Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-06-03
AGREAr BLOW ourIN MICHIGAN.
ny JOHN BROWN

ny JON BROWN.
Among the droli siory-tellers who used to
amuse me in the Indian country, was one
~Higgins-or Sam Higgins, as we cali
him-who, In various capacities, had long
been ieading n / of itenerant life, in the
near aud lar west. For many years he had
been in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, and
Afterwards passed across the Territory OF 10.
wa TO the Missouri country. At the time i
knew him be held q small appointment under
the department" i'm a branch OF the ssCiri-
l~ization Of Indians service, and was station
ed on the Missouri river, not a thousand miles
from Fort Leavanworth. His pay was mod
crate, but II gave him a comfortable subsist-
encc, and the philosophers stone OF the will
denesS-contentment-which can turn every
thing to gold.
Often have ! sat by the hour listening to
Sans tales away of there among the red skins.
They were of all kinds, from grave 10 CAV.
from lively to severe yet always good at the
time, though, like the unts of fading sunset,
l am afraid they cannot well be transferred 10
canvas.
Sometimes, however. l would be tempted
to question the probability of some variations.
that looked very much like things overdone,
and would gently hint my doubts; but Sam
was never taken aback. He would proceed
TO explain and establish so satisfactorily
NtloN WDuOl OiltN ITONtu 10 u u lurDlQuer OF
conviction, sent TO clear the way and make il
more entire. "No, indeed, Colonel, A." he would
say, (he was very particular about my title
n sensible man, Sam was ''no, indeed. /
never go beyond the truth" AMI the tougher
the story the more earnestly he would insist
that II was all true as gospel"
Ii happened one day that the wind was
blovinga stiff gale on the river, which we
could BEE at a distance from the spot where we
then were; and the water being low, the loose
sand was blown up from the bars, and was
seen like a dense fog along the course of the
stream for several miles. We had been look
ing at it from the door of my cabin, as we re-
sumed our seats and pipes ut the fire, | re-
marked that | "would not like TO be on the
river at such atime."
"Why so" inquired Sam.
"Why, don't you see the sand? Who could
live in oil that sand?'
Eyes, said he, re-lighting his pipe, al see
IT," And after giving a puff or two, "but
I've seen worse Than that, Colonel, in my time
he added gravely.
"Wherel"
"ln the lake country-on lake Michigan
You ought To see the sand on the beach there.
Its The greatest place for sand ever ! saw"
81 suppose il is blown considerably at
times" | rejoined, "but the Missouri sand is
bad enough ior me"
"Well sir said he, ION lake Michigan the
sandis clear. pure sand, notdry mud like this
YOU can't see ten feet from your"
"You don't say"
Eyes, and I've seen it blow into peoples
houses along the lake, after the women had
set The table for dinner, so that we had TO
dump il out of the plates before eatiug!'
Sam said |, "that approaches wonder
full"
lit true, though, Colonel; and I've seen it
drift round tall pine trees along the shore of
the lake, like snow, till il iOouid coper them
up clear to tte iop!"
Sam, sum! by ulundcr that's TOO tough
ant so IT,"
Upon my word. Colonel, its as true as
there, and I'm here"
"Wcll, but Sam" said /, chow does il hap
zen no one ever heard OF those buried forests?
have heard of the dol1nS as they are called,
n the coasts of England and France, formed
y the Accommodations of saud blown up from !
he beach, but lnever heard OF those buried
rees in Michigan, before"
why you see" said he, 'the ipiHd changes
kelly as not the nlrL dov. aud bLomahE sand
,uOuy dgdiR!'
Expressed myself satisfied at this solution
q the mystery aud we smoked some moments
silence, when Sam continued.
Il would hardly have believed such a story
myself, Colonel" said he, III | hadn't seen
ii with my own eyes; and | came very near
into an ugly scrape there once. l was
out hunting, and went to sleep In the evening
on a sand bank, among whatI supposed TO be
pine shrubs, but which were really the
of the buried trees. | slept very
During the night, the wind rose,
and blew the sand all away, so that | awoke
up in the morning, i'll the top Of a tall pine
"Well Sam, admitting FOR the sake of the
that this is all true, what was your first
thought, when you got awaken
"Why ] thought Baron Munchausen' story
his horse hanging to the stecple, after the
snow melted, might be true after all; but he
must have had a stronger bride rein than
they make OF patent leather!
"Yes," s1id ], "as tough as some of your
sto. les, sam. But how did you getdown?"
"lNhy, ! walked down"
Walked doen!"
"Why, yes. You see | was out hunting,
and had tied my little wallet of provisions to
my leg, to keep the wolves from stealing it; so
that there was no danger Of starving; aud sec
ing That the wind was about to rise, 1 just
iodi'ed til The sand drytcd up again."
a CHARITABLE SUGGESTION. In
speaking of a clerical friend, who possesses a
very rubicpnd countenance, one said, the
other day. don't think he drinks. In fact.
| know lac doesn't, for he told me so; but he
probably SLEEPS in d bed with very red cur