The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-12-18
From the Nsw YORK Knieksrbaeksr. =
The Dark Maid OF Illinois.

lue rrencus VINO urss explored the
beautiful shores Of tbs Mississippi, and
its tributary streams, believe they had
found a terrestrial paradise. Their warm
and spriglily imagina,ions were easily
excited to lively admiration by scenes so
grand, 80 lovely, and 80 wild. rs those
presented in this boundless wilderness Of
woods and flowers. The great length
Of the magnificent rivers filed them with
amazemen,s while the reputcd wealth.
and fancied produstions of the country,
awakened both avarice and curiosity.
Delighted with this extensive and fer
tile region, they roamed far and wide
over its boundless prairies, and pushed
their little barks into every navigable
stream. Their inoffensive manners pro-
cured them favorable reception their
cheerfuIness and sauvity conciliated
even the savage warrior, whose suspi-
cious nature discovered no cause Of
alarm in the yisitso these gay strangers.
Divided into small parties, having diff
fsrsnt objects in view, they persusd their
several designs without collision, and
With little concert. One sought fame,
another searched for mines of gold as
opulent az those which had enriched the
Spaniards in a more southern part of
the same continent. One came to dis
cover new countries another to collect
rare and nondescript specimens Of ma
tural curiosities one travelled to see
man in state of nature, another brought
the Gospel to the heather while, per-
haps great number roved carelessly
among these interesting scenes, indulg-
ing their curiosity. or their love advent
ure, and seeking no higher qualification
than which the novelty and excitement
ofthe present moment afforded.
Among the latter was Pierre Blonde,
who. having served regular apprentice
ship to an eminent barber at Paris, COM
menced the world on his own account,
in the character of valet to an excellent
Dominican priest, who was about TO vis-
It America. Never were two human be-
ings more unlike Than Pierre and his
master. The worthy Dominican was
learned and benevolent; grave, austere,
and self-deuying ;-the valet was jolly,
rafting madcep who, as he never hest
tated to grant favour, or civiIity, to
any human being, thought it right to
be equally obliging to himself, and nev-
Or mortified his own flesh, or ms neign-
bour's feelings. The priest mourned o.
YER the depravity Of the human race,
and especially deprecated the frivolous
habits of his countrymen the valet not
only believed this to be the best of all
possible worlds, but prided himself par
ticularly in being native of a country
which produced the best fddlers, cooks,
and BARRIERS on the habitable globe. In
short. the master was priest, and she
man hair dresser; but the one dealt with
the inner. the other with the outer man
lone endeavoured to enlignien the
dark abyss on the ignorant heart, while
the other sedulousIy scraped the super
ficies Of the v,snge. Father Francis wa,
mysterious, silent, ascetic man Piery,
was as mercurial and as merry lad al
ever Aourished pnir Of scissora
However they might differ in othe
respects, there was one particular il
which Father Francis and his man Pierr,
exactly agreed /; namely, in an arden
desire to explore the streams, the forest
and the valleys Of Louisiana. The prizes
came to spread the gospel among tn,
heather, TO arrest their voices, and (,
explode their human sacrifices the vale
travelled to see the lion with one horn
the fountain of rejuvenescence, The whit
breasted swans, aud the dark-skinne,
girls oflllinois Piere's researches int,
American history bad been considerable,
and his opportunities for acquirin,
knowledge. singularly feliei,ous. II,
had shaved gentlemen who had bee.
there; had scraped the very cheeks whicl
were embrowncd BY tho sun ofthe west
ern Indies, and held, betwixt his thumI
and finger, the Identical nostrils tina