder bushes, and for half an hour there was not a steady clinch of one minute. I thought I had been oi'ca- sionally mixed up iu some good coon Hgiits, but, compared to this, they were as comedy to tragedy. I cannot recall, except by constraint, the particuhnrs of any other, for this obtrudes itself as the fight of liglits. It was invested with tragic interest — a battle, a dubious, a dangerous, and a bloody battle. A beast of the wild woods, •\veighing thirty pounds, agile and tenacious of life, armed •with claws that would rip o])en a dog's belly — teeth tint, like the wolf's, could bite out an entire piece, was brought to furious bay by three dogs — the smallest not half his wci;;ht, and the largest weigliing but twenty-five pounds. If it had been in his nature to fight as steadily and tenaciously as a dog, his strength and his weapons were sufficient to conquer and kill six such dogs. AVhen he found himself unceasintjly beset, and tlic enemy on his back Avhenever he turned tail he then resorted to more oil'ensive efforts. lie seized upon the dogs, one by one ; he tore and gashed the cur, making him sing out, aiul the poor little Tip he ripped open, broke his ribs, and tore nearly in two. I dragged the little thiii!; near Pete, who ended its sulferings. J3ut most deterniincl little Bet, the ten*ier — more sagacious and alert, more rok'iit- less in her grip, and of braver blood, and sterner stulf alto- gether — gave not one coward sign ; she Avould only with- draw her buried teeth to avoid the coon's furious ripping. tlien sink her mu/,/,le still deei)er in. Up to this I'lne we had not been able to put in a hVk (Tlariy aiul J), and we stood or ran around the combatant;', filled with anxiety and the utmost excitement. I had given Harry my knife, and 1 held Pete's stick, both watching our AN EXTRAORDINARY COON HUNT. o; oppori unities — we saw the game growing more serious and (Icsporntc, and waxed more eager and reckless ourselves. Bet's true blood was mailing her fiercer for her wounds ; but I lodkod for the coon's victory, unless Harry or I could assist. As the unluclvy cur yelled out again, Harry ran up to use the Idiife ; but casting off the half-scared dog, the furious animal —with Bet on her quarters seeking a deadly hold — met Harry in mad career, jerked him down, and tore his leg badly, tliroii;j;h all his clothing. As he was about to repeat the attat!; he received Harry's knife in his nose, and had to turn all lii.i energies against Bet, who pressed him harder and harder. The cur was getting so sneaky that he wouldn't fjrab and shake, unless he could do so somewhat salely ; and, thoiiiih he i^rill helped a little, the battle was carried on chiefly by Bet and myself — I dealing blows, when I was able to do so. on tlie coon alone. Once he had Bet down in the water, uherc I thought he would drown her. I struck repeatedly ■with my stick, but he was so intent on keeping his advantage that he down within two or throe feet of the ground in the rrar. -\ double camp is constructed by putting two such squares iate to face, with the fire in the middle. The spruce tree is gt'iar- ally selei quite free three to straight a shingles a a long hej covered \ that when camp is p tween the moss gathe Theint area of tin sleeping ap These apar simply by s the floor o: various dire dimensions, board to oui tlie back wj some four oi t'arth, uj)on mating of h bed is deter 'en to tweut bed by sewir '1 general thi '■turn in" i[ »ot those w Jiivigorating ; from side to s depths. I)irectly ^ ^ront of the fi ^'.'e greatest h'\<^ its vtymi nothing more ^'■"111 those UK ^;'^'?'ug swam ^J^acons with Jiame be invol P'^'^k hewn fr tiJick by tweh THE lumberer's CAMP. 97 s all, ouud, r two L ill SI I, Is til is mow's ally selected for camp building, it being liglit, straight, and f in building one camp-fire would supply an ordinary lire a week. It is not an unfrequent occurrence, of course, for camps ta take fire in this exposed situation, but some one generally dis^- covers it in season to extinguish it by the timely application ot Buuw or water. THE LUMBERER S CAMP. 99 Having completed our own cabin, we proceed next to con- striK-t a hovel for the oxen, which are yet behind. In erecting tliis, the same order in architecture is observed as in that of the camp, the timber of which it is composed, however, being nuic'h larger than that with which our own habitation is con- structed. With the trunks of trees the walls are carried uf nearly equal in height, leaving one side, however, lower enough than the other to give a moderate pitch to the roof, which is covered with the same kind of material as that of the camp. In the camp, for the workmen, there is no floor but the earth ; the ox hovel, however, has a flooriug made of small poles laid closely together, and hew^ed down with some degree of smooth- ness with the adze, and in the final finish the crevices in the walls are plastered with clay or ox manure. A temporary shed is thrown up in front, which serves as a depot for hay and provender. Xo little pains are besi^owed upon the -onvenienccs de- fiigned for the team. AVith the exception of sporting horses, never have I witnessed more untiring devotion to any creature than is bestowed upon the ox when under the care of a good teamster. The last thing before '' turning in," he lights his lantern and repairs to the ox hovel. In the morning, by the peep of day, and often before, his faithful visits are repeated, to hay, and provender, and card, and yoke up. Xo man's berth is so hard, among all the hands, as the teamster's. Every shoe and nail, every hoof and claw, and neck, yokes, chains, and sled, claim constant attention. AVhile the rest of the hands are sit- ting or lounging around the liberal fire, shifting for their com- fort, after exposure to the winter frosts through the day, ho iiuist repeatedly go out to look after the comfort of the sturdy, laillilul ox. And then, for an hour or two in the morning ag:iin, while all, save the cook, arc closing up the sweet and unbroken slumbers of the night, so welcome and necessary to the labourer, he is out amid the early frost with, I hat I almost said, the care of a mother, to see if " old Turk " is not loose — vhether " ]5right " favours the near fore-foot (which felt a little hot the day before), as he stands upon the hard iloor — and then to inspect *' Swan's " provender-trou;;}i, to see if he has eaten his meal, for it was carefully noted tl.at, at the " wateriug- pliice" last night, he drank but little ; while at tiie further end of the " tie-up " he thinks he hears a little clattering noise, and presently "Little Star" is having his shins gently rapped, as a token of his master's wish to raise his foot to see if some nail has not given way in the loosened shoe ; and this not for 100 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. once, but every day, with numberless other cares connected with his charge. A competent hand in this profession generally calculates to do a good winter's hauling, and bring his team out in tlie spring in quite as good flesh as when they commenced in the early part of the season. But as in all other matters, so in this, there are exceptions to the general rule. Some teamsters spoil their cattle, and bring them out in the spring miserably poor, and nearly strained to death. Such a practice, however, cannot be regarded as either merciful or economical. So far as true policy is concerned, it is much better to keep a team well. What may be gained by hard pushing during the former part of the season will be more than made up during the latter, when the teams are moderately urged and well kept, and then you liave a good team still for future labour. Having comjdeted our winter residences, next in order comes the business of looking out and cutting the " main," and some of tlie principal " branch roads." These roads, like the veins in tlie luiman body, ramify the wilderness to all the principal "clumps" and "groves of pine " embraced in the permit. AV'c have here no " turnpikes " nor railways, but what is often more interesting. No pencillings can excel the grafe- ful curves found in a main road as it winds along through the forest, — uniform in width of track, hard-beaten and glassy in its surface, polished by the sled and jogs which are so iVc- quently drawn over it. Each fall of snow, when well trodden, not unlike re])cated coats of paint on a rough surface, serves to cover up the unovenness of the bottom, which in time becomes very smooth and even. .And, besides, no street in all our cities is so beautifully studded with trees, whose spread- ing branches alfeetionately interlace, forming graceful areh- ways above. Along this roadside, on the way to the landinir, runs a ser])entino ])athway for the "knight of the goad," whose deviations are marked now outside tliis tree, tlioii behind that " v.iiulfall," now again intercepting the main roa 1, skip])ing along like a dog at one's side. To pass along ih's . road ill uiid-winter, one would hardly suspect the deformilies which the dissolving snows reveal in the spring — tlie stnin|"s .and kiudls, skids and rools, with a full share of nuid-sl(Mii,dis. impassable to all except man, or animals untramnicled ^vlth the harness. In tlu! ])rocess of making these rouls, the first tliini:;!'^ order is to look out the best location for them. This is doiio A NIGHT ADVENTURE ON THE MISSOURI. 101 by an experienced hand, who " spots " the trees where ho wishes the road to be "swamped." AVe usually bepjia at the landing, and cut back towards the principal part of the timber to be hauled. In constructing this road, first all the underbush is cut and thrown on one side ; all trees standing in its range are cut close to the ground, and the trunks of prostrated trees cut otl' and thrown out, leaving a space from ten to twelve feet wido. The tops of the highest knolls ore scraped oif, and small poles, called skids, are laid across the road in the hollows between. AVhcre a brook or slough occurs, a pole- briduc is thrown across it. These preparatory arrangements are entered upon and executed with a degree of interest and pleasure by lumber- men, scarcely credible to those unacquainted with such a mode of life and with such business. XV. A NIGHT ADVENTURE ON THE MISSOURI. |ou'j;li-'- Id \vit!^ Iiiii':; ii^ U dono At tlie head of a ravine on the border of the river Platte, one bright night in June, was gathered a party of Missouri hunters, who were encamped after a day's chase for buffalo. The evening's repast w'as over, and as they strelcdied them- ••c'lves in easy attitudes around their stack of rilles, each looked at the other with a kind of questioning expression, of whether it should bo ahcp or a j/arn ? The bright moon, \\itli Cull round face, streamed down into their midst, and !*priidvled her silvery sheen over shrub and llower, investing ni^ht in those vast solitudes with a strange charm which lorlijds sleej), and with connnon consent they raised them- i^olvcs into a sitting posture and proposed a " talk," as the i'0(l.,skins say. Dan Elkliorn was the leader of the party, and !>ll knew his store of adventure inexhaustihle, so a unanimous tall was made upon Dan for a story. " Come, Dan," cried a '•'"iiy, "give us something to laugh at, and let us l)reak this silence, which seems to breed a spirit of melancholy — stir us up, old fellow, do ! " i)au pulled his long knifo out of his belt, and laying it 102 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. before him, smoothed back his long gi'ay hair. He was a genuine specimen of the hardy American mountaineer, — like the Indian, he dressed in deer-skins and wore the moccaaon, while every seam in his iron countenance told of 'scapes and peril. Seeing that all were attention he commenced — " Well, draw up closer, boys, so I shan't have to holler, 'cause breth is gittin' kind a short with me now, and I vvant to pacel it out to last pretty strong till the wind-up hunt. You, Mike, keep your eye skinned for Ingins, 'cause et' we git deep in a yarn here, without a top eye open, the cussed varmints '11 pop on us unawars, and be stickin' some of tliur quills in us — notliin' like havin' your eye open and instcrmcnts ready. I've a big idea to gin you an account of some fun I had with an old bar, on the ]\Iissouri, when I was a youiilicr, and considerably more spry than I am jest now. I want to tell you fust, boys, tliat bart are knowin' animals, and they kin jest tell a younkov of the human kind as easily as they kin a small pig from the old sow; — they don't fool with mo now, for they've got to know me ! " "Well, old Alio Dennison, a neighbour of mine on the Missouri, had bin about two years up in the mountains, and when he came home he gin a treat to all the fellars witliin thirty miles of him — that was jest seven families — and among 'em, in course, I got an invite. Alic and I had sot our cabins on opposite sides of the drink, near enough to sec each other, and a red-skin, ef he'd come on a scalp visit, would a bin diskivcred by either. AVhen Alic's frolic was to cum oil', I was on hand, sartain. About evenin' I got iny small dug-out, and ilxin' my riile carefully in the fore eciid, and stickin' my knife in the edge whar it would he handy, I jest paddled over the drink. *' A little above our location thar wur a bend in the stream which a kind a turned the drift tother ednd up, and planted them about the spot between our cabins — snags and sawyers, jest thar, wur dreadful plenty, and it took mity nice padlia' to git across without tiltin' ; howsever, I slid atween 'eai, sarpentine fashion, and got over clar as a pet coon. Thar wur considerable folks at Alic's.. fur some of the families in them diggins liad about twenty in number, and the ^^il?! among 'em warn't any on your ])igeon creaturs, that a fellai' dassent tech fur fear of spilin' 'em, but raal scrougers — uiy on 'em over fourteen could lick a har, easy. INly dcci led o])inion jest now is, that tlmr never was a grittyer crowd congregated before on that stream, and sieh other daucin' ;uid A NIGHT ADVENTURE. 