Democratic banner., 1846-11-23
Written for the South ~Hiissourian.
4 TILE OF EIISS9ThE,
r. is interesting when we behold TIE !

Whob 80
in silent sranhenr-to contemplate its
source in the little sparkling sprins that
bubbles up amid the mountains. and 50.
it is interesting to contemplate the infancy
of that spacious city which is kinsman to
the world, and bears al important relation
to the interests Of a mighty empire. But
rolling RIVER be chat on whose banks we
spent the sunny hours OF infancy. and JON
ed in the merry sports of ci,ildi:ood-if the
city be the one in which we drew OR first
breath, saw our haPpirst days. smiled on
those we love, and weP;6cnea:h tie moon,
beams DER the graves OF buried friends
then, whatever relates TO their early histo-
~ acts as a spell to interest and rivet our
attention. S.. Louis, fifty years ACC. t:cn
called BIZ a name which s%igniiie< Light
bread, was a small village Inhabited Icy
French. There WAS then bat enc ~cIurci
in the town, and that was nothing better
than 4 rudr los hut. On a tree before the
church docr was hung 4 rattle: s;nai! bel,
which, was rung every Sabbath morning to
call the scattered wors!irrcrs TO tie sane
tuary.
On Al einincncc overlooking the city.
where now stands a PRESBYTERIAN Church.
dwell a man from New England, whose
name was Woodson His was :!e only
American family tAen living in tie place.
Bold and cnterpr;sing, Il" had itft tie home
of his ci.iidh 1od---t::c land Of light and free
jom-had PRESSED on VIII, his "ifr and two
babes, I'll he had pierced tic dark and dis
tant western withstand settled on Tia,
rising ground adjacent 20 the town .
called 81. Louis. Though far from home.
from fricnls. from religious privileges, from
ten THOUSAND comforts, they still We're zap
py-thcv feared G>I-:! ~ were Chris
tians. Their c'l.ilrPn, growin3un ~ i"aHh
and hearty, @,4iIsnad ti:cir hearts. Their
farm i~np-5vcd-:Leir wealth increasc'-
peace was ers:r;nei within their t.u:.:I,c
ct.
IT was beautiful spring morning. ti.e
last star still twinkiin3 III Ike vivid s,:.
The horizon was c..a!:n rich radiant r'oa!2
md al was calm ami Uri.,it, as the walk"
spirit Of WooGson sent ~. with tie car.
lark, Lis t.LnHs 10 Heaven for r~atern".r:
t~ectirn. lie lift Il House, rs vie s;l!I
wrapt in s,unt.cr, and seeing . large grey
eagle in mi1-@ir, resting proudly on lis
opinions, and ready to pounrc np"n lis
prev, &c rr:":r~l FI rs 2"a, "Iici. was
loaGei-w,a: so::.r I".:cs from tie hOnsr,
fired 1T the eagle, l':t missed. Tie king
OF birds, ah-:";.;cG. ncd, and was out 81
sight il. an instant. Wo"lsan somewhat
disappointed al lis Gai.:r", a:2o,i i".:.:n9 oa
his gun. trying to conjecture what had at
tracteG the eagie's attention, VIXEN sadicn-
ly he heard the footsteps an! "on' c~rsatior
of three FrencAmcn, coming a: ii br:Sa
walk up the road. Woo!srn moved slow,
ly towards his house 10 rf:"in lis Gun, w.."T
he was hailed in broken English, By one Of
the three individuals: ''Morsicr, wla'
you kiil?' ''NotIinc. sir, replied Noodson.'
"Veli den, "a: yen shoot at, MomS.ci::' 81
shot at an eagle, sir said W"odSon, 'hn'
missed "Nrli,' SAID tie Frcncil"an, .da
isgood, shoot an eagle, and me see him no
at all-sjioot at an Gaze end Mss him
Vell!' Woodsor made 10 answer, but re
turned 10 the house, and tie Frcnchn.c!
passed on.
The sun had marched up the blue sky
and now sat entIironcd in meridian males:.
and splcndour. WooGsun, with a :'app.
heart was following his Fi"w, when Wit
considerable establishment he saw Il nuiGhr
of men leap his fence and make toward
the place where he was at work. ~lialilni
Woodson, they commanded lin to follow
and soon the company stood near the spo
where Woodson had fired at the eagle
Every eye was fixed On Woodson, as wit
trembling horror he gazed on the bleeding