Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-10-13

tracts or any thing else, at moments
notice. Bar-rooms and street corners
swarmed with these prowling gentry 1t
was impossible to mention any part of the
country, which they had not personally
surveyed. They would tell you, with the
gravity of astroIogers. what sort of tim
Der predominatcd on any given tract, draw
ing sage deductions as to the capabilities
of the soil. Did you incline to city prop
erty? Lo! a splendid chart, setting forth
the advantages of some unequalled site,
and your confidential friend, the land
locker, able to tell you more than all about
it, or to accompany you 10 the happy spot;
though that he would not advise bad roads,,
purely disinlerested solicitudc for your
welfare.
These amiable individuals were, strange
to tell, no favorites with the actual settlers.
If they disliked the gentleman specuator,
they hated with perfect hatred him who
aided by his local knowledge the immense
purchases of non-residents. These short
sighted and prejudiced persons forgot the
honor and distinction which must result
from their insignificant farms being sur
rounded by the possessions Of the mag
mates Of the land. They saw only the
solitude which would probably be entailed
on them for years; and it was counted ac-
tual treason III u settler to give any facili
ties to the land-looker, Of whatever grade.
Let the land-shark do his own hunting
was their frequent reply to applicants Of
this kind, and some thought them quite
right. Yet this state of feeling among the
Hard-handed, was not without it's inconve-
nient results to city gentlemen, as witness
the case Of our friend Mr.. Wlloughby,
very prim and smart bachelor, from -
1t was when the whirlwind was at its
height that gentleman wearing the air
Of bank director, at the very east--in
other words that Of an uncommonly fat pi-
geon-dtew bride at the bars in front Of
one of the toughest los houses in the coun-
ty Oh. The horse and his rider
were loaded with all those unnecessary de-
fences, and cumbrous comforts, which the
fashion Of the times prescribed in such ca
ses. Blankets valise saddle-bags, and hol-
sters nearly covered the steed; most vo-
luminous enwrapmcnt Of India-rubber cloth
completely enveoped the rider. The gall
liant sorrcl seemed indeed fit for his burden.
He looked as if he might have swan any
stream in Michigan:
'Barbed from counter TO tail,
And the rider arm'd complete in mail
yet he seemed little jaded, and hung his
head languidIy. while his master accostcd
the tall and meagre tenant Of the log ca
bin.
This individual and his dwelling resem-
bIed each other, in an unusual degree -
The house was, as we have said, of the
roughest; its ribs scarcely half filed with
clay; its Topped and Widowed raggcdness
rendered more conspicuous by the tattered
cotton sheets which had long done duty as
glass, and which now futtered in every
breeze; its roof Of oak shingles, warped in
every possible curve, and it's stick CHM
ney, SO like its owners hat, open at the
top, and jammed in at the sides, all sha-
dowed forth the contour and equipments
of the exceedingly easy and self-satsfed
person who leaned on the fence, and snap
ped his long cart whip while he gave his
answers as suited him to the gentleman in
the lndia-rubbers, taking especial care not
to invite him to alight.
'Can you tell me, my friend, -civiIly
began Mr.. WiIloughbv.
ooh! friend!' interrupted the settler,
'who told you | was your frienda Friends
is scuss in these parts
You have at least no reason to be 9TH
erwise,' replied the traveller, who was
hlcScnI with
cially when their was no use in getting
angry.
Il don't know that was the reply
what fetched you in these woods.
IF should say 'my horse,' the answer
would perhaps, be as civil as the question.
.Jist as you like said the other turning
on his heels, and walking off.
Il wished merely to ask you,' returned
Mr.. Willoughby, talking after the noncha-
liant son of the forest, whether this is Mr.
Peppers land
How do you know it amt mine?'
Pm not likely TO know, at present, it
seems said the traveller, whose patience
was getting little fraycd. And taking
out his memorandum book, he ran over
his minutes: South half Of the northwest
quarter of section fourteen-1ourn name
is Leander Pepper. is it not.P
where did you get so much news?-
You amt the sheriff, be yep
'Pop,' screamed white-headed urchin
from the house, mann says supper's rea-
dy.'
so amt l. replied the papa; Five got
all my chores TO do yet. And he busted
himself at log pig-stye on the opposite
side OF the road, half as large the dwelling
house. Here he was soon surrounded by