103 ^rinliin' and eatin' lar steaks, and corn dodger, and huggin' the gals, don't happen but once in a fellar's iii'etime, and scarcely that often. Old Alio had a darter Moily, that war the most enticin', gizzard-ticklin', hcart-distressin' feline, creatur that ever made a fellar gii owdacious, and I seed Tom Hellers eavortin' round her like a young buffalo — he was puttin' in the biggest kind a licks in the way of eourtin', and between her eyes and the sweetened whiskey he'd drank, you'd a thought the fellar would a bursted. Jest to make matters lively, I headed up alongside cf Molly, and shyed a few soft things at her, scch as askin' how she liked bar steaks cooked, and if Jim Tarrant wani't equal in the elbow to a mad jt)rm/'r;''5 tail, when he war fiddliu' tliat last reel, and sech aiiuisin' light conversation. AVell, boys, Tom started swellin' insf (inter. He tried to draw her attention from me; but I got talkin' about some new improvements I war contcmplatin' about my cabin, and the cow I expected up from St Louis, 'sides lonely feelins I'd biu havin' lately, and Tom couldn't git in a show of talk, edgeways. Didn't he git mad ? — war youever near enough to a panter when his liar riz with wrath ? AVell, ef you have, you can create some idea of Tom's state of mind, and how electricity, from liquor and love, run out to tlie ccuds of his head kiverin'. It wur easy to see he wur a gittin' dangerous, so 1 slid off and left hiin alone with the i,^al. Arter I got a talkin' to another one of the settlers' young women, ]Molly kept lookin' at me, and every now and tiieu savin' somethin' pleasin' across to mc, while she warn't payin' any attention to Tom at all. Ho spread himself into jifstitV bow and loft her; then movin' across the floor like a ■wounded deer, he steadied himself on the back of n)y seat, and lookin' mc in the face, says : "^Mister Elldiorn, I shud be strenuously obleeged to you ef you'll step down thar wilh mc by the old persimmen tree.' "I nodded my head, and told him to trot outside and Av.iit till I got the docyments, and as soon as he moved 1 sent liis old (ladih/ to accompany hiui. 1 jest informed the old lollar that Tom wanted a fight, and as ho was too full of corn juice to cut carefully, I didn't want to take advantage of him. flic old man said ho was obleeged to me, and moved out. fom, thinkiii it wur me, staggered ahead of the old man, and I concluded, as it war near mornin', to leave ; 'cause 1 knew ^vhcu Tom found out his daddy was along with him instead <^1 me, he'd have a light any how. I acknowledge the corn, toys, that when I started my track warn't anythin' like a 101 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. Ire-line; — the sweeten'd whiskey had made me powerful thick-legged; but arter a fashion I got to my dug-out, with nothin' of weapon along in the world but the paddle. Thai- war jest enough light to toll that snags wur plenty, and je!uvs, and over it went — overwent Molly into the stream, and off slid Mister har, laffin' out loud! as I'm a white man. " I seized Molly as she came floatin' towards me, and stuck her upon my sawyer, while I started for an adjinin' snag. I could hear Molly grittin' her teeth, she Avar so bilin' mad, and ji'st as soon as she could git breath, she hollered to me to bo sure I never rested till 1 killed that varmint. I swore on that snag that I'd grow thin chasin' the critter, and she seemed to git paeiHed. Well, thar we wur, in the stream, and it a leetlo too rough to swim in easy, so we had to sing out for helj), and I yelled till I war nigh onto hoarse, afore anythin' livin' stirred about the house ; at last, nigger Jake came down to the edge of the river, jest as day was breakin', and puttin' his hand over his eyes, he hollers — " ' Why, Massa Dan, is dat you wot's been hoUowin' eber 80 long for somebody ! ' lOG THE AMERICANS AT HOME. " ' You've jest took the notion to cum see, have you, you lazy nigger — now git a dug-out and come out here and git vour missus and me off' these snags, and do it quick too, or I'll make you holler ! * " ' What, Missus dar too ! ' shouted the nigger, ' well, dat's funny — de Lor! ' and off" the cussed blueskin started fur the house, and in a few minits all that could gethered out to see us and laugh at our water locations. " 1 had bin gittin' riled by degrees, and now was at a dangerous pint — the steam began to rise off on me till tharwur a small fog above my head, and as the half-drunken varmints roared a laffin, and cracked their jokes about our courtiu' ia the middle of the drink, I got awful excited. ' I'll make rib- bons of every man among you,' says I, ' when I git whar thar's a chance to light.' And then the cussed crew roared the louder. Tom Sellers yelled out that we'd bin tryin' to ehj-)c, and this made Molly mad, — her daddy got a little mad too, and I bein' already mad, tliar wi r a wrathy trio on us, and the old fellow said, ef he thought I'd been playin' a two-faced game, and bitiu' his friendship like a pizen varmint, he'd drop me off the log I wur on with a ball from his rifle. I jest told him to fire away and be d — d, for I wur wore out a patience. Some of the boys held him, while others got the dug-out and came to our asj^i.-^t- ancc. I jest got them to drop me on my side of the river, and to send over my rifle, and as soon as it war on hand I onlooseJ my dog Yelp, and started to wipe out my disgrace. "That infernal bar, as soon as he'd tossed Molly in the stream, started for the woods; but, as ef he had reasoned ou tlie cluinees, the varmint came to the conclusion that lie couldn't git away, and so got up into a crotch of a low tree, about a quarter of a mile from my cabin. Old Yelp smelled him, and as soon as I clapped peeper on him I let sliver, when tlie varmint dropped like a log, — 1 went to him and found he'd bin dead for an hour. My little blade couldn't a killed him, so it's my opinion, clearly entertained, that the owdaeioiis varmint, knowin' I'd kill him for his trick, jest climbed up tliar M'har I could easy find him, and died to spite me ! " His hide, and hard swearin', got me and Molly out of our clopin' scrape, and the lickin' I gin Tom Sellers that spriii},' lias made us good friends ever sence. .'He don't wonco ventiir' to say auythin' nbout that har scrape, viiihoxit my permission ! " 107 XYI. A HELP BUT NOT A SERVANT. " HiLLOA there ! hilloa ! where under tlie canopy is all the folks? be a joggiu', can't ye?" shouted one of the newly arrived. 3Ir Gaston hurried as fast as his poor blind eyes would allow, and his wife threw fresh wood upon the fire, and swept the rough hearth anew, as well as she could with the remnant of a broom. Tliis was scarcely done when we heard voices approaching —at tirfjt mingled into a humming unison with the storm, then growing more distinguishable. A very shrill treble overtopped forms of female exclamation. " dear ! " " O mercy ! " " O bless me ! " " O papa ! " "0! I sJtall be drowned — smothered!" " O dear!" but wo must not pretend to give more tlian a specimen. A portly old gentleman now made his appearance, bearing, flung over his shoulder, what seemed at first view a bolster cased in silk, so limp and helpless was his burden. Behind him came, as best she might, a tall and slender lady, who seemed his wife ; and, after scant salutation to the mistress of the cottage, the two old people were at once anxiously occupied in unrolling the said bolster, which proved, after the Champollion process was completed, to be a very delicate and rather pretty young lady, their daughter. After, or rather Avith, this group entered a bluff, ruddy, well-made young man, who seemed to have been eharioteei-, and to whom it was not unreasonable to ascribe the adjur- ation mentioned at the head of our clKii)tcr. He brought in some cushions and a great-coat, which he threw into a <'orner, establishing himself thereafter with his back to the lire, from which advantageous position he surveyed the com- pany at his leisure. " The luggage must be brought in," said the elderly gen- tleman. " Yes ! I should think it had oughter," observed the young r.ian in reply ; "/should bring it in, if it was mine, any how ! " " Why don't you bring it in then ? " asked the gentleman, ^vith rather an ominous frown. 108 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. lUi " I ! well, I don't know bat what I could, upon a pinch. But, look here, uncle ! I want you to take notice of one thing — I didn't engajije to wait upon ye. I a'n't nobody's nif,'ger, mind that ! I'll be up to my bargain. I came on tor a teamster. If you took me for a servant, you're mistaken in the child, sir ! " "However," ho continued, as if natural kindness were getting the better of cherished pride, "I can always liclp a gentleman, if so be that he asks me like a gentleman ; and, npon the hull, I guess I'm rather stubbeder than you be, so I'll go ahead." And with this magnanimous resolution the youtli de- parted, and with some help from our host soon filled up every spare corner, and some that could ill be spared, with a multifarious collection of conveniences very inconvenient under present circumstances. Three prodigious travelling- trunks of white leather formed the main body, but there were bags and cases without end, and, to crown all, a Spanish guitar. " That is all, I believe," said the old gentleman, addressing the ladies, as a load was set down. " All ! " exclaimed the teamster ; " I should hope it was ! and what anybody on earth can want witli sich lots o' fixins, I'm sure's dark to me. If I was startin' for Texas I sliouldn"t want no more baggage than I could tie up in a handkcrcher. But what's curious to me is, where we're all a-goin' to sleep to-night. This here rain don't talk o' stoppui', and here we've got to stay if we have to sleep, like pins in a pin- cushion, all up on eend. It's my vote that we turn these contraptions, the whole bilin' on 'em, right out into the shed, and jist make up a good big shake-down, with the buffaloes and cushions." The young lady, upon this, looked ineffable things at her mamma, and, indeed, disgust was very legible upon the countenance of all these unwilling guests. The house and its inhabitants, including our inoffensive and accidental selves, underwent an unmeasured stare, which resulted in no very respectful estimate of the whole and its particulars. Nor was this to be wondered at, for as to the house, it was, as we have said, Oi\e of the poorest and not one of the best of lo;,'- houses — there is a good deal of difference, — and the people were much poorer than the average of our settlers. The young lady at least, and probably her parents, had never seen the interior of these cabins before j indeed, the A HELP BUT NOT A SERVANT. 109 - pinch, of one obody's ) on for listiikcu (sa were i help a m; and, )ii be, so luth de- illed up 1, with a nvenient avelling- ut there ; Spanish Idrcssing ,e it was ! o' lixins, sboukUrt Ikcrcher. •goin' to pill', and |iu a pin- Lrn these ^he shcil, Ibuffaloes rs at her [pon the [e and its \\ selves, no very rs. Kor IS, as ^ve It of lo;;- people luts, had [eed, the damsel, on her first unrolling, had said, very naturally, " Whv, papa, is this a Jiottse ? " Then, as to the appearance of our little party, it was of a trulv western plainness, rendered doubly plain, even in our own eyes, by contrast with the city array of the later comers. Tlieirs was in all the newest gloss of fashion, bedimmed a little, it is true, by the uncourtly rain, but still handsome ; and the young lady's travelling-dress displayed the taste so often exhibited by our young countrywomen on such occa- gJQi^s — it was a costume fit for a round of morning visits. A ricli green silk, now well draggled ; a fine Tuscan-bon- net, a good deal trimmed within and without, and stained ruinously by its soaked veil ; the thinnest kid shoes, and white silk stockings figured with mud, were the remains of the dress in which Miss Angelica Margold had chosen to travel through the woods. Her long ringlets hung far below her chin with scarce a remnant of curl, and her little palo face wore an air of vexation which her father and mother did their I)ost most duteously to talk away. " This is dreadful ! " she exclaimed in no inaudible whisper, drawing her long damp locks through her jewelled fingers with a most disconsolate air : " It is really dreadful ! We can never puss the night here." "But what else can we do, my love?" rejoined the mamma. ''It would kill you to ride in the rain — and i/oii' shall have a comfortable bed at ny rate." This seemed somewhat consoling. And while Mrs Mar- <:;old and her daughter continued discussing these matters in an undei'-tone, Mr Margold set about discovering what the tempoi-aiy retreat could be made to alVord besides shelter. "This wet makes one chilly," he said. "Haven't you a pair of bellows to help the fire a little ? " The good woman of the house tried her apron and then tlie good man tried his straw hat — but the last wood had been wet, and seemed not inclined to blaze. " IJolIowsos ! " exclaimed the young man (whose name wo found to be Butts), " w^e can do our own blowin' in the woods. Here ! let me try ; " and with the old broom-stump he flirted ^P a fire in a minute, only scattering smoke and ashes on all I siJes. The ladies retreated in dismay, a movement which seemed \^m\\y to amuse Mr Butts. " i^on't you be scart ! " he said ; " ashes never pison'd any- body yot." 110 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. Mr Margold was questioning Mrs Gaston as to what could 1)0 had for tea, — forgetting;, perhaps, that a farmer's house i>^ not an inn, where cliance comers may call for what tliev choose without offence. " But I suppose you have tea — and bread and butter— and " " Dear ! " exclaimed the poor woman, "I haven't seen anv but sage tea these three montlis ; — and as for bread, I eouKl malie you some Johnny cake if you like that ; but we have had no wheat flour this summer, for my old man was so crowded to pay doctor bills and sich, that he had to sell Ins wheat. AVe've butter, and I believe I may say it's prettv good." " Bless my soul ! no bread ! " said the old gentleman. " No tea ! " exclaimed his wife. " O dear ! what an awful place ! " sighed Miss Angelica, piteously. " Well ! I vote we have a Johnny-cake," said the driver ; " you make us a Johnny-cake, aunty, and them that can't make a good supper off of Johnny-cake and butter deserves to go hungry, that's a fact ! " Mrs Gaston, though evidently hurt by the rude manner of her guests, set herself silently at work in obedience to the hint of Mr Butts ; while that gentleman mr.de himself com- pletely at home, took the little girl in his lap with the lovin[^ title of " Sis," and cordially invited Mr Margold to sit down on a board which he had placed on two blocks, to eke out the scanty number of seats. " Come, uncle," said the facetious Mr Butts, " jes' take it easy, and you'll live the longer. Come and sit by me, and leave more room for the women-folks, and we'll do fust-rate for supper." Mr Butts had evidently discovered the true philosopliy, but his way of inculcating it was so little attractive, that the Margolds seemed to regard him only with an accumulating horror. Hitherto we had scarcely spoken, but, rather enjoying tLe scene, had bestowed ourselves and our possessions within as small a compass as possible, and waited the issue. But these people looked so thoroughly uncomfortable, so hopelessly out of their element, and seemed, moreover, by decree of the cease- less skies, so likely to be our companions for the night, that we could not help taking pity on them, and offering such aid as our more mature experience of forest life had provided. A HELP BUT NOT A SERVANT. Ill lat could hou.se i>^ hat tlicy butter— ; seen any I, I could [ we liavc 11 -was so :o sell liis t's pretty [jman. Angelica, he driver; that can't 3r deserves do manner jncc to tlio mself com- tho loviuf; sit down eke out ijes' take it ly me, ami fust-rate l)hilosopliy, e, that the lumulutiDs; [joying tbe ' within a* I But these jilessly out J the cease- light, that Icr such aid prov Ided. Our champagne basket was produced, and the various articles it contained gave promise of a considerable amendment of Mrs Gaston's tea-table. A small canister of black tea and some sparkling sugar gave the crowning ^ace to the whole, and, as these things successively made their appearance, it was marvellous to observe how the facial muscles of the fashionables gradually relaxed into the habitually bland ex- pression of politer atmospheres. Mrs Margold — who looked ten years younger when she smoothed the peevish wrinkles from her brow — now thought it worth while to bestow a (juito gracious glance at our corner, and her husband actually turned his chair, which had for some time presented its back full to my face. "NVe got on wondrously well after this. Mrs Gaston, who was patience and civility personified, very soon prepared a table which was nearly la"»'ge enough to serve all the grown people ; and, as she announced that all was ready, Mr Butts, who had been for some time balancing a chair very critically on its hinder feet, wheeled round at once to the table, and politely invited the company to sit down. As there was no choice, the strangers took their seats, with prim faces enough, and Mrs Gaston waited to be invited to make tea, while her poor half- blind husband quietly took his place with the children to await the second table. 