The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-11-09
A NIGHT On THE PRAlRlES.
~ A SOLDIER.

tTkanShS. we were cncdUlpcu va tu'
Western hank--had just crossed. The
dreaded desert lay before us, sixty miles
without wood or water. Il wns determined
to march by night, Tor tho sake Of the trains
rs until that distance was accomplished
the cattle would not get drop. We broke
up at ) r. ~, and not without many mis-
givincs, and much apprehension Of severe
suffering. we plunged into the desert. We
toicd through the heavy sand until mid
night, when it became 90 dark that il WINS
impossible for tho trains to keep the road.
The men were ordered to lie down in their
blankets. without tents. until il should be-
come light eno,ght to see tho trail.
knapsacks were uns,rapped in twin H.
ling and down we went, everywhