The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-09-12
A Blow in Michigan.

used to amuse me in nthe Indian coun-
try, was one Samuel Higglns--or Sam
Higgins as we call him-who, in va
rious capacities had4ong been leading
a kind Of itinerate4ife, in the near and
far West. For many years he had
been in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan
and afterwards passed across the Ter
ritory Of Iowa to the Missouri country.
AT the time ! knew him he held small
appointment under the department"
in branch Of the $ Civilization o H.
didns" service, and was stationed on
the Missouri river, not a thousandmileS
from Fort Leavenworth. His pay was
moderate, but it gave him a comtorta-
be subsistence, and the phtlopher's
stone Of the Wilderness which can
turn every thing 10 gold.
Often have sat by the hour listen
ing to SANS tales away oll'there among
the REDSKINS. They were Of all kinds,
"lrom grave TO gay, from lively to Sc
vere," yet always good at the time,
though, like the tints Of the fading sun
set, am afraid they cannot be trans
tered TO canvass.
Sometimes, however, ! would be
tempted TO question the probability Of
some narrations, that looked very much
like things overdohe, and would gently
hint my doubts: but Sam was never
taken aback. He would proceed TO
explain and establish SO satisfactorily,
that doubt only proved to be a harbin-
ger ofconviction, sent to clear the way
and make it more entire. "No, indeed
Colonel" he would say, (he was very
particular about my title--a sensible
man, Sam was )"no, indeed, never 90
beyond the truths" and the tougher the
story, the more earnestly he would in
sist that it was all "true as gospel"
1t happened one day that the wind
was blowing stiff gale on the river,
which we could see at q distance from
the spot where we lien were; and the
water being low, the loose sand was.
blown up from the bars, and was seen
like dense fog along the course Of
the stream for several nfiles.-We had
been oking at il from the door of my
cabin, US we resumed our seats and
pipes at the fire, remarked that ]
"would not like TO be on the river at
such a time"
"Wby so?" inquired Sam.
"Why, don't you see the sand? Who
could live in all that sand"
EYES, said he, re-Iighting his pipe,
81 see it," Aud after giving pull or
two, "but I've seen worse than that,
Colonel, in my time," he added gravely.
"Where?"
''ln the lake country-.on lake Mi
chigan. You ought to see the sand On
the beach there. It's the greatest place
for sand ever saw"
81 suppose it is blown considerably
at times" | rejoined, but the Missouri
sand is bad enough for me-"
swell, sir" said he. son lake Michi-
gan the sand is clear, pure sand, not
dry mud like this, you can't see ten feet
from you"
"You don't saym
"Yes, and Eve seen it blow into
peoples houses along the lake, after
the women had set the table for din
ner, so that we had to ''dump" il out
Of the plates before ealing!"
"Sam,' said !, "that approaches Won
derful.'
'It's true, though, Colonel; and I've
seen it drift round tall pine trees along
the shore Of the lake, like snow, till ii
,oouu cOver them up clear mp ~ Tie tgp.'
"Sam! Sam! by thunder that's too
tough-l can't 60 it,"
"Upon my word, Colonel, it's as
true as you're there and Pm here
'WeEi, but Sam,;' said !, show does
it happen no one ever heard Of these
buried forests? have heard of the
do,0nS as they are called, on the coasts
Of England and France, formed by the
Accommodations of sand blown up from
the beach, but have never heard Of the
buried trees IN Michigan, before"
"Why, you see," said he, SHE ,cind
changes likely as not, the neat Dig, and
blows tie sand avay again."
! expressed myself satisfied at this
solution Of the mystery, and we smok
ed some minutes in silence, when Sam
continued:
81 would hardly have believed such
a story myself, Colonel" said he, ''if !
hadn't seen it with my own eyes; and
| came near getting into an ugly scrape
there once. was out hunting, and
went to sleep in the evening on sand
bank, among what ! supposed 10 be
some pine shrubs, but which were real
ly the branches of the buried trees. i
slept very soundIy. During the night,
the wind rose, and blew the sand all
awav. so that 7 aWok q in the n1orninp