Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1842-06-28

The traveller who passes, during the summer
or autumn months Of the year, through the States
Of our mon that lies west of the OHIO River
Indiana and Illinois in particular-wiil often
pause IN his Journey with feelings of irresistible
admiration, 10 gaze upon the ten thousand beau
ties which nature has spread through those re-
gions with an uncommonly liberal hand. The
majestic mountain, UNFOLDING the heavens on its
cloudy top, does not to be sure, arrest his as
tonishcd eve; and the roaring cataract, dashng
from a dizzy height, and laundering down into
whirling depths below then rising az ain in up
ward showers forms no part Of the character of
their quiet scenes. But the wide spread prairie
level as some waveless lake, from whose fertile
soil the grass springs up with luXuriance un-
parallelcd IN any other part of our country, and
whose beautiful green Is bcsprlnkled with myri-
ads and myrads of flowers, ravI-hng the sight
with their lovclincss, and filling the air with
their swcets-and again on either side of these
immense savannas, standing aged like host
TO host opposed the lcaly forest, whose silence
has not often been broken by the voice of man,
and through whose verdaut rcccSScs the deer
stalk in herds, with the holiness Of primcval
naturc-thcsc are some of the scenes that call
forth a passing tribute OF praise from every be-
holder. Such IS their summer aspect; bat when
winter has taken angrly his waste inheritance.
not even the painters pencil can convey a lust
conception of the bcakncss and desolation OF
the change. Then those extensive plains, lately
covered with the infinitely diversified charms OF
nature, become one white UNMARRIED waste;
through the vistas of the naked trees NOTHING
meets the glance but snow and If from the
chilly mOn0tony of earth the wcaried eve looks
up to heaven, thick and heavy clouds driven
along upon the wind, seem Surchargcd 10 burst
ING, with some figid element Ii was during
the latter season that the incidents of our story
took place
About he middle of December some % or -
years ago before Illinois was admitted a sister
State INTO the Union. on the afternoon of a day
that had been uncommonly mild and during the
morning of which there had occurred a light fall
of snow, two persons were seen riding along one
OF the immense praries in a northern direction.
The elder seemed advanced in years, and was
dressed IN the usual habilimcnts of the country.
lie wore cap made of the skin OF the otter, and
a hunting shirt of blue linscywoolscy covered
his body, descending nearly TO his knees and
trimmed with red woollcn fringe. 1t was fast
encd round the waist by a girdc of buckskin.
10 which also appended bullet pouch
made of the same material with the cap. Ills
feet were covered with buckskin moCcasins and
leggmgs OF stout cloth were wrapped several
times round his legs, fastened above the knee
and AT the ANGLE with strings of green worsted
The horse he rode was so small that the rider :
feet almost dragged on the ground, and he had
that artificial gate denominatcd racking. The
old man : hair fell in long and uncombcd locks
beneath his cap, and was white with the irosts
Ot many winters; while the sallownesS of his
complexion gave proof of a long residence in
those uncultvated parts of the country. where
the excessive vegetable decay, and the stagna-
ton OF large bodies of water, produced perennial
agnes. His companion young man.
dressed according TO the prevailing fashion OF
the cities of the eastern States; and his rosy
checks and bright blue ewes. convinced that he
had not suffered from the effects of the climate
He was mounted on spirited horse and carried
IN his hand, the butt resting on his toe, heavy
looking rifle
w ell, Doctor RIyIngton, said the elder person
lshould more ha looked To see one of YOU
yankees, toting about WI YOU rail Kentuck rifle
than | should ha thought Ia be ridin' myself
without one. If didn't see it in your hands,
could almost swear that its Jim Buckhorn's'
You have guessed correctly, Mr. Silver
sight, replied the Young Physician believe
YOU know every rifle IN this part of the terri
tory
Why, have handled power of EN- in NV
time, doctor, sand the old man, and there nj
many good ones, atwixt Sangamo and the Mis-
sissppi that | don't know the valIy on
reckon now, that same rifle seems To vou but a
clumsy sort of shooting-iron; but its brought
down a smart chance of deer, first aud last
That lock n rail screamer and there ant d
fruer bore-except mine, that | left down the
settlement, TO get new sight to-no. not atwiXt
this and Major Marhams ltcarries list ninety
four, and mine n leetle over ninctv-eight to the
pound jun has used my bullets often when we
have been out a hunting together
Il was unacquainted with the worth of the
gun, resumed Charles Riyington; but step
ping into the gunsmith ; this morning. | heard
him lament that he had missed a chance of send
ING II out 10 Jimmy Buckhorn's: SO, intending
TO come this way, | offered TO take charge of il
myself IN tins wilderness country we must
stand ready TO do such little Offices of friendship
MIR. Siversight
Twas no doubt kindly meant. Doctor anC
Jim viii be monstrous glad to Git his piece agin
SAID the hunter. But nv wonderment i. and
| don't mean no harm by 1t, how that tinker
would trust such screamcr as that are with q
yankee doctor. Do give 1t to me; | can't 'bide
seem good rifle in mans hand that don
know the vally ont
Doctor Rivingtou resigned the weapon with
good humored smile; for he had been sometime
IN the country, and understood the love hich