Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-06-25

a subject. As holy mother church will not
permit me to open my lips here on the sub.
iect Of Religion, l write for amusement
and recreation, as an expedient for dispo-
sing of part ofmy time and will thank the
old lady for this privilege. And though |
might tell some nasty tales about her lady
ship, will not do it; for as in protestantity
there are considerable number of beams,
or thorns, the correct translation in our
own eyes, which we should first cast out
before we operate upon those of. the poor
old mother.
No. V.
Travelling through this island would be
in the highest degree delightful, were it not
that the roads are execrable, being nothing
in general, but mule paths, with nothing
but mules to ride. Then there is danger
of slipping over the edge of precipice
and landing, mule and all, several hundred
feet below in some deep ravine, from
which, if life should remain, one would
need the wings of an eagle or condor to
escape. My muleteer, Francisco, para
gon of fat, good nature, and laziness, would
in such emergencies tell me to let the mule
take his own course. "Senor," said he, by
way of enforcing his commands, "mules
are like women, they do BEST and 90 best
when left to follow their own Wills" But,
Francisco, / replied, that may be true of
mules, and | believe it is, but can't be-
lieve it of the women. He looked at me
with his broad vacant eye, and said, half
serious, half comical, "Senor, are you mar
ried?" No, Francisco. "Ah, then you don't
known But Francisco, your comparison is
by no means complimentary to the sex.
"Why notl Senior, don't you see how safely
your mule carries you over the most dan
gerous passes, where to check it, would
plunge you down where the sun would not
shine upon you; and so Senor," bowling low
and touching his capote, linen are as often
ruined by not following the council and
advice of their wives or sisters, or mother,
as by .folloUing their oWn." Aye, aye,
Francisco, you mean then that it IS always
safe to follow the council and advice of
women. Eyes, Senior, in all small matters
think it is-and Senior, you know, human
life, and all the world, is made up of small
matters; and," added he, looking very wise
and grave--for even a muleteer can affect
wisdom and gravity, as well as more ele-
waited Characters--"Senor, many life and
kingdom have been lost by neglecting
small matters" You are right, Francisco,
replied, and if not one man in a thousand
would have used such SimiIc to compli-
ment the sex, not one in ten thousand could
have done it so WELL In addition to those
dangers already mentioned are others Of a
more formidable character to weak hearts
and delicate nerves. These mountain wilds
are sometimes infested with the banditt,
who levy contributions on all travellers.
If the traveller has large sum of money
with him, they only take that wishing that
he may live athousand years and frequent
ly come the same way--if on the other
hand they find but little of the one thing
needful for this world--they take the life,
saying that a poor man has no business in
this world, and they will send him to hunt
better one.
Icannot conceive, nor do believe, that
there is on the face of the broad earth, or
on its broader waters, a spot, on which ma.
ture has layished so much Of her. varied
munifcence as on this Eysian isle. And
oh, when art, industry, and cultivation
have done their all and their last here,
what scene will it then present! Would
to heaven my countrymen had it!
There are still few of the original ma
tives to be seen in this island like sad mel
oncholy spirits that hover over some loved
spot on earth where sleep their Wondering
bodies. No one can contemplate the fate
of this ill-starred-and il-treated without
the most painful emotions. A happier
race of mortalS. perhaps never existed in
our world than they were before the de-
stroyer came among them. Children of
simplicity and innocent with nomore wants
than simple nature calls for, and these wants
all supplied by natures spontaneous gratu-
ity, they spent their peaceful and happy
existence in groves ever fragrant with flow
ers and ever vocal with sylvan songs. But
the entrance of the Spaniards among
them, was to them, what the entrance of
the devil into Eden was to our prog emf
tors.
Oh avarice what an Unsuitable and cruel
worm thou art! like thy sister worm that
never dies!--a thousand worlds instead Of
gorging thee would but make thee more
lank, hungry and fcrocious; thou art our
crime, and our punishment! the worlds
master and the worlds curse.
We begin making you our servant, and
end by becoming your slaves. Thou hast
destroyed more of the human race than
war, pestilence, and famine. Thy heart is