3Ir Butts was now in his element. He took particular pains .0 press everybody to eat of everything, and observing that Miss Angelica persisted in her refusal of whatever he offered her, he cut with his own knife a bountiful piece of but- ter, and placed it on her plate with an air of friendly solicitude. The damsel's stare would infallibly have frozen any young man of ordinary sensibility, but Mr Butts, strong in conscious virtue, saw and felt nothing but his own importance ; and, moreover, seemed to think gallantry required him to be speci- ally attentive to the only young lady of the party. " Why, you dou't eat nothing ! " he exclaimed ; " ridin' don't agree with you, I guess ! now, for my part, it makes me as savage as a meat- axe ! If you travel much after this fashion, you'll grow littler and littler ; and you're little enough already, I should judge." It was hardly in human nature to stand this, and Mr ]Mar- gold, provoked beyond the patience which In bed e"idently prescribed to himself, at last broke out very warmly upon' Ijutts, teUing him to mind his own business, and sundry other things not particularly pleasant to relate in detail. ' " ! you're wrathy, a'n't ye ? Why, I didn't mean nothing 112 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. but what was civil ! "We're plain-spoken folks in this new country." Mr Margold seemed a little ashamed of his sudden blaze •when he found how meekly it was met, and he took no furtlior notice of his republican friend, who, on his part — though he managed to finish his supper with commendable sang-froid — was evidently shorn of his beams for the time. XYII. A HELP BUT NOT A SERVANT. ClIAPTEE IT. Most lamentably amusing was the distress of Miss Angel leu when it became necessary to concert measures for passiiiL,^ a night in a crowded log-cabin. The prospect was not a verv comfortable one, but the view taken of its horrors by these eitV people was so ludicrously exaggerated that I am sure no spoJ- tator could help laugliiug. The philosophy that cannot stand one night's rough lodging should never travel west of Lake Erie. Not that the lodging anywhere in these western wilds is likely to be found more really uncomfortable than is ofku the lot of visitors at the Springs during crowded seasons ; but fashionable sufferings are never quite intolerable. The sleeping arrangements were of a more pcrplexiiii; character than those which had been fortunately devised tor the tea. There were two large beds and a trundle-bed, and those, with a scanty supply of bedding, comprised our avaihilde means ; and besides our tea-party, two little boys liad ctJiee dripping home from school to add to our numbers. After inueli consultation- many propositions, and not a few remarks cal- culated rather to wound the feelings of our civil entertainers, ii was concluded to put the two large beds close together in onirr to enlarge their capabilities, and this extensive coueliwasiit liold all the "women-folks" and some of the children. Tin- trundle-bed by careful stowage took the little ones : and for 1 lie
s Angelica and her guitar. The morning was a charming one, and a strong bree/o from the west came as if on purpose to refresh the spirits and cool the tem])er of the ])arty after the contrcteinps ut the night. But this breeze, bearing on its fresh pinions i^oiiio of the balmy moisture of last night's shower, blew 3li>^ Angelica's long ringlets about most intolerably, and her liitlt' forehead when, as almost m copious s! jiant of young lad " I ne slic cxcla iiour ! " " Well ;'that the in the woo sliek noth( Double maintained the imperti imeeasinir !ieigIibourii nance and ( of civility. that the pa woods, yii, '••united the ii'oiu his adt 'IS we have s knowledge v taken. He ; 'liin quite eq •ihle farmer, I'cirs ; and w -^If Margold '"ftmts and j li"^ duty to W[ "Us fidelity a ^''•^< ] almosi passed over "^ ^0 the accc "lit unfortui •'ii^'tiity woul( ''"^('"t carh ai '"' Ji'isli one- '^'' J' it upon i h- and b} A HELP BUT NOT A SERVANT. 117 reader part lire It sujj;- mauv a numer- c break- lay "witli mutual 80 pro- i ni^:^i^^ s we were n a u<"Jcl eow 1 II as far as lul i ^va> |e, wbicli I for 3li^^ L.j; l)ree/.o Ipirhs* iukI j)S of the [ions Howo l)lc\v Mi^'S her little forehead became quilted with very unbecominjij wrinkles, vlieJi, as we drove through a narrow way where the bushes almost met above our heads, a provokin*^ puff sent down a copious shower from the leaves, deinolit^hing the small rem- nant of curl and the smaller remnant of patience, and the youno: lady scolded outright. " 1 never did see such an odious country as this is ! '* she exelaimed; "it is impossible to look decent for an hour!" " Well ! one comfort is," said Mr Butts, consolingly, *' that there a'n't many folks to see how bad you look, here in the woods ! We a'n't used to seein' folks look dreadful sliek nother — so it don't matter." Double-distilled scorn curled Miss Margold's lip, and she maintained an indignant silence, as the only shield against the impertinence of llio driver, who found consolation in an iiiiceasing whistle. They had picked up this youth at a !K'ii,'hbouring village, supposing, from his pleasant, counte- nance and obliging manner, that they had gained a treasure of civility. It had been at Miss Angelica's especial instance that the party had quitted the usual road and taken to the woods. She wished to be a little romantic, but she had not romited the cost. Butts was indeed all they had supposed from his address, smart, good-tempered and kind-hearted, yet, as wc have seen, he was not the less lacking in the kind of knowledge which was requisite for the ])art he had under- mken. He had never lived with any but those who considered iiiui quite equal to themselves. He was the son of a respect- ■ihle fanner, whose ample lands would cut up well among his lieirs ; and when our friend Dan erigaged to" drive team " for Mr Margold, he had no idea but that he was to be, to all intents and purposes, one of the party, saving and excepting liis duty towards the horses, which he performed with scrupul- ous lidelity and no small skill. All this seemed so evident, tliat 1 almost wondered that INIiss Marg(d(l could not have passed over his intrusiveness more ijood-humourediv, settinu: It to the aecount of sheer ignorance, and not evil intention. '•ut unfortunately the young lady seemed to fear that her uii,Miity would be irrecoverably compromised if she did not I'OHMit caeh and every instance of imj)ertinence, and as Butts >v.is one of those who cannot take the broadest hint — even Jill Irish one — he only talked the more, thinking he had not y^'t hit ujjon the right way to make himself agreeable. lly and by, finding it impossible to extort a reply from 118 TITK AMERICANS AT HOME. the threarly lips of the fair Antj;elica, lie hailed a youniid Ve rot'erriii.' Ll llarr'k'^ IlmI in these 1 iii\\)\^o>^ ivluMi L ^v:l> ot' a iiii>=^^ the womls and wliieli Ither. T"^^ to that lu- ll of Mi^'^'^- Iral ''ovei'ii- right. Oh ! dashing youn"^ ]\Iiok is the prido of the west I Of all its bold hunters the boldest and best, lie has town-house and villa, and \vater-eiaft fair, And parks full of rein-deer, enotiph and to spine. ]\[e has meadow and woodland, lake, river, and liik, And prairic-lund plenty, lias dashing young Mick. The ditty mif^ht have extended to the lenpjll) of Clie\'y rha^^e i'or aught I can tell, in spite of many signs of indigna- tion on the part of Mrs jMargold and her daugliter, if we had not at that moment come in sight of the tavern at AVellington, whiidi caused Mr Butts to interrupt his vocal etVorts, and give a rousing touch to his horses to insure " atrot for the avenue.'* AVe found a decent inn and a tolerable breakfast, but the place itself was the image of desolation. It was one of those which had started into sudden life in speculating times, and the great mill, the great tavern, and various other abortions, had never known the luxury of a pane of glass or a paint- hrufcih, nor did they bear marks of having at any time been occupied. A " variety store," offering for sale every i)ossible article of mei Jiandise, from lace gloves to goose-yokes, — ox- ehains, tea-cups, boots and bonnets inclusive, — displayed its tempting sign ; but the clerk sat smoking on the steps, and a few loungers around him looked like "whiskey-customers only. There was a banking-house, of course ; and (also of course) it was closed, though the sign still stared impudently at the cheated passenger. And this was " AVellington ! " Hollow honour fjr " le vainqueur du vain([ueur du n:ionde ! " After breakfast — at which, by the by, Mr Butts and his friend tilled high places, — we bade adieu to the ]\Iargolds, who were to r(\gaiu the great road after a lew miles of further travel, while we took to the woods again. ]k'tbre we ])arted, liowever, ]\lr Butts sought occasion to call us to witness that lie returned to Mr i\Iargold the bank-note which tluit geutle- iiiiui had deposited on Mr (iaston's table. "You see, he a'n't no hand to make a fuss, Gaston a'n't ; ^»' he list told me to t^ive it to ye after vou got awa^'. And lie ^!iia, added the agreeable youth with a smile, '"that he'd rather }ou'd buy mauuers with it, if you could." 120 XYIII. THE STAMPEDE. Pursuing our journey on the rolling prairie, wo bad been about half a day out, and were beginning to lose sight of the lower ranges of hills, when we heard a deep rumbling, like lieavy thunder or a distant earthquake, and our guide came to a sudden halt, exclaiming, "Lediable!" " Howly jabers ! what is it now ? " cried Teddy. " Hist ! " exclaimed Black George. '' I'll be dog-gone of I don't think we're chawed up this time, sure as sin ! " " What is it ? " I echoed. " Von grande stampede, by gar !" answered Pierre. " Stampede of what, I pray ? " " Buffler," replied Black George, sententiously. " What are they ? " " Yonder they is now — here-a-ways they soon will be ; " and as he spoke, he pointed over the plain with his fingor. Pollowing the direction with my eyes, I beheld in tlie dis- tance a cloud of dust, which rolled upward like a morning fog, through which, and in which, I could occasionally cati'h a glimpse of the huge animals, as they bounded forward with railroad velocity. " What is to be done ? " I. cried. " Grin and bear it," responded the old trapper. " But we shall be trodden to death. See ! they are coining this way ! " "Can't die younger," was the cool rejoinder. " But can we not fly ? " " Howly mother of Mary ! " si uted Teddy, worked up to ;i Iceen pitch of excitement ; " it's fly we must, sure, as if tin' divil was afther us, barring that our flying* must be did mi baasts as have no wings, now, but long It^gs, jist." *' What for you run, eh r " grinned the Frenchman. *' Him catche you, by gar ! just so easy as you catche him, vou IcL'tli', tam — vot you call him — musquito, th ? " " It's no use o' showing them critters our backs," rcjoiiu'd Black George. — " Hevar's what don't turn back ou uulli'ii' that's got hair." THE STAMPEDE. 121 " "Well," continued I, " you may do as you please ; but as for iiivi^elt', I have no desire to stand in my tracks and die witliout ail etlbrt." Saying this I wheeled my horse, and was just in the act ot* putting spurs to him, when Black George suddenly dashed up ulont,'side and caught my bridle. "See heyar, boy — don't go to runuin' — or you'll discom- fliiinieate yourself oudaciously — you will, by ! Eh, Pierre ? " " Ccrtainmcnt, by g«ir ! " answered the guide; and then both burst into a hearty laugh. "What do you mean?" cried I in astonishnicnt, unable to onmpreliend their singular actions ; and I turned to the other mountaineers, who were sitting quietly on tlieir horses, and iiu|uired if they did not think tliere was danger. "Thar's al'ays danger," replied one, '' in times like tliis ; but thar's no safety in runnin'." "For Heaven's sake, what are we to do, then ? Stay here quietly and get run over ? " Black George gave a quiet laugh,' and the Frenchman pro- ceeded to take snutf Tiiis was too much for my patience. I j'l'lt myself insulted, and jerking away my rein from the hand oftlie trapper, I exclaimed, indignantly, "I do not stay here to be the butt of any party. Teddy, follow me ! " The next moment I was dashing over the prairie at the full speed of my horse, and the Irishman, to use a nautical phrase, close in my wake, whooping and shouting with delight at what lie considered a narrow escape. The direction we had taken \v;i8 the same as that pursued by the running bulfalo ; and we could only hope for ultimate safety by reaching some luige tree, Mck, or other obstacle to their progress, in advance of them. How far we would have to run to accomplish this there was no ti'lling ; for as far as the eye could reach ahead of us, we saw nothing but the same monotonous, rolling plain. The herd, tinuulering on in our rear, was so numerous and broad, that an atlempt to ride out of its way, by turning to the right or left, could not be thought of — as the velocity of the animals would he certain to bring a wing upon us, ere wc could clear their lilies. There was nothing for it, then, but a dead race ; and I ^vill be free to own, the thought of this fairly chilled my blood. hxposed as I had been to all kinds of danger, 1 had never felfc more alarmed and depressed in spirits than now. Wliat could 5»y eouipauious mean by their indifference and lavity ? AVaa 122 TUB AMERICANS AT HOME. it possible that, having given themselves up for lost, the excite- ment had stupified yome, and turned the brains of others I Horrible thought ! I shuddered, and turned on my horse to look back. There they stood dismounted, rifles in liand. and, just beyond them, the mighty host still booming forward. Poor fellows ! all hope with them is over, I thouglit ; and, with a sigh at their fate, I withdrew my gaze and urged on my steed. On, on we sped, for a mile or more, when I ventured another look beu'nd me. Judge of my surprise, on beholding a lon:^ line of buffalo to the right and left, rushing away in ditlrivnt directions ; while directly before me nothing was visible but my friends, who, on perceiving me look back, made signs for me to halt and await them. I did so, and in a few minutes they came up laughing. " AVhy, JBosson," said Black George, waggishly, *' I hope as how you've run the skeer out o' ye by this time; for, 111 be dog-gone ef you can't travel a few, on pertikelar occasions!" " Oui, monsieur," added Pierre, " vous 'ave von lo plus grande — vot you call him — locomotion, eh ? " " But how, in the name of all that is wonderful, did you escape ? " rejoined I. " Just as nateral as barkin' to a pup," answered Black George. ' We didn't none of us hev no fear no time ; and was only jest playin' possum, to see ef we could make your hair stand ; never 'spectiug, though, you was a-goin' to put out and leave us." " But pray tell me how you extricated yourselves ? " said I, feeling rather crest-fallen at my recent unheroic display. " Why jest as easy as shootin' — and jest that, boss, and nothin' else." " Explain yourself" " Well, then, we kind o' waited till them critters got up, l.) as we could see thar i)eepers shine, and then we all burnt powder and tumbled over two or tiiree leaders. This skeered them as was behind, and they jest sniffed, and snorted, and sot oil ayther ways like darnation. It warnt anything wonderful— that warnt — and it 'ud been ounateral for 'em to done any- thing else." "I say, your honour," rejoined Teddy, with a significant wink, " it's like, now, we've made jackasses o' ourselves, barring your lionour." " Very like," returned I, biting my lips with vexation, "all but the barring." The truth is, I felt much as one caught in a mean act, and WHO SHALL COOK FOR THE CAMP 12;^ I would have given no small sum to have had the joke on som& one else. T detected many a quiet smile curling the lips of my companiona, Avhen they thought I did not notice them, and I knew hv this they were laughing in their sleeves, aa the saying is ; but, being in my service, did not care to irritate my feel- injrs by a nwre open display. It is very galling to a sensitive person to know he has made himself ridiculous, and is a private subject of jest with his inferiors. It is no use for one under such circumstances to fret, and foam, and show temper. No ! such things only make the matter worse. The best way is to come out boldly, own to the joke, and join in the laugh. Act- ing upon tins, I said : " Triends, I have made a fool of myself — I am aware of it — and you are at liberty to enjoy the joke to its full extent. But, remember, you must not spread it ! and, wlien we reach a station, consider me your debtor for a ' heavy wet ' all round.'