Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1836-12-13


Thousand dollars, in amount almost equal, in
the Imagination Of the villagers, 10 the tfea'
sures o. king Solomon.
Thisyory substantial cld gentleman, though
of the furlh or fifth GENERATION in this country,
rotaineIthe true Gallo stamp Of feature and
peculiarly Of depormeEt, and reminded me of
one of hose provincial potontates, the impor-
tant nun Of u petty ACCOMPLISHMENT, that are to
be met With in the remote parts Of France
He wasof a large frame, gingerbread COM
plexor, strong features, eyes that stood out
like glass nobs, and a prominent nose, which
he frequently RECALLED from gold snuff box,
and occasionally blew with q colorcd handkcr-
chief until il sounded like trumpet.
Tie vas attended by an old negro as black
as cbo,y, with huge mouth, IN continual
grin. This evidently was privileged and tav.
orite servant, and one that had grown up and
grown Old with him. He was dressed in Gre
ole style---wiih white JACKET and trowsers, a
stiff shirt collor that threatened to cut of his
cars, a BRIGHT Madras handkerchief tied r. und
his head, and large gold ear rings. Flo was
the politcsi nc gro met with in a wide wes-
tern tovo, and that is saying a great deal,
Tor, excepting the Indians. the negroes are tho
most gentemanlike personagcs one meets
with in those parts. Ii is true, they differ from
the Indians in being little extra polite and
complimentary. lie was also one OF The mer-
riest aud here, TOO, the negroes, however we
may deplorc their unhappy condition, have
the advantages Of their masters. The whites
are, in general, too prosperous 10 be merry.
The cares Of maintaining their rights and IL
berties, and OF adding to their wealth, engross
all their thoughts, and dry up all the moisture
of their souls. Ifyou hear broad, hearty,
devil-may- care laugh, he assured it is ne
gro's
Besides this African domestic, the siegnor Of
the village had another no less cherished and
privileged attendant. This was huge dog Of
the maatihr breed, with deep hanging mouth,
that gave an air OF surly gravity to his phys-
ognomy. He walked about the cabin with the
air of dog perfectly at home, and who had
paid for his passage. AT dinner time he took
his seat behind his master, giving him glance
now and then out Of the corner Of his eye, that
bespoke perfect confidence that he would not
be forgotten Nor was he-every now and
then a huge morscl would be thrown TO him,
pcradventuro the half picked leg of foul,
which he would receive with a snap that would
sound like the springing Of a steel trap-one
gulp and all was down and glance of the
eye told his master that he was ready for ano-
Their consignment.
pany with this seignior, was Of totally differ
cnt stamp. He was small, thin, and weozen-
faced, such as Frenchmen are apt TO be re-
presented in carricature, with bright squir-
rel-likc eye, anG gold ring in his ear. His
dress was fiimsy, and sat loosely on his frame,
and he had altogether tho look Of one with bu,
little coin in his pocket. Yet, though one Of
the poorest, | was assured he was one of the
native wind n,5 most popular personages in lie
Compere Martin, as he was commonly call
cd was the factotum Of the place-sportsman
schoolmaster, and land surveyor. He could
sing, dance, and above all, play on the fiddle
an invaluable accomplishment in one Of these
old French creole Villages, for the inhabtant,
have an hereditary love for balls and fetes
if they work but little, they dance great deal
aud fiddle is the JOY Of their heart.
/ What had sent Compere Martin travelling
with the grand seignior | could not learn ht
evidently looked up to him with great defer
ence, and was assidnous in rendering him pet.
| ~ attentions from which concluded that ht
| lived at home upon The crumbs which fell fron
his table. He was gayest when out of hi
sight, and had his song and his joke when for
ward among the deck passengers; but altho
| Compere Martin was out of his element OF
board Of steamboat, he was quite anothe
being, am tod, when at home in his owl
village.
Like his opulent felIow-traveller, he too hat
his canine follower and rotainor-and one suit
ed TO his different iortunes-one of the civilest
homcbrcd, most unohending little, dogs in tn
world. Unlike the lordy maslifi, he SCENE,
to think he had no right on board Of the steam
boat Ifyou did but look hard at him, h
would throw himself upoL his back, and lii
up his legs as il imporing mercy.
AT table, he took his seat at little distanc
from his master not with the bluff confiden
, air Of the mastifi, but quietly and diifidenty
, his head on one side with an ear dubous
slouched, the other hopefully cooked up; hi
, under teeth projecting beyond his black nose
and his eve wis,iully following each morse
J that went into his masters mouth.
If Compere Martin now and then Shout
venture to abstract morsel from his plate, {
give 10 his humble companion, it was edifyn
to see with what difidence the exemplary lii
tie animal would take hold of it, with the yer
tip of his teeth, as if he would almost rattle
not, OF was fearful of TAX ing too great libel
ty. And then with what decorum would h
| eat it How many efforts would he make /
! swallowing il, as if il stuck in his throat; wit
what daintiness would he lick his lips an
then with what an air OF thankfulness woul
r he resume his scat, with his teeth once NOR
projecting beyond his nose, and an eye
humble expectation fixed upon his master.
! 1t was late in the afternoon when the steam
: boa; stopped at the village which was the re
b sidence OF my felow-voyagers. 1t stood O
= the high bank OF the river and bore traces
= having been a frontier trading post. ThcI
:, were the remains Of the stockades that one
!, protected 1t from the Indians, and the house
f. were in the ancient Spanish and French col,
. NAL taste, the place having been successive
! under the domination Of both those nalio,
s prior to the cession of Louisiana 10 the Unite
d States. The arrival Of the seignior Of iG
v thousand dollars and his humble compano
: Comperc Martin, had evidently been locke
| L. I'd to in tla Oil