Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-06-10
Nj iSC E J. L A N Y.
BOB COLLINS VISIT TO ST. LOUIS.

Bob Collins, a tall, gravity, raw boned fellow,
had passed nearly the whole of his life in Goose
Creek Settlement" near the Gasconade river, in
the interior of Missouri. He was a famous hun
ter, and could kill buck '.further as nary man in
the settlement"
Bob took it into his head that Dick EllSton did
not give him enough for his :'skns," and he said
he believed that Dick was ''rotten old cheat"
and that he meant to take his skins to St Louis
next fall, and sell them himself; besides, he want
ed TO see what 'sorter fXen that ST. Louis was"
Accordingly early in December Bob put on his
new deer skin hunting shirt, and pair of new
pants of the same material, and started for ST.
Louis with pack Of ''skins."
In due time he arrived, and such sight as greet
ed the astonshed eyes Of Bob!
lie could see nothing but houses, and how to find
his way TO- any particular place was more than he
could tell ; besides, the whole city appeared to be
in perfect uproar
The first man he met was little gumbe French
man, driving small cart-load of wood in the city.
''Heow, stranger?" shouted Bob, ''do you
want to trade for skins ~
"Sacre dem your skin" replied the little French
man '.you tink. by gar, trade my skin for you
dem ugly skin 2"
"Well," said Bob, elf this amt the most ohci
vorlized place ever seed. Can't AK civil ques-
ton without givin' offence-stop old Sam Rog-
ers who used to trade his skins in ST. Louis, told
me To hunt out the man OF the name oil Smlth-l
forgot his first name---what traded in skins"
He met a coal wagon, on the top OF which sat
dlngy looking fellow, who passed for white man
when his face was clean. Bob accosted him!
81 say, stranger, does you know where man
lives in this place, by the name of Smith ?"
"In -, expect" grufly answered the coal
driver.
"Well, yer ought TO know" said Bob, 'for yer
looks as how yer lived there yerself."
Bob next met very benevolent looking old gen.
tleman, and thinking from his appearance, that
more civil treatment might be expected in this
quarter, he very mildly asked:
"Stranger, could you be good enuff to tell where
one Mr.. Smith lives ?"
The stranger pointed to large, elegant three
story brick dwelling, and observed that ga MIR.
Smith lived in that house"
| Bob rode up TO the pavement, dsmounted and
walking up flight of elegant stone steps, he gave
the door several hard knocks with the end OF
hickory stick, which he had brought all the way
from Goose Creek"
In few moments the door was opened by well
dressed man.
"Why didn't you ring the bell 2" asked the
man.
"Ring the bell !" said Bob haint got no bell
TO ring besdesAhere's nohn' but bells ringin'
in this place; ger couldn't tell one bell from an
other"
! "Well, well, what do You want" demanded
the man.
s'I want to see Mr.. Smith, answered Bob
"Mr. Smith is not at home. What do you want
| with Mr.. Smith 2" asked the man.
'I've some particular business with him. an
swered Bob "but if Miss Smith is to home it'll
do jest as we'll"
''You can't see Miss Smith, y said the man, ''she
! is in the parlor with company"
Just at this moment the parlor door opened, and
three elegant dressed young ladies' walked out, ac-
companied by another on whose face youth, beauty
and benevolence were happily blended.
Bob dofIed his coon skin cap, and made an awk-
ward bow.
''Perhaps Pm mistaken perhaps yer only Miss
Smiths dGter. Is your mother to hoine2 Old
Sam Rogers told me as how if MIR. Smith warm
| TO home, to see Miss Smith and drive trade with
her for my skins"
The Young lady told Bob that he was uudoubt
eddy mistaken; that there were great many Mr.
Smiths in St. Louis, and that, by further inquiries
he would probably find the one ne was in search of
Bob made his best bow to the young lady, and
started in search Of the right Smith.