* Tiiis proved a decided hit. All laughed freely at the time, and that was the last I heard of it, till I fulfilled my liquor pledfje at Uintah Fort, when Black George ventured the toast, '■ Bulller and a run," which was followed by roars of mirth at my expense, and there the matter ended. WHO SHALL COOK FOR THE CAMP? The task of taking oxen on to the ground to the lumbcrer'» camp every fall is very considerable, especially mIicu we go far into the interior, as we frequently do nearly two hundred wi!e8. This labour and expense are sometimes obviated by leaving them in the spring to shift for themselves in the wilderness and on the meadows, where they remain until autumn, when they are hunted up. During their wilderness exile they thrive finely, and, when found, appear very wild ; ;ct wondering, they seem to look at us as though they had t! fatal for a doctor to lay himself liable. A pair of coars(» mud boots enclose my feet ; copperas- coloured linsey j)ants occupy their proper position ; a n^aiidy ])laid vest with enormous jet buttons, blanket-coat and cap, ('()n)j)lete the eijuipment of my outer man. 7Vl!ow me to in- troduce you to my horse; for Charley occupies in my mind too large ii space to be ])assed over silently when the 'Swamp doctor" is being described. Too poor to own but one, he ii;^ to [)erform the labour of several, which the fine blood tlmi courses through his veins easily enables him to do; liI> It id alnu)>'. copperas- and i^^!>P' lue U) in- ly mint lo "ywaml' mc, Ik; 1^^' |])loo(l tli;>t , ; like hi^ asinu; '^"'|' ttlvirlii^'*- llif^li-splrited art thou, old friend — for age is touching theo, Charles, though thou givest no indication of it, aiu'c in the lock of s^vay which overhraigs thy flashing eyes. Tall in tliy pro- portions, gaunt in thy outline, sorrel in thy hue, tliou hast proved to me, Charles, that there is other friendship and com- iianioning besides humankind ; thou hast shared my lowly lot for many yt^ars, Charles — together we have passed the lojiely nii];ht, lost in the swamp — breasted many an angry stream, aiui ;;i\en lii^ht to many darksome hearts, whou fcvcr-stricken they awaited my coming, and heard thy joyous neigh and eager 1)nund. I did not know thy good qualities, Charles, when first I bought thee, but the years that have vasted away ha\e taught thy true worth, and made me respect thee as a man. But 1 must ri'turn, Charles, to when we first took up our home within tlie " swamp." ^ly residence is as humble as my pretensions or my dress, lifiiiir composed of split trees, and known in American parlance as a " log cabin." A la/y sluggisli " hai/ou^^ — as all the small water-courses in tliis country are freuchifically termed — glorying in the name ot* the " Tensas," runs, or rather creeps, by the door, before which — oa the margin of the stream — stands one of those grand alhivial oaks which could canopy an army. The day is rather sultry ; a soft wind is moving its branches, on the topmost one of which is pi-rclied a mocking-bird! how vildly he f'arols, how blithesome is every movement ! Happy ■'low ! the barn-yard, the ploughed ground, the berry-laden tree, all furnish him witii food. Nature clothes him annually, and the leafy branch beneath shields him from the cold, when ' 'Hids and darkness gather around. Happy fellow! lie can ^".',Mvith a light heart; liis wants are few and easily supplied. ^^ould that the " swamp doctor" had as little care ])resHiiig !"pon him, that he might join you in your song ; would that lii^ necessities were as few and as readily provided for! Then p'O he could mock at the world, tlu'U too sing like thine Ji |, .^'fiits strain; but poverty, youth' ulness, the stranger's want hning sympathy, chill the rising ardour of his Noug, and ''"'•,' him back upon the cold wave of the world. Ihit away, care, for the present ! aw:\y, forebodings of tlio '''ire! 1)0 as in former days. Swamp Doctor, joy fid at heart h'hoii h;ii^t sun;j: in strains as wihl as that winsome bird's! Il • I 1 l^;' tlio harmony that pervades the air paint for theo tho j^'Te ; aiul of tlie bygones, " let the dead Past bury its dead ! '* j'Jt lo 1 hero is a call : — • 128 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. "Come quick, Mass' Doctor! ole missus got a fit!" aroused me from my poetical revery, and brought the invoca- tion to Esculapius to an abrupt termination. I was just apostrophizing " High Heaven " when the voice outspoke ; laugliing at the ludicrous transitio.i of* sounds ami ideas, I rolled up my manuscript ?.ud turned to take a survey of the speaker. He presented nothing remarkable in his appearance, heiiif only a negro messenger, belonging to a small planter liviiit,' at the extremity of what I regarded as my legitimate circuit of practice ; from the appearance of the mule he bestrode, ho had evidently ridden in great haste. Perceiving me to be laughing, and not knowing of anythiiiij in his amiunciation to create liiirth, he thought I had not heard him when he first spoke, and therefore repeated, " Come quick. Mass' Doctor ! ole missus got a fit, an' I 'spec i.i monstrus low, for as I cum by de lot, I hear Mass' Bill hoHer to ]\[ass' Bob, and tell him,arter he got dun knockin' de horns off de young bull, to cum in de house an' see his gran'-iuainin\' die." But still I laughed on — tliere was such an odd min^liii;' of poetry, Esculapius, missus, fit, Mass' Bob, and knocking ik- liorn off the young bull, as to strike full my bump of the ludicrous, and the negro, sitting on his litde crop-eared jniilc, gazed at me in perfect astonishment, as a monument of unfed- ingness. Suddenly the recollection that this was my " first call." came over and sobered me in a second ; my profession, with ai! its sober realities and rcsponsibilites, was again triumpi'aiit, and I stood a serious " swamp doctor." Ordering a servant to catch my horse, I began to prcpaiv for the ride, l)y (juestioning tlio negro as to the nature of tlie disease, age of the patient, and other circumstances of the ca^N that miglit enable me to carry medicines along suitable toihej occasion, as my saddle-bags were of limited capacity, and noiif of the peoj)le kept medicines at home, except a I'ewoftli' simpl(>st nature. " Vou say your mistress has fits? Docs she have tln'ii' * I I often r " 'riu> object of my nupiiries will be apparent to tlicj professioiu\l reader. "Not as I nose on, INFass' Doctor, although T didhrarn Iiir| say when she lived in Georgy, she ./as monstrus narvus-liiu' a- do full of de moon." " How old is vour mistress ? do you know, boy ? " "How ole! why, Mass' Doctor, she's a bobbullucslnwiy w '-'•^Clliblv, ''"'Uhiit f, |"f'U-(loct,),., THE SWAMP DOCTOR. 121) a fit!" e invoca- the voice unds and survey of ncc, beins; L' living at circuit of ido, Uo had >f anythiu'T; I had not ,cd, " Come 1 'spec u Bill holler ill' de horiw au'-niamniy dd min^dini; nocking tlie ump of the cared mule, t of unfed- first call," iiou, with ail Itriumpinml, to pvep^l''^ liturc of t'le of the cii^^', fitable to ili^' ty, and none I li I'ewof tlvl L ha\e tlu'i" lareut to t'"^ ' Ilid hcarn li' i' iivrvus-lllu' '"• |bbullusbii''''y fjiispensioner, an' her hare is grayer dan a 'possum's, Ole inissiis ole for a fak ! " " Has anything ha])pencd lately that could have given your mistress the fit ? " "Nuilin', ]\rass' Doctor, as I nose on, 'copt pr'aps day 'fore visterday night ole missus' private jug guv out, an' she tole Villi of de boys to go in de smoke-house and draw him full ; de I'lile chile stuck de lite tu nere de baril, de \vhiskey kotcli, an' sich a 'splosliun never war herd as de ole smoke-house guvin' up de goast ! " "Your old mistress drinks whiskey, then, and has been ^vlthout any two days r " " Yes, Mass' Doctor, an' I 'spec it's that what's usen her up, for she'd sorter jgot 'customed to de ' stranger.' " 1 had learned enough of the case to give me a suspicion of the disease ; the verification must be deferred until I saw the patient, She being very old, nervous, and excitable, accustomed to alcoholic stimulation, suddenly deprived of her usual beverage, and brought under the de])res3ory influences of losing her smoke-house and barrel of whiskey, was suflicient cause to pro- duce a case of disease formed by an amalgamation of suh-ln/sfcria ;uid qunxi delirium Iremcns; a not very flattering diagnosis, coiijsidered in a moral point of view, to the old lady, m liose acquaintance I was yet to make. Knowing how n\ucli depended upon the success with which I treated my flrst cases, it was iiimecessary to give me a svrious and reflective air, that I >hGuld remember how much people judged from appearances, iiiid that mine were anything but indicative of the doctor; uhiskers or beard had J. none, and, even when wearing the most sober mask, a smile would lurk at the corner of my mouth, ea^'or to expand into a laugh. But 1 must start. Labelling a bottle of ])randy " Ark- ansas ritifuge," I slipjied it in my pocket, and, mounting my liorse, set ofl' upon the fulfilment of my " first call." When wo reached the liouse — my horse reeking with ^weat from the haste with which we had traversed the mmhly nnuls— I introduced myself, as I had never seen one of tho l.iniiiy bei'ore, iDr they me — as Doctor Tensas, and required l' he shown the patient. I saw from the couiilenance of tho ";!f'H- doctor, and that my unstriking and youthful vifciage was pvorkiug fatally against mo. In fact, as I. approached tho 130 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. bed, which was surrounded with women, I heard one old crono remark, sotfo voce, — " Blessed J s ! is that thinr/ a doctor ? wiiy, his face's as smooth as an eg<^-shell, an' my son John 'peers a heap older than him, an' he's only been pupped atocii years ; grashus nowe sich a young-lookin' critter as that shuddent gin me doctor's truck ; he can't have 'spericncc, but sens he's here we'll have to let him go on ; half a '|)ology is better an' no commiseration in an aggervated insult." Paying no attention to her depreciatory remarks, but determined to show them that I knew a thing or two, I com- menced examining the patient. Had I not ])een prepared by the negro's description, I would have been surprised at tlie example of longevity in that insalubrious country which the invalid prc^ionted. Judging from external appearances, she must have had tlio opportunity of doing an immensity of talking in her time; her hair was whiter than the inside of a persimmon seed, and the skin upon her face resembled a piece of corrugated and smoky parchment, more than human cuticle ; it clove tightly to the bones, bringing out all their prominences, and sliowin;^ the course of the arteries and veins beneath ; her mouth \vi;s partly open, and on looking in I saw not the vestige of a tooth ; the great dentist, Time, had succeeded in extractiiiq- the last. She would lie very quietly in a dull coniatoa' condition for a few moments, and then, giving a loud screech attempt to rub her stomach against the rafters of the cahiii, mumbling out something about " Whiskey spilt — smoke- house ruined — and Gineral Jackson lit the Injuns — and she haddent the histericks ! " requiring the united strength ol several of the women to keep her on the bed. The examination veriiied my suspicion as to the natmr of the disease, but I had too much knowledge of human natiu'c to give the least intimation to ih;? females of my real opinion. I had been told by an oUl practitioner of medicine, " \i yen Avish to ruin yourself in the estimation of vour fcmaie patients, hint that the disease they are labouring under i^ connected with liysterics." AVIiat little knowledge 1 h;id acquired of the sex during my student life went to conlirni liis observations. JJut if thenuM'e intimation of hysicida pro- duced such an effect, what would the positive ])ronouiu'iiin that it was not only hysterics but a touch of drunken nuniiiii' I had not courage to calculate upon such a subject, but hastily dismissed i(. Pronouncing that she had .y?/*, sure cnoiii!;!'. 1 •2omniouced the treatment. Brandy and opium were iln> THE SWAMP DOCTOR. 131 )ld crone doctor ? on John ^cd aleeu as that cncc, but ])()logy is arks, but o, I corn- remedies indicated ; I administered them freely at half-hoi>r intervals, with marited benefit, and towards midnii^ht slio loll into a identic slumber. As I beard her qniet breathintj:, and saw the rise and fall of her bosom in regular succession, indicating tliat the disease was yielding to my remedies, a fileatn of pleasure sbot over my face, and I felt happier by t!ie bcilside of tbat old drunken woman, in that lowly cabin, in that obscure swamj), tliau if the many voices of the city were shouting " hius " unto my name. I was taking the first round in the race betwe(!n medicine and disease, and so far was leading my competitor. It was now past midnight ; up to this time I had kept my place by the bedside of the patient, and began to get wearied. 1 could with safety transfer her care now to one of the old dames, and I determined to do so, and try and obtain some sleep. The house consisted of a double log cabin of small dimensions, a passage, the full depth of the house, running hetweeu the " pens." As sleep was absolutely re(piired for the preservation of the patient, and the old dames who were gathered round the fire, discoursing of the marvels of their individual experience, bade fair to step over the bounds of proper modulation in their garrulity, 1 proposed, in such a way that there was no withstanding the appeal, that we should all, except the one nursing, adjourn to the other room. The old ladies acquiesced without a single demurrer, as they were all dvin^j to have a talk with the " voung doctor," who hitherto, absorbed in his patient, had shown but little com- municativeness. The male portion of the family bad adjourned to the fodder-house to pass the night, so my once fair companions and self had the whole of the apartment to ourselves. Ascer- taining by actual experiment tbat it was suiliciently removed W the passage to prevent ordinary conversalion from being audible at the bedside of the invalid, l!ie old ladit s, despite my hints of "being very uired," "Ideally I ai)i very sleepy," aid'MAvisli I hadn't such a long ride to take to-morrow," C'lmnenced their attack in earnest, by opening a Iremendons I'attery of small tal'Jv and queries ii})on me. Tlie terrible I'vaidies that it made had the ell'ect of kee|)ing mine on, and 1 >*un'en(led' at discretion to the ladies, ahnoul wishing, I must U'"utoss, that they were a bevy of young damsels, instead of a jM so antiquated that their only knowledge of love was in Uconiii; their grand-children. Besides, they were only cxact- wi from mo the performance of one of the proscribed duties 132 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. of the country physician, performed by him from time iin- mcmoriiil ; and why should they not exact it of me ? The doctor of a country settlement was then — they have become so common now as to place it in the power of nearly every planter to own a physician, and consequently they attnu^t little rej^ard — a very important character in the commuiiitv. T ravel 1 in ii,nnd it still holds good — married or single they hold the men up, and, without their su|)port, no physician can succeed. I had imagined, in my youthful simplicity, that when I entered the swamp I had left female curiosity — regarding it as the off- spring of polished society — behind ; but I found out my mis- take, and, though I was very sleepy, I loved my profession too well not to desire to perfect myself in all the duties of the calling. I have often had a quiet laugh to myself, when 1 reflect upon the incidents of that night, aud what a ludierous appearance I must have presented to a non-particii)ant, when, on a raw-hide-bottomed chair, I sat in that log cabin, directly in front of a cheerful lire — for, though spring, the nights were sufllciently cool to render a fire pleasant — the apex of a pyra- mid of old women, who stretched in two rows, three on each side, down to the jambs of the chimney. There was Miss Pechum, and Miss Stivers, and ^li^s Limsey, on one side ; and Miss Dims — who, unfortunately,:!^ eho informed me, had had her nose bit olF by a wild hoi^'— mi'l Miss Kipson, and i)/m Tillot, on the other. Six old women, with case-hardened tongues, and only one ])oor hiunblo "swamp doctor," whom the verdict of one, at first sight, hail pronounced a thin;/, to talk to them all ! ]*'earful odds I eaw, and seeing trembled ; for the fate of the advcnturmi^ frenchman came fresh to my mind, who proposed, for a wai,'or, to talk twelve hours with an old widow, and who at the expiration of the time was found dead, wi:h the old lady whisj)ering vainly " frog soup " in his ear. Tiiere it was one against one, here it was six versus one, and a small talker at tliat,j but the moments were llyiug, no time was to bo lost, THE SWAMP DOCTOR. 133 time iin- le r' The ■e become irly cvery -y attract immuiiiiy. he roposi- hourhood, the moiU'l lently, his est to tlie e rendered the patron- vomcn, and le men up, iqqX. I had 3Titerod the as the oti'- )ut my inis- ■ profession .uties of the elf, when I II ludirrous pant, when, i)in, directly niodits wcvo of a pyi'ii- roe on eaoli nnd we commencffl. What marvelloiis stories I told them about things I had seen, and what wonderful recitals they i^[\\e nie in return ! How, first, I addressed my attention to one side of the pyramid, and then bestowed a commensurate intensity upon the other ! How learnedly we discoursed upon " varbs," and " kumt'rey tea," and " sweet gum sav ! " llow readily we all acquiesced in the j[;eneral correctness of the broken-nose lady's remark, " Bless the Lord ! we must all die when our time kums ; " and what a <];eneral smile — which I am certain, had it not been for the ])ropin(|uity of the in- valid, would have amounted to a laui^h — went round the pyramid, when Miss Pcchum, who talked throu<^h her nose, snutHed out a witticism of ber younp;est son, when he was a babe, in which the point of the joke lay in bifc, or rir/ht, or fif/lit, or some word of some such sound, but which the im])er- fection of her pronunciation somewhat obscured ! How intently we all listened to Miss {Stivers' f^host-story ! what upiioldinri; of hands and lap-droppinu: of knittini^, and ex- clamations of fear and horror and admiration, and " J^lessed .Master ! " and " Lordy grashus ! " and " Well, did yon ever ! " and " You don't say so ! " and " Dear heart, do tell ! " and what a universal sigh was heaved when the beautiful maid that was haunted by the ghost was found drowned in a largo chnni of buttermilk that her mother had set away for market luxt day ! How profuse in my expressions of astonishment mill admiration I was, when, after a long comparison of the Illative Bulferings of the two sexes, j\liss Stivers — the lady ^vlu) talked through her nose, in reply to Miss Dims, the lady who had no nose at all — declared that " l^lessed i\laster per- laittiii', arter all their talk 'bout w^omen's sutferings, she must >^;iy that she thought men had the hardest of it ! " How wo tlcbated "whether the 'hives' were catchin' or not;" and Were perfectly unanimous in the conclusion that "Sheep ^■ateni" were wonderful " truck ! " I^iubleidy one of the small screech or horned owls, so ''"iimion ill the south and west, gave forth his discordant cry ti'oni a small tree, distant only a few feet from the house; instantaneously every voice was hushed, all the lower jsiws of the old women drop|)ed, every eye was dilattMl to its utmost '"'P'^^'ity, till the whites looked like a circle of cream around. '' I'hu'k bean, every forefinL'cr was raised to conmiand attcn- bi'n, and every head irave a conuniserative shake, moderating >''iiilually to a solemn settling. After a considerable pause, -^ii'^s liipsou broke the silence. " Poor creotur ! she's gone, 134 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. doctor, the fitifufj^e can't cure her, slie's knit her last pair of socks ! Blessed Master ! the screech on-l is hollered, and she's bound to die, certin ! " " Certin ! " every voice belonp^inir to the females responded, and every head, besides, nodded a mournful acquiescence to the melancholy decision. Not thoroujijhly versed in the superstitions of the back- woods, I could not see what possible connection there could be between the screech of the owl and the fate of the patient. Desirous of information upon the subject, I brolie my usual rule, never to acknowledge ignorance upon any mat! or to ladies — from the first eruption of Vesu^ius to the composi- tion of a plumptitudiuizer — and therefore asked Miss liipson to enlighten me. I shall never forget the mingled look of astonishment and contempt that the old lady, to whom the query was pro- pounded, cast upon me as she replied : — " IIow dus scree(di owls hollerin' make sick people die? Blessed jNEastcr ! you a doctor, and ax sich a question ! How is ennything fotch 'bout 'cept by sines, an' awgrese, an' sindjlos, an' figurashuns, an' hiramgliptix, and sich like vareus v.\l»' l)s she Nvu^l- dent nethur, for arter all he dident cum, an' you no she cud- dent kum 'cept with him 'ceptiii' she duu like Lizey Johiisuii':^ middle darter, Prinsauna, who left her hu.sband in the state of Georgy, and kum to Luzaanny an' got married to a nother man, the pisen varmint, to do sich as that and her own laful husband, for I no that he borrcrd a dollar of my sister Jane's sister to pay for the license and eatables for the crowd — but Blessed Master, where is I talking to ! — well, as 1 sed, IVIiss Plyser made herself monstrous sick etin cold fride eoilards j wen I got where she was they had sent for the doctor, an' shortly arter I kum he cum, an' the fust thing he axed fur arter he got in the house war for a hanful of red pepper-pods — it war a monstrous fine time for pi^pper an other gardin truck that sesun — an' wen he got them he tuck a hanful of lobely an' mixt the pepper-pods with it, an' then he poured hot bilin' water over it, and made a strong decokshun. Jes as it was got reddy for 'ministering, but before it was guv, I licered a screech owl holler on the gable end of the cabin. I sed then as 1 say now, in the present case, that it war a sine and a forerunner that she was gwino to die, but the doctor, in sj)lto of luy 'swadenients, gin her a tin cup of the pepper and loljely, but 1 nude it war no use — the screech owl had hollered, and she war called fur ; an' jes to think of a nice young 'ooniaii like her, with the purticst pair of twins in the world, and as mtieh alike as two peso, only one had black hare and lite ise, an' the other had black iso and lite hare — bein' carrid to a grave by cold fride eoilards apeered a hard ease, but the Lord is in the heavens an' ho nose! AV'ell, the first dose that be gin hei" didn't 'feet much, io he gin her another [)int, an' then euniinenst steinin' her, ^vhcn the pirspirashun began to kum out, slio sunk rite down, an' begun to sikcn awful! but it war too late, tbo sercech owl had hollered, an' she dide, pooer creetur ! the Lord bo niarsyful to her poor soul ! But 1 sed iVom the fust she wood die. Doctor, weed better see how Miss .Tiinsey is ; it's iw use to waste the ' futifuge ' on her, the screech owl has hollered, and she mus go though all the doctors of a king war here; poor creetur ! she has lived a long time, an' 1 'speck her Lord and Master wants her." And thus saying, the old lady preceded the way to tlie sick ''"0111, aiyseli and the five other old women bringing up the rear. Somewhat, I thought, to the disappointment of the super- stitious dances, we fouud the invalid still buried in a profound 18G THE AMERICANS AT HOME. slumber, her rop;ular, placid breailiiiif^ iudicating that the proper functions of the system were being restored. 1 softly felt her pulse, and it, too, showed improvement. LeaviuL,' the room, we returned to the other cabin. I informed the familv that she was mucli better, and if she did not have a ri'tuni of the spasms by morning, and rested undisturbed in the ineuii time, that she would get well. But I sawtiiat superstition had too deep a iiold on tlieir minds for my llattering oj)inion to receive their sanction. An incredulous shake of the head was nearly my only reply, exce|)t from the owl entliusiast. " Doctor, you're mistaken, certin. The screech owl has hollered, and she is bouii to die — it's a sure sign, and caii'c fail ! " I saw the uselessness of argument, and therefore did not attempt to show them how ridiculous, n;iy irreligious, it was to entertain sucli notions, willing that the termination of the case should be the reply. It would reipiire a ])onderous tome to contain all that passed in conversation during our \igils that night, ^lorniui,^ broke, and 1 went softly in to see if my patient still slept. Th(> noise I made in crossing the rough iloor aroused her, and as I. reached the bed-side, she half raised herself up, and to my givat delight accosted me in her perfect senses. " I s'pose, young man, you're a doctor, aint you ? " 1 assured her that her surmise was correct, and pressed hoi* to cease talking and compose herself. She would imt ih> it, however, but demanded to see the medicine 1 was givini;- her. 1 produced the Arkansas litifuge, aiul as it was near the time that ishe should take a dose, I poured one out and gave it to her. Ju'- eeiving it at first with evident disgust, with great reliictan'O she forced herself to drink a small ({uantity. i saw pleasure and surprise lighting up her countenance; she- drank a little more — looked at me — took another sip — and then, as if to tr-c it by the other senses, applied it to her nose, and shakiiiL,' tl:i' glass applied it to her ear; all the results were satisfactory, aiii she drank it to the dregs without a murnuir. "Doctor," said she, "ef 3'ou're a mineral Hssishun, and (his truck has got calomy in it, you needn't be afeard of sahivatiii me, and stop giviu' it, for I wont git mad of my gums is a leetie touched !" 1 assured her that the " fitifu^e" was perfectlv harinlfss. " It's monstrus pleasant truck, ennyhow ! What did }lui say was the name of it ? " " Arkansas litifuge, madam, one of the best medicaments TKE SWAMP DOCTOR. 137 for spasmodic diseases that I have ever used. You were in fit^} last uight when I arrived ; but you sec tlie medicine is etibct- j'lL,' a cure, and you are now out ot' rhinger, although extreme qiretiide is highly necessaiy." '• Doctor, will you give me a leetle more of the truck ? I declare it's monstrous })leai^ant. Doctor, I'm mity narvous, (jiiu'rally ; don't you think I'd better take it pretty often through the day? Ef they'd sent tor* you sooner 1 woodcut bill half as bad oil". But, tlumk the Lord, you lias proved a kapable fissishun, sent to me in the hour of need, an"' I wont coiiiplane, but trust in a mersyful JSaveyur ! " " How do you feel now, sister Jimsey ? do you think you're looking up this morning?" was now asked by the lady of screech-owl memory. '' Oh, sister llipson, thank the Lord, I do feel a power better this mornin', an' 1 think in the course of a day or two I will be able to get about agen." ''Well, mersyful Master, wonders will never stop ! las nite I thot sure you cuddent stand it till mornin, speshully arter I lieerd the screech owl holler ! 'tis a mirrykul, sure, or else this} is the wonderfulest doctor in creashun ! " "Did the screech owl holler mor'n wunst, sister Ripson?" " No, he only si reached wunst ! Ef he'd hollered the second time, I'd delide all the doctors in the created wurld to 'ad cured you ; the thing would have bin unpossible ! " Now as the aforesaid screech owl had actually screeched twice, I must have eU'ected an impossibility in making the cure ; but 1 was unwilling to disturb the old lady in her delusion, and therefore did not inform her of that which she wuuld have heard herself, had she not been highly alarmed. I directed the " fitifuge " to be given at regular intervals tlirough the day; and then, amidst the blessiigs of the patient, tlie congratulations of the family for the wonderful cure I had ttrccted, and their assurances of future patronage, took my de- parture for home, hearing, as I left the house, the sanu' old lady who had underrated me at my entrance ejaculate, '" Well, bless tlie Lord I didn't die lastyere of theyellcr janders, or I'd never lived to see with my own eyes a doctor wlio could cure a l)ody arter the screech owl hollered I )j 138 XXI. now JACK WOOD GOT Til IN. It was during my autumnal trip of 1840, to the backwoods of Pennsylvania, that I became acquainted with tlie licro of tills sketch, lie was about thirty-five years old, six feet two in height, and stout in proportion — a noble specimen of a man, (piite an Ajax in size and courage, llis liair was long and black, and fell in a curly mass down his shoulders. He could Avalk as far, run as fast, and slioot or fight as well, as " the next one." He always prided himself on his hunting dress, and always looked neat in his person; his usual dress was a thick blaiikLi; liunting frock, of a dark brown colour, bound round the neck, ykirt, and sleeves, with strips of beaver skin ; his stout home- spun breeches was met at the knees by heavy buck-skiu ki;- gings, his feet encased in strong Indian moccasins, and on lu's head he wore a sort of skull-cap of gray fox-skin, with tlio tail sewed on the left side, and hanging down on his shoulder, llis breast was crossed by two foncy beaded belts of buidc-skin, one supporting an ox-horn so white and transparent that the dark powder could be seen through it, the other holding a fancy leather scabbard, into which was tlirust a heavy huntinu:-Kiiiti'. llis waist was encircled by a stout leather belt, in whicli lie carried his bullets and caps, and tiirough which was thrust his small but sharp tomahawk. His rille was of the best malce. and ho prided himself in keeping it in good order. Having run from home when but eighteen years of aj^o, lie worked his way out to the western country, where he adopted the hunter's life, and joined a roving band of half-Indians and lialf-whites, with whom he strolled till the breaking out of the JNIexican war. He then joined a company of rangers, and fought under old Zack till the close of the war, and while there. displayed that courage and daring that has alwavs marked his life. The war over, he came to Philadelphia, and finding father and mother dead, and both sisters married, he went out we>r Jigain, and commenced the roving life he so much liked. He wandered across the country till he reached the wilds ot now JACK WOOD GOT THIN. 139 badvwoods le hero {>( t feet two L of a iiuiii, 1 long and lie could :!ll, as '' the and always ck blanki'i; d the iu'i.'k. ;tout lioiiie- k-skiii k':;- and on liis tU the tail Lilder. His c-skin, Olio it the (lark wj; a fancy itini:;-kuit'e. I which lie 1 thrust his make, and of a^c, he Ihe adoptfd Indians and out of the Incjers. and •hile there. Iniai'ked his lling father It o\it we-r liked, li^; ^vilds ot Pennsylvania, and bein^; much pleased with the scenery and luniting grounds, he built himself a cabin, and there it was I tonned his acquaintanc-e. Pardon me, kind reader, for thus intruding on your good- nature, hy entering on the biography of our hero, but it is a weak failing I have to eulogize my friends. But now for the story. Jack's only partner of his joys and sorrows was liis hound, for he hated all of tlie womankind. Last fall I visited Jack's neighbourhood, and stopped at the same tavern as when I sojourned thither in '49, and after seeing my horse well taken care of, I entered the bar-room and lighted my cigar, thinking to have a smoke. iSeated by the old-fashioned wood stove, I pulfed away quite leisurely, thinking, as the old song says, of "The maid I left behind me," when in stalked the tallest, thinnest, and queerest specimen of a man 1 had ever seen. lie was in full hunting rig, and dropping the butt of his rille heavily on the floor, he leaned ( ,i the muzzle, and looked me full in the face. After he seemed fully satisfied, lie walked towards me, and when within three feet of me, stopped and took another look ; then seizing me by the hand, he shouted out — "Harry Huntsman, as I'm a siimer ! Old boy, how d'ye do?" " Stranger," replied I, " you certainly have a little the advantage of me." " Stranger! " roared he, '' d— e if I don't like that! Call me a stranger ! Old Jack Wood a stranger to you! Ha, ha, ha ! capital joke that ! You're the stranger ! " "AV'hy, Jack, that aint you?" I foolishly asked. " Yes, Harry, what's left of me — just about three-quarters of the original." I "Three-quarters ! " rej)lied I ; " why, Jack, say one quarter, and you will be nearer the mark. But how came this great change ? — been sick, or in love Y " "Love ! jSo, sir-ee ! As for sickness, T don't know what you mean; but the cause of my being so thin is " — " What ? " I eagerly asked. "Panthers." " Panthers," laughed I, " why, Jack, they didn't eat the best part of you away, did they ? '" " jN 0, worse than that, they seared it off. It makes my flesh rs. Here, thinks I, for a rUii ; so oil 1 put, and the two devils right after me. Fright scomod to lend wings to my feet, for 1 scarcely touched the ground L ran o\ei', and i knew 1 went over an amazing quantity in a remarkably short space of time. After a hard run I came to the conelut^iou to climb a tree, ami rather foolishly selected a small one, when there were inst as manv larije ones. " On they bouiuled to the foot of the tree, and there they treed me, and such an infernal caterwauling, growling, and half-a-dozen other noises as they kept up, nuule my hair rise right up. They then jumped up at me, shaking the tree at every bound. 1 iiallooed, w hooped, screamed, and swore, hut it; was lu) use — there they were. Finally 1 suppose they got tired and hungry, so one went away while the other stop[)ed to keep watch, anil thus they relieved each other every wow aiul then; and, Harry, I'll be 'shot if they didn't keep me up there four days. '' At last Bill Smith, liappening to be running turkeys, came that way. I shouted as loud as i could, and he heard uie, caim DICK HARLAN'S TENNESSEE FROLIC. 141 over aud shot one of the varmints, and the other mizzled. lie then helped me down, and when I touched the ground, I was just as thin as you see me now, and my hair nearly white?. I had sweated and fretted myself all to nothinf^. But nov I'm just as strong and hearty ris ever, but get no fatter." lit ••'.• he leaued over to me, and shouted out — " J^ut, Harry, I'm down on all panthers since that day, and I tlon't intend to stop hunting them till every one of the* a is extinct." XXII. DICK HARLAN S TENNESSEE FROLIC J OR, A NOB DANCE. Tou may talk of your bar hunts, and your deer hunts, and Iniottin' tigers' tails thru the bung holes of barrels, an' cock fltin', and all that ; but if a regulav-bilt frolic in the Nous of "Old Knox" don't beat 'em all blind for fun, then I'm no j' li^e of fun, that's all ! I said fun^ and I say ii, agin, from a ksv>' tliat cracks like a wagin-whip up to ^fitc that rouses up all out-doors — and as to lallln, why they invented laflin, and the hint latf will bo hearn at a Nob dante about three in the morning ! I'm jest gettin' so I can ride arter the motions I riade at one at .lo JSpraggins's a few days ago.* I'll tnj and tell you who Jo Npraggins i». He's a squire, .1 school comishoncr, over-looker of a mile of Nob road that lends toivfirdfi lioodifs iitill-liouse^-—Vi fiddler, a judge of a boss, and a hoss himscU'! lie can belt six shil'ins' worth of corn- juieo at Mtill-house rates and travel — can out-sliute and out out-lie any feller from the Smoky IMountiug lo Noxville, and, it' they'll bar one feller in Nox, I'll say to the old Kaitituck bine 1 (I'm sorter feared of him, for they say that ho lied a jiU'kass to death in two hours!)--can make nu)re spinin' ^vhcely, kiss more spinners, thrash moco wheat an' nu)re men, tliau any one-eyed man I know ou. lie hates a circuit * Thi^ skotoh will doubtless npponr cxaf',fj:priited and ov(>r-drawn ; it is, liowtvor, h'ue to nature, and thcro arc sonu' phiot's in tlin Hriti.sh provinces ^^luTo siunhir scenes aro still enacted, ttltho'if,^h old scttlonicnta boforo Ten- nessee was colonized at oXX.—Edit. 142 THE AMEPJCANS AT HOME. rider,* a nigger, and a shot gun — loves a woman, old sledgp. and sin in eny shape. He lives in a log hous about ten yard.^ squar ; it has two rooms, one at the bottom an' one at the top of the ladder — has all out ove doors fur a yard, and all the south fur its occupants at times. He gives a frolic <(ii,st in three weeks in plowin' time, and one every 'Saturday-nito tlu balance of the year, and only axes a " tip " for a reel, and two " bits " fur what corn-juice you suck ; he tlirows the galls in, and a bed too in the hay, if you git too hot to locomote. Tlu- supper is made up by the fellers ; every one fetches suuithiu' ; sum a lick of meal, sum a middlin' of bacon, sum a hen, sum a possum, sum a punkin, sum a grab of taters, or a pocket-full of pease, or dried apples, an' sum only fetches a good a])petiti; and a skin chock full of particular devilry, and if thars been a shutin' match for beef the day bef )re, why a ley finds its wav to Jo's sure, without eny help from the balance of the critter. He gives Jim Smith (the store-keeper over liay's Mountinij;) loarnin to fetch a skane of silk fur fiddle strings, and .sum *' Orleans " for sweetnin', or not to letch himself; the silk and sugar has never failed to be thar yet. Jo then mounts Pun- kinslinger bar backed, about three liours afore sun down, aud gives all the galls item. He does this a letle of the slickest— jist rides past in a peart rack, singin', *' Oh, I mot a frog', with a fuldk' on liis hack, A axiu' his wiiy to thu fi\»-l-i-c'-k ? "NVlia-a-ho ! wha lio ! wha he ! whii ko hc-kc-ho! " That's enuf ! The galls news tliat aint a jackass, so by sun- down they come pourin' out of the woo Is like pissants out of an old log when tother end's afire, jest '* as fine as silk " and full of fun, fixed out in all sorts of fancy doins, from the broad-striped home-spun to tlie sunflower calico, with the thunder-and-lightnin' ground. As for silk, if one had a silk gown, she'd l)e too smart to wear it to Jo Spraij^t^MH^S fur if she did she'd go homo iu hir ])ettlcote sar/li/, for the home-spun wud tare it off of hii* ([uickcr nor winkin' ; and if the sunflowers dident lu>lp llie liomespnns, they wonhhrt di> the silk eny good, so you see that silk is never ratlin about your ears at a i\ob dance. The sun liad about sot afore T gol the things fed an had ]?ai'kmill saddled (you'll larn directly why 1 call my pony liarkmill), but an owl couldent have cotch a rat afore 1 ^va!* in site of Jo's with my gall, Jule Sawyers, up beliimi me- * A strolliaij^ Pivucher. DICK Harlan's Tennessee frolic. 143 id sledge, ten yariU it, the top d all the c oust ill y-iiite till. 1, and two e galls in, oto. Tin- suuitliiu' ; I lion, sum )0(;ket-full id appetite lars been a ids its way tlic critter. Mounting) ■<, and sum .he silk and ounts Pun- . down, and c sliekest— -kc-he!" so by sun- lants out of i silk " ami i'roin the |i,' with the 1)110 li;i^l a |;j)ra kit 111 1 about |l\>(l an had my lH>i\V la tore 1 ^v^^ Ibebiml nit-'' She hugged me mity tite sLe was "sofeered of fallin off that drated pony." She said shr5 didn't mind a tall, but itmought break hir leg, an then good-bye tVolies — she'd be iit fur nuthin but to nuss brats oilers arterwards. I now hearn the fiddle ting-tong-ding-domb. The yard was full of fellers, and two tall iine-lookin galls was standin in the door, face ic, face, holdin ui) the door-posts with their backs, lallln, an castin sly looks into the house, an now an then kickin each other with their knees, an then the one kicked wud bow so perlitc and quiek at that, and then they'd latl' agin. Jo was a standin in tiielious helpiu the galls to hold the facins uj), an when they'd kick each other he'd wink at the fellers in the vard au orin. Jule, she bounced oft' just like a bag of wool-rolls, and I hitched mv bark-machine up to a saplin that warn't skinned, so he'd git a craw-full of good fresh bark afore mornin. 1 lhv Julo a kiss to sorter molify my natur an put her in heart like, and. in we walked. " Hey ! hurray ! " said the boys ; " My graeious ! " said the galls, " if here aint Dick an Jule ! " jist like we hadcnt been rite ihar only last Saturday nite. " Well, 1 know we'll have reel now ! " " llurraw ! — Go it while you're young I " " llurraw for the brimstone kiln — every man praise Ills eouiitiy ! " " Clar the ring ! " " Mis8cs Spraggins, drive out these dratted tow-headed brats of yourn — give room ! " '' Who-oo-whoop ! whar's the crock of bald-face, and that ;:ourd of honey ^ Jim Smith, hand over that spoon." " You, .lake Snyder, don't holler so ! " says the old 'oman — " why you are worse nor a painter." "Holler! Avhy I was jist vM^wnntj to that gall — who-a-wltoopre ! now I'm beginning Id holler ! Did you hear that, ]\lisses Spraggins, and bo ilanied to your bar legs ? You'd make a nice hempbrak'e, ymi would." " Come here, Suso Thompson, and let me ])in your dress. Your back looks adzactly like a blaze on a white ";ik!" " .^[y hack aint nullln to you, INlistcr Smarty ! " "Bill Jones, quit a smashin tlu'i ar cat's tail ! " " Welt, let liii' keep hir tail (dar of iws ant killers!" "Jim Clark l"is goiu; to the woods for fat jiino, and i'eggy Wiilet is "long to take a lite for him — they've been gone a coon's I'-o. Oh, here comes the lost ' babes in the wood,' and iio /''''.'" "Whar's that lite! whar's that torch! I sav, lV"j:y, wh;u' is that bundle of lite wood?" "Why,! fcdl '^I'l'a log an lost it, and we hunted clar to the fool of the der for it, and never found it. It's no account, no how — ' 'thin hut a little ])ine — who cares? " " Hello, thar, gin us 'lorked Deer,' old liddle-teaser, or I'll give you forked litnin ! ill THE AMERICANS AT HOME. Ar you a goin to tiim-tum all nite on tliat old pine bo': of a iiddlo, sai/ 't " " Give him a soak at the crock and a lick at llic patent bee-hive — it'll He his elbows." " jMisses Sj)r;iimiiis, you're a hoss ! cook on, don't mind me — T dideiit aim to slap you; it was Suze Winlers I wanted to hit.'" " Yes, and it's ^vell for your good looks that you didn't hit to hurt nic, old feller ! " " Turn over them rashes of bacon, thev'ro a biirnin!" " ]\Iind your own business, Bob Proiilt, I'vo cooked for frolicks at'ore you shed your petticoles — so jist hush, an talk to jNlartli (jlillin! ^See ! she is beckoniii lo you ! " "I aint, mnrm ! If lie comes a near mo I'll uujini his dratted nc v ! No sech fool tliat, wlien a fj;all puts liir arm round his neck, will l)reak and run shall look at me, that's ilat ! Go an try Jiet Ilolden!'.' " Thankee, marm, T don't take vour leavins," savs Bet, hir face lookin like a full cross between a ms,jist 'Nvalk into the fat of this land. I'm sorter feerd the linuty \^'ont last till daybreak, but the liquor will, /////;/^', so yen men when you drink yourn, look to the gnlls fur sweet luij-" let tiuMu have the honey — it belongs to them, naturaly ! " llurraw, my Jo! You know how to do things riio I ■' DICK HARLAN'S TENNESSEE FROLIC. 1^5 ,)0\ of a ^k at \\w. 11 to ^lap , fiiitl it's 1-, mo, old hov'ro a >lVit, I've i — so jist konin to '11 \utjiHt puts bir 7«p, that's n, 1 don't , full L-ross crtk Aowu' .uiulor-tlie- or ' ^lissos ,nd ' Kocky it air." 1 Thav is H-oke at'ore and i'vi;i'y sti'iim i'^ " aiiil il' ' \{o\^ ll>at ;u' s Si>t in llu' il nud l'l:>"'^ intl daiH'Hl |un-inai'l\ino lute alaiMuiti asf, so iiivo Ithar lliiiij;''^ the kt'i^^'y sweetaiii" lituraiy'";:; <'"\Vell, I rayther think I do ! I never was rong but onst in inv lit'o, an then I mistook a camp meetin lor a political speechifyin, so I rid up an axed the sj)eaker if lie'd * ever seed the FJrpliitnt ? ' He said no, but he had seen a (jrocery wallc^ and he expected to see one rot down from its totterin looks, purty soon ! ' Thinks I, Jo, you're beat at your own pjame ; 1 sorter felt mean, so I spurr'd and sot old runkinslinj;er to cavor^in lilce he was skeered, an I wheeled and twisted out of that crowd, and when I did liaine my kin, he warped rae nice, so, jisl to save his time, / liiiUered! The lick in' he gave me made me sorter oneasy and I'osiilo like; it wakened my wolf wide awake, so I begin to l|^iik about for a man 1 coiiid lick and nn mistake! The little ''^kllerconie a scrougin' past, holdin' his liddle up over his head '" keep it in tune, for the iitin' was gettin' tolerable brisk. ^•Hi'retbo one, thinks I, and I jist grabbed the dough-tray and '^I'lit it plinnp over his head ! Jle rotted down, right thar, and I I'uddled his tother eud with one of the pieces ! — while 1 was a 10 146 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. molifyin' ray feelings in that way, his gall slip'd up behind mo and fetcht'd me a rake with the pot-hooks. Jule Sawyer was thar, and jist anexed to her rite off, and a mity nice fite it was Jule striped and checked her fa' j nice, like a partridge-iict hung on a white fence. She hollered fur hir fiddler, but, oh, ehaw ! he coudent do hir a bit of good ; he was too buisv a rubbir. ' first his broken head, and then his blistered extremities ; so, when I thought Jule had given her a plenty, I pulled hir off, and put her in a good humour by givin' her soft sawder. Well, I thought at last, it* 1 liad a drink I'd be about done, so I started for the creek ; and the first thing 1 saw was more stars with my eyes shut than I ever did with them oj)en. I looked around, and it was the little fiddler's hig hrofhcr ! I knoiced what it meant, so we locked horns without a word, thar all alone, and I do think we fit an hour. At last some fehcrs hearn the jolts at the house, and they cum and dur/ un oii^, tor we had fit into a hole whar a big pine stump had burnt out, and tliar we was, up to our girths a peggni' away, lace to taoe, and no dodcjin' ! Well, it is new sixteen days since that fite, and last iiite Jule picked gravels out of my knees as big as squirrel shot. Luck rayther run agin mo that uite, fur I dident lick envbodv but the fiddler, and had three fites — but Julo licked her <:;all, that's some comfort, and I suppose a feller can't alwai/s win! Arter my fite in the ground we madt- friends all round (except the fiddler — he's hot yet), and danced and liquored at the tail of every reel till sun up, when them that was sober enutf went home, and them that was wounded staid whar they fell, /was in the list of wounded, but could have got away if my bark-uiill hadn't yro//y/f/ off the saplin and gone homo without a partiiij; word ; so Dick and Jule had to ride "Shanks' mar," and a rite -peiivt fuHr-h'f/ed nag she is. She was tceak in two of her legs, but tother two — oh, my stars and possum dogs! tlu^y inake;i man w^ink jist to look at 'em, and feel sorter like a June biiij was crawlin' up his trowses, and the waistband too tite for it to git out. I'm agoin' to marry Jule, 1 swar I am, and sidi a cross! Think of the locomotive and a cotton gin! Win ' whoopee ! We we have timt we '•awful'' ''awful ]; nil •' awfi jiolitic'S I particula It wa .Taekson'i round, it Thci'e wa (lent i ally, luiscs to I Washino- It: xxm. AN " AV.TUL PLACE." "We have never visited the t( wn of Madison, Indiana, but ^\c have an " awful " curiosity to do so, from tlie " awful " fact tiiat we have never heard the place mentioned without the "awful" accompaniment of this adjective! Madison is an 'awful place for re\ivals ! " an "awful place for Mesmerism ! " fill '' awful place for Mrs Nichols's poems ! " an " awful ])lace for politics ! " and the following story will prove that it was, particularly, an " awful place for Jackson ' " It was during the weak struggle made to oppose General Jackson's re-election to the presidency, that, during his western roiiiul, it became known that he would " stop at Madison ! " There was an " awful time," of course, but it haj)i)ens, provi- (kMitially, that in all awful times some awful genius or other arises to assume their direction, witness Cromwell, Napuieon, AVashiiigton, Marcy, &.C., S:c. jN'ow, the directir.-g spirit called forth to ride to glory on the neck of this emergency was a cer- tain Col. Da,sh, of the "Madisonian (not ^Macedonian) Pha- lanx," and wrapped as he was in zeal and the '* Phalanx " uni- form, no one thought of opposing his arrani^ements. The general was to arrive hy steamboat, and anxiously- had the whole tow^n, hour after hour, listened for the gun, which, placed under tho directions of Col. Dash himself, was to Miminon the citizens to the landing. It was during a " bad spell fif weather," and, moreover, as the day wore on, more rain fell. The crowd dispersed, and, iinally, night falling, the colonel I'imself retired i'rom the mill-stone on which he had taken his iftaud, in order to keep out of the mud, aiul joined the amuse- iiants of a neighbouring ten-pin alley, (lames werc^ played, !inl "peach" and "old rye" had suli'ered "some," of course, "lid the colonel— his " Phalanx" coat and liat hanging against liic wall — was just exulting in a " spare," when word camo that the boat was in sight, and forth all rushed. It was quite 'l:irk, and still dri/,zling; the gun wouldn't "go oil','' of course, ''Mhe town being built on three elevations, from tlie highest '1 which the landing is not visible, a messenger was despatched '•' ^nwid the news, and everything was ready for a " hurrah for Jaeksou," as soon as the bout should touch. 148 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. The boat did toiicli ; tliere was a bonfire in the mnd, smol-inrj Tigorously, by the cheering uncertainty of whicli the planks were shoved ashore, and Col. Dash, with the rest of the Macedo — bej( pardon, Madison ians, rushed on board. There was "The G//?eral," sure enough, standing right in the middle of the cabin, his hat off, and his grizzly poll, with every inclina- tion of the head brushing off swarms of flies — the boat a '" lii,dit draught" — from the ceiling. The colonel introduced himself, — the colonel " shook hands ; " the colonel introduced the Phalanx, individually, — tlie Phalanx, individually, shook hands; the colonel spoke, — the geiiernl replied ; tlie enthusiasm was tremendous, when suddenly the bell rang, and, to the con- sternation of the entire " Madisonian Plmlanx," it was an- nounced tl>at the boat, having put out some freight, was f^oing riglit on, and, moreover, that the general did not intend to land ! " What ! not see Madison, gineral ? " " JVot see Madison ! ' exclaimed the Phalanx. The " gineral " was distinctly given to understand that, if he diduf see INIadison, Madison would, incontiiioiitly, pre- cipitate itself from iis three several platforms into the river and disappear, for ever, from the face of Indiana ; to avoid which sad calamity, and the captain consenting to wait, the " gineral " did forthwith — shielded by an umbrella, and conducted by the colonel — descend the steps, slide along the lower deck, vcntnre upon the planks, — and finally step ashore, tip to his knees, uiwii the soil that adored him ! The prospect here was certainly gratifying ; on one side the ten-pin alley was brilliantly illuminated, and the proprietor of it, moreo . ^-r, stood in the door-w;\y, out of the wet, dischargint,' a pistol. On the other side was the suioke of the bonfire, and viglit in front, reilecting the Jlicii-rr. whenever it could, stood ;i heap of mill-stones, towards which safer eminence the gp^erai proceeded ; and taking in at :i 60;^;? d'osil the features of the scene, declared Madison to be " really a very pretty little town!" " Why, general," cried the colonel, "you ain't leoau lo see Madison yet ! " " vVin't ber/im to dee it ! " cliorr.ssed the Pl-alanx. The general was now given to understand that lie nnij^r mount two banks before the beauties of i;he place could at all strike him, and, furcherir.ore, that, as in Vv^et weather vehicles always stuck fast, it would be much better to proceed ou iot't. Thia movemeut, the general, " with great reluctance," was coui- pelled of ^tn arrang po«-'itio individ Tht crowd itself; on all s interspc ."sequent over ea( ti'£:lit ini forth. '\Sto out, the , lire, and This crowd pi general w lew nimu f*tood, in as the CO iiiiii a sij- :iikI then There ^itli this ; ■''eininoles pi'oaehed ti"'ust out and, for ■ -Uidison ! ' come to M across the tended, am ^ra-ptHJ n-il the circle w 5t:ir, tiash'j( V 'lis grasj [•"" euine d liiin in its ^Jlioweduda '^•f the boat .•* ■- \% AN '^ AWFUL PLACE." ItO , smoJiinrf e planks t of ilie . TluM-e le middle y incliiui- t a " liiiht d hinii?('lf, luced the ok hands ; siasin ^va3 > the con- it was an- was going intend to md that, if ontly, pre- le river and ivoid Avhioli glneral" cted bv the ■ck, venture knees, upon 3ne side the roprietor of disehargin',' onHre, and Lild, stoo(1 ;l the gf-i;eral ures of the n-etty little ')er'au lo SCO tit he nui>t could at all Iher vehicle:* leed ou toot. 5^" -vs-aa com- pelled to resist ; and so, as by this time a considerable crowd of stragglers had tumbled down the hill, the anxioiw colonel arranged that the distinguished visitor should maintain his pof-ition on the mill-stone, and that the eager throng, after an individual " shake" hands," should let him ott' ! The general nerved himself, amid a loud " hurrah," and the crowd " came on ! " but here a sudden dilRculty presented itself; the position which the old hero had taken was defended, on all sides except the front, by a chrvanx de frisp of lumber, interspersed by an occasional breastwork of barrels, and, con- sc(pi'.Mitly, the retiring and advancing shakers were walkincj over each other. The excitement was intense, the risk of a iisjht imminent, when the genius of the colonel again flashed forth. '• Stop ! " cried he — there was a stop — " General ! this ain't a going to do, no how ! 'Tencion, Phalanx and citizens ! Back out, the hull of ye, from the mill-stone ; form a ring round the fire, and the general will walk round to ijoul " This proposition was received with a general cheer ; the crowd plunged, slid, and staggered towards the faggots ; the general Avas seized by the arm, dragged after them, and in a few nnuutes, after not more than two or three slips, there he stood, in the middle of the smoke, " surrounded by freemen ! " as the colonel eloquently exclaimed, at the same time giving him a sixth shake, by way of showing the rest how to do it, aiicJ then taking a place himself in the ring. There can be no doubt of the general's entire satisfaction vith this arrangement, his experience among the Creeks and Seininoles having made him quite easy in swamp lil'e. He ap- proached the circle, extended his hand, a dozen others were thrust out to gr.'vsp it, but the colonel was before any of them, md, for the seventh time, the general was "welcomed to Mndison i " liound went the visitor, — slip and shake, — " wel- come to Madison," — drizzle — slide. Suddenly the colonel shot across the circle, — took a place, — the revered hand was ex- tended, and for the eighth time, and still more warmly, was it irra.pod with a " welcome to Alaclison ! " Another fourth of the eirele was measured, when the colonel again, like a shooting star, flashed across, and for the ninth time the general was met l)vliis grasp and " welcomed." The general sto])[)ed short, the r;iin Ciinie down heavily, and a sudden whirl of smoke encircled "'!» in its strangling embrace; as suddenly a flare of flame [Showed a darker tempest gathered round his brow ; he " broke " lijrthe boat, the colonel at his heels, and the crowd in consterua- 150 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. tion, — he reached the deck as the colonel had gained the m!d. die of the plank,—" Gineral, aitiH Madison rather a place 'r ' bawled the latter, ''Awful! perfectly awful, by the Eternal ! " muttered the former, not even turning at the cry which the colonel <^av(', as the end of the plank slipped, letting hiin souse into the riwr. As we have said, we have an aicful desire to visit IMudisoii. XXIV. THE TEMALE COLLECrE. I EEGIN to think edocation is the most surprisinest tliiiii: in the world — specially female edccation. If things goes on tlie way they is now, jMr ]Mountgoinery ses we'll have a grate moral revolution — that the winiiu will turn the world up->;i(le dov i: with ther snmrtnews, and men what haint got no edecatiuu won't stand no sort of chance with 'em. Sense 1 went to ^fncoii to the 'zamination I've altered my notion 'bout this mattci'. 1 use to think human nater was jest like the yeath 'bout ciiliiva- tion. ]']verybody knows thar's rich land, pore land what cai! be made tolerable good, and some 'bominable shaller, rolliu' truck what all the maiuire in creation wouldn't make grow cow^ peaiL. AVell, there's some men whose nateral smartness helps 'em along, first rate, some what takes a mighty siU' il' skoolin', and some that all the edecation in the world wouklii't do no maimer of good — they'd be nateral fools any way yuii could lix it. Ther minds is too shaller ai I rollin' ; thev ham' got no foundation, and all the skoolin' you could put on "rni wouldn't stay no longer nor so much manure on the side of a red sandhill. Xow, 1 used to think all the galls, or most ot 'em, was jest this sort; but if anybody wants to be conviiurd that it's all a mistake 'bout galls not bavin' as good sense is anybody else, jest let 'em go to the jNlacon College. 1 haiir altered my notion 'bout the nater of human mind, but I've eii;ii to the conclusion that ther is jest as good intellectual (''il among the galls as among the boys ; and I wouldn't be sup- prised if we tvas to have a "grate moral revolution," shoiv enuff ; and if we was to have Georgia Washingtons and .Tinm:' Adamses and Tobitha Jelfersons, vviiat would do as nuicli le niortalize ther sex and elevate the caracter of the female rua', THE FEMALE COLLEGE. 151 as tlip heroes of the revolution did in our glorious indepeml- ciice war. 1 had hearn so much about the Peiiiale Collepje, and INliiss Marv seemed to be so entirely tuck up with it when she was home, tliat 1 termiued to go to the zamination and sec what kind of place it was. Well, bein' as Miss INIary was thar, I put on niv best clothes, and. mounted Selim and set off for Macon. You know it's a dinged long ride from Pineville, audit tuck mc most two days to git thar. When I got thar I put up at the "Washington Hall — a monstrous fine tavern — whar ther was lots of old chaps from all parts of the IState, what had cum down after ther daughters to the college. They put me in a room to sleep whar ther was two old codgers who was talkin' all uite 'bout anemel magnetism — a sort of fixen in which tliev sed they could carry a body all over the ycath, if they could jest git him to go to sleep. They talked a mighty site 'bout what some fellers had done — how they tuck one feller to heven ^vhere ho herd the angels singin' camp-meetin' tunes by the thousand, and how they tuck him to !\ew York, whar he read the Herald 'fore it was printed, and seed Faimy Elsler dance the Crachcv-ovrr-ent))/ as they call it, and show her gility to the people ; then they tuck him to Constantinople, whar lie seed lots of long-bearded chaps kissiu' the galls. 1 never hern of sich things afore, and I couldn't go to sleep for fear they niought try some of ther ])roiects with me. It was most day- light afore them old chaps got still 'bout eilecation, modern science, and magnetism, and 1 didn't git more'u two hours' sleep, if 1 did that. After breckfast in the mornin', which was monstrous good, considerin' they was town people, I tuck that street whar the houses has stood edgeways ever sense the grate Tippekenoo Comention — I 'spose they nuist been twisted rouiul so to let the croud jiass — and Avent up to the colU^ge on the hill. I tell you wiKit it's a mighty stancheous looking bildin', and looks f;ir off at a distance when you're gwine up to it. AVell, w hen Isrot thar I found the zamination, and sich another lot of pretty ijalls aint to be seed often out of Georgia, liless ther sweet Httle soles, thar th(>y all sot on benches in one eend of the room, lookin' as smilin' and as innercent as if they never want a£;\vine to brake nobody's hart ; but I'm most certain, if I'd been in them old chaps' magnetism, I could have seed little 1 "oopid thar with his bow ami arrer, poppin' away like a Ken- tucky rifleman at a shootin' match. 'J'he room begun to get inighty full of people, and the president sed he hoped the 152 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. gentlemen would make room on the frunt benches for tlie ladys ; but thar wasn't one of 'em moved. Bimeby he canic back and sed he ment the young gentlemen, only the youn " lan-what-ikilsr"' ses 1. "Thefantastikils." " Oh ! '' ses I, for jest then I saw a grate long-legged teilt r among 'em w'^ h a fin in his hand, fannin a nigger woiiiiui what had fainted. 'J'he chap with the fan had a dough fu-e oii.tliat looked as])ilirul as if all his relations was ded ; and every li;i:'' the nigger fainted he would ketch her in his arms and t.in luM', and look so sorry at her. The galls s(|ueeled and laiiu''i' 1 while the fantaslikils marched round tlie college and lln'i marched down to town agin. J soon f')lleie(l, but 1 kep awiiy fi'oni thai; chap on the horse. .Down to the liall 1 paid w}' bill and cut out. !•' 15o XXV LIFE IN MISSISSirPI. GETTING A KAILEOAD SUBSCRirXIOX. Having seen nobody for thirty miles, iiiglit overtook mo at the centre of Jones county. The road was only visible by tlic tlirec " scores " on the trees, the <^r.ass growing on it rank and tall, like that in the adjacent woods. I was striking tor the court house. I passed a small opening in which stood three rickety cabins, but thoy were untenanted. The road branched oil' into a dozen trails. Completely puzzled, I threw iloivn the reins and left the matter to tlie instinct of my horse. He struck into one of the palhs, and in fifteen minutes halted at a largo farm house. "Halloo!" cried I. "It's halloo yourself," said ilie man in the gallery. " How far to the court house ? " " AVhcre ai'c you from ? " said the man. " From Wiiu'hestei'." "Then," said hv, "the court house is beliind, and you have come right by it there," ])ointing to the deserted cabins. "AVhy, I saw ]U)l)()dy there." " 1 reckon you didn't," said ho. "There's a doggery and a tavern twice r year, two days at a time, but they come with the court and go with the court." '• And the clerk and shei-iif," said T, " wluM-e do tl'iey live? "' "Oh, the sheriff i;s clerk, and the clci'k is scjuire, assessor, ;niil tax collector in the bargain, and he lives awav down on the Leaf" " Hut the lots, ni}' friend— who owns the lots ? " "The same indi\idual that owns the best part of Jones '■''iintv — the only landlord who never bues for rent — Uncle ''Well, sir, I am tired and hungry — can 1 stop with vou tii-lli^Tlit V " "Light, stranger, light. IMichael Andei'son never shuts liis floor on man or beast." Having carefully housed and fed my horse, I soon sat down 15G THE AMERICANS AT HOME. to a substantial supper of fried chickens and stewed venison. corn cake, peach cobbler, milk, butter and hone}', served ^.itIl a welcome and abundance peculiar to the pine woc^^s. Mv host was a shrewd man, well to do in the world, pTcferrini; Jones county to any place this side of Paradise, haviat,' livc'(l there twenty years without administeriiifi; a dose of mcdiciiK'. jiiid had never been crossed but once during all that time. 1 was curious to know what had disturbed the serenity of such a life as his. " AVhy, sir," said he, " I don't make a practice of talkin;^ about it, but beinp; as you're a stranger, and I've taken a liking to you. I will narrate the circumstance. INfay bo vou'vo heard how the legislature chartered the Brandon bank, to build a railway through the pine woods away down the sea shore. In these parts, we go against banks — but roads sort of shuck our prejudices. Before the bank could be sot agoir.i:, the law recpiired so much of the coin to be planked up. The managers all lived about Brandon, but the metal was mighty Bcarce, and the folks about there didn't have it, or they wouldn't trust 'em. "They strung what little they had around Ilu> babies' necks, to cut their teeth with. AVell, it got wind that 1 ha4 some of the genuine, and the managers kept sending to 'ne for it, olVering to put me in the board. But 1 always a iswcnd that my money was safer in the old woman's stockings liianin the bank. I heard nothing more about it for three months, when one night a big, likely-looking man rode up, and asked me for a shunk of lire. " ' fSquire Anderson,' said he, ' my men have camped ;i quarter of a mile down there on the creek. AV^e are survey- ing the railway to IMississippi city, but have come to a dead halt, because our line runs chuck up against your clearinL', and wo shall have to make a bend to get round to the eouil house.' " The big man said this with so serious an air, and seemed so mystified at having to crook his line round my Held, that his words went right through me. I invited him in. \\<' talked it over, and einj)1ied a botllo of licjuor on the stren^dh of it. Next morning wo went down to the camj). lie took his compass and run the line right spang u|) against my smoke house, which I had just linished after si.\. months' labour. "'Well,' says he, 'this is unlucky. The road will coine out through your new smoke house ; what's to bo done r' ' LIFE IN MISSISSIPPI. 157 '" You shall see,' said I ; so calUno; my boysl ordered tliem 10 tear it down. Strani^er, there lay the lo<2;s, tlie prettiest timber witliin fifty miles, all hewed by my own own hand. I have never had the heart to put tliem up au^ain. Well, the hU^ man never ehan2;cd countenance, lie ran on with his lino, and the next day he came back on his return to Brandon. 1 was mightily lifted with the notion of the railroad and a stoppint; phu'c rii^ht before my door. I entered six hundred and forty acres of land. My neic^hbours said we'd st attiMition, indicating a Sabbath in the logging-swam|), would be a long iiioriiiiiif nap. I)isn\issing care, they court the gentle spell, "ntil, wearied with the lengthened night, they rise, not, as on "tlicr mornings, wIumi their hurrying fi'ct brush the early frost 'iMliey puss to their work, while the liiiujcriiig night casts back ^H wasting shadows u|)on their path. On the .Saiibath morning 'Ikv nrline upon tlu'ir boughy couches until the suu has 'ravelled a long way upon his daily circuit. livery one fuels free to sleep, to lounge, or to do whatever 158 THE AMERICANS AT TOME. lie may choose, with a moderate abatement in behalf of tli- teamster and cook, whose duties require some seasonable atten- tion on all mornings. Breakfast over, each individual disposes of himself as best accords with inclination or interest. There are a few general duties which come round every 8abbatli which some, by turns, feel the responsibility of pcM-fonuini:. For instance, every iSabbath it is customary to re[)]('iiish thf bed with a fresh coat of boughs from the neighbouriiiu; ever- greens. Oi' the healthful and invigorating inliucnce of this practice there is no doubt. Then follow the various little duties of a personal character. Our red ilannel shirts arc to ho washed and mended, pants to be patched, mittens and socks tn be repaired, boots to be tapped and gn^asod, &c. Our cliiiusv iiugers, especially if unused to the needle, make most ludicrous and unwoman-like business of patching up our torn garments. Jjctter-writing receives attention on this day, if at all, with no other than the deacon seat, perhaps, for a writing-desk, a sheet of soiled paper, ink dried and thick, or pale from freeziiii];, and a pen made with a jack-knife ; letters are dictated to a wile, it may be, or to a mother by some dutiful son, cr to his lady-lovo by some young swamper. 'I'herp are some recreations to relieve the monotony of a ISabbath in the wilderness. Sometimes a short excursion in search of spruce gum ; for many a voiui;' urchin at home has had the promise of a good supi)lv of this article, to be furnished on the return of the cami)ei's. Others go in pursuit of tinibc for axe-helves. As neither tiic white oak nor walnut grows in the latitude of pine forests in the eastern section of jMaine, the white ash, rock maph\ beech, auil elm, and sometimes the iiornbeam, are in general use. C)t!;ers ppend, it nuiy be, a portion of the day in short timher-luuitiii:,' excursions. AVhere the contiguity of en('ani[)ments allows it, visits are exchanged among the dein'/ens of the camps. Formei'ly, when sable were nunv plentv, some oni> or more proprietors of a line of sable-traps would take the opportunity on the Sabbath to visit them, as time from the weekly employ. ment could not ho span-d for this purpose. Such traps ;nv very simple in their construction. Some thin, Ihit pieces ot wood, cl(>ft from the sjjruce or tir-tret', are driven into the grouiul. forming the outline of a small circle some nine m'\m in dianu^ter, ami about the same in height, with an op-iiin^'i'' three or four inches on one side, over which is placed the triiiik of a small tree some thri'c inches tlirouuh, runnini: crosswise, ami one end raised aboi t four inches, 8U])ported by a stiuuliml spindle, to which a snuiil piece of meat is fastened for b lil. l''*^' SUNDAY AT THE CAMP. 159 top of the whole is covered with light fir or spruce boughs, to prevent the siible from taking the bait from the top. Access to the bait is tlien had only by passing the iiead and shoulders into the little door or opening under the pole, when the slightest iiibbliii'^ at the spindle will bring down the dead-fall and en- trap them. These traps occur every few rods, and thus a line or circuit is formed for several miles. Wild cats sometimes take the business of tending these Mible traps, in which case they tear them to pieces and devour the bait. One such animal will occasionally break up au tiitire liue, and blast the hopes of the hunter till captured iiimself. Although, when circumstances favoi.- it, some portion of Saturchiv is devoted to hauling up camp wood, yet the ])ractice of devoting a few hours of the concluding jiart of the iSabbath is not unfrequent. Upon the whole, we conclude that, not- Avithstaiidiiig the necessity of rest and recreation, and the luvcssiiry attentions to personal conveniences which the seventh dav ail'ords, the season usually wears away rather heavily than utlierwise, and IMonday morning, with its cheerful employ- ments, brings not an unwelcome change. The pleasures of a forest life are, with lumbermen, found rather in the labour performed than the recreations enjoyed. Suspension from labour, without the j)leasant relief which home i)rivile'j:es alloi'd, li'aves a vacancy of feeling not altogether I'ree from cnnni. The little doiiiestic duties claiming attention — unpleastuit, as indeed they are unnatural to the coarser sex — remiiul them strongly iif the absence of woman, without whose amiable ])reseni'(', society, and services, nuui cannot enjoy his quota of earthly liliss. A tramp after deer and moose is sometimes taken. AVe often disturb tbein in penetrating the deiq) forests for timber. Jn such 'asc'stliey always renujve to sonu; more siMjuestered place, and I'l'st tliciiiselves lor wintei'-(|iiartei's again, where we sonietiuu's lullow and take thiMu when tli(» condition of tlu; snow renders their jliiiht lardy and diiru-ult. In the suniiuer they loam at l"r<,'e through the forests aud on llu,^ meadows, where ihey may W often seen feeding as we pass up the rivers ; but in wiutci' tlit'V conlliie themselves to much smaller limits, where ilicy iviiiaiii during the Xcw- J^iii;land forest. Their si/e varies from that of a large i)ony til the full-grown horse. They have large branching antlers, ^^'iich grow and are shed every season. IGO THE AMERICANS AT HOME. The talviiif^ of moose is sometimes quite hazardour Tlie most favourable time for hunting them is towards spring, \\iit'ii the snow is deep, and wlien the warmth of midday melts the surface, and the cold nights freeze a crust, which greatlv em- barrasses the moose and deer in their fliglit. " One pleasant morning, six of us started with the intention of taking deer ; we had a gun and a large dog. Tatigued. at length, with several hours' travel, and meeting with no Ac- cess, we concluded to give it up and return to camj) late in the afternoon. Having been very intent in our search fur game, we had taken little notice of the various courses which we had travelled, and, when the purpose was formed of return- ing, we found, much to our discomfort, that we were altogether in doubt as to the direction proper to be pursued. However, we were not Avithout our opinions on the subject, though, un- fortunately, these opinions ditVcred. We finally separated into two parties, four supposing that the camp lay in a })arti('ular direction, while two of us entertained nearly opposite views. The gun was retained by the four, while; the dog followed mv- self and comrade. AVe had not separated more than live minutes, when the dog started two line moose. The other party, being within hail, soon joined us in the pursuit. " As the snow was deep, and crusted suiliciently hard to bear us upon snow-shoes, while the moose broke throuu;h at every leap, we were soon suiliciently near them to allow a f,'ooil shot. One of the men approached within a few yards of the hindermost, and fired. The ball took effect, but did not stop him. Still pursuing, another ball was lodged in his body, when he turned at bay. It was now our turn to retreat ; but, nfter making a few bounds towards us, he turned and iled again. when we iigain came up to the charge. I took the gun this time, and approached within fifteen feet of him, and fired. He dropped instantly upon the snow. Supposing liim dead, we left the spot and pursued the other with all possible dispatcli, for there was not a moment to lose, xis the fugitive, alarmed hy the report of the gun, was redoubling his exertions to efl'eet his escape. The dog, however, soon came u])on him and retariltJ liis ilight. Emboldened in his successful encounter with the other, Kover dashed incautiously upon him, but nearly paid the forfeit of his life. The moose gave hin\ a tremendous bow uith one of his sharp lioofs, which nuule him cry out till the woods echoed with his piteous howl. In vain did W(! try to in- duce him to renew tlu' encounter. His passion for the ehiin' seemed efiectually cooled ; so we were obliged to ibaudou the SUNDAY AT THE CAMP. IGl lour Tlio ii'iiit;, ^\iu'll ' melts the Kreutlv em- le intention 'ati(j;ue(.l, at ith 110 sur- camp late r search fnr iirses wiiioli d of return- e alioi];et!n'r However, though, nil- parated into a particular losite views, followed my- re tluin live The other •suit. ntly hard to throu^di at allow a ^ooil yards of tlio did not stop Is body, when t ; but, ;)fter lied again. he ^\.\\\ this ullire.l. He Jim dead, we |blo dispute'!', , alarnuHl hy to eiVeet his Imd retarJt'd iter with the [arly paid tlio >iuh>vis Im^v out till tlu' we trvto chase lor the ibundou th' pursuit, and the more readily, as the day was now quite spent. We returned t<) dre.->s the one we had sliot, but were astonished, OQ arriving at the place wliere we left him, to find that he, too, had made his escape. Tracking him by a trail of blood, which appeared to spirt out at every leap lie made, we soon came up with him, and fired again. The ball liit, but only to en- raf^e hiinthe more. Five additional bullets were lodged in his perforated body, now making in all nine. Having but one >hot more, we desii-ed to make it count eitectively; so, taking the (TUii, I approached very near upon one side, and fired at his head. The ball passed directly into one eye and out at the other, thus rendering him completely blind. The last shot caused him to jump and plunge tremendously. He now be- earae furious, and, guided by the sound of our footsteps, would dart at us like a catamount whenever we approached him. AVe had no axe to strike him down, or to cut clubs with which to dispatch iiim. AVe were at a stand what to do. We tried first to entangle hi'u in the deep snow by approaching him, and thus induce- Iiim to spring out of the beaten into the untrodden snow ; but the moment he found himself out, he worked back directly into the beaten path again. •'Our feelings became very uncomfortable, and now from ]iity we desired to j)ut an end to his sufferings. To see his nohle struggle for life, with nine bullets in him, and blind, in- spired a painful regard towards him. What to do we knew not. It was really unsafe to approach him so as to cut his throat. AVe could neither entangle him in the snow, nor bring him liown with the small sticks we had cut with our jack-knives. At length we lit upon the following expedient: obtaining a inn:,' stiff pole, oiie end of it was gently placed against his side. We found he leaned agaiast it, and the harder we pushed the more he opposed. Ui/itiug our strength, we pressed it as P'werfully as we WQve capable ; he resisted with equal strengtli. Whili' thus pressing, we suddenly gav(! way, when he fell flat 'ijxm ais side. Before he had tinu' to recover, we sprang upon I'ini. and with a knife severed the jugular vein, when lie vielded tJlus fate. It was nearly two hours from the commencement 'our last encounter before we dispatcdied him. lieuviiig him "f tlie night, we r.ituraed to camp, quite overcome with ''"i;,'cr and fat igue. "Next morning we went out to bring ili our prize. Wo 'und the other moose affectionatelv standing over the dead h'livass of her slaughtered companion. INlanifesting much i-i^.uclaaco to llee, she permitted our approach ^utiiciently U 1G2 THE AMERICANS AT HOME. (> near to afford a good shot, which we were not unwinintr improve ; so, raising the fatal instrument to my cheek, 1 lo- go. !She fell on tlie spot, and was soon dressed with the other. We took the carcasses into camp, and, after rc«erviiii; what we wished f'^r our own use, sent the remainder down river to our friends." The " bull moose" is a formidable foe when he " jrots his dander un " ami perially so at particular spusons of tne yenr; thtM. unpi no!.* vi, ih 7 will make w i,r on man, betrayiuq none of that shriidcift;' timidity so characteristic of the cen-iw^ genus. ^1 h lo^f'r, vvho used to put up occasionally over nii^ht at our camp, eateri. ted us with the following singular ail- venture. "Once," saia he, " while out on a hunting excui'- sion, I was pursued by a ' bull moose,' during that period when their jealousy is in full operation in behalf of the female. He approached me with his muscular nock curved, and head to the ground, in a manner not dissimilar to the attitude assumed by horned cattle when about to encounter each other. Just as he was about to make a pass at mo, 1 sprang suddenly between his wide-spreading antlers, astride his neck. Dexterously turning round, I seized him by the horns, and, locking my feet together under his neck, I oluii;,' to him like a sloth. With a mixture of rage and terror, he dashed wildly about, endeavouring to dislodge me; but, asmv life depended upon maintaining my position, I clung to him with a corresponding desperation. After making a few inef- fectual attempts to disengage me, he threw out his nose, ami, laying his antlers back upon his shoulders, wliich formed a screen for my defence, he sprang forward into a f uriou^ruii, still bearing me upon his neck. Now penetrating den:«e thickets, then leaping high " windfalls," and struggliii;^ through swamp-mires, he finally fell through exhaustion, alter carrying me about three miles. Improving the opportunity, I drew my hunter's knife from its sheath, and instantly buried it in his neck, cutting the jugular vein, which put a speedy termination to the contest and the iliaht." 1G3 iicek, 1 Ic: 1 with t\v' r reserving: nder down B " «Tei3 hi< jl'tue jcni'; [•ayiug noii(» the ce/'i't/f',' y over ni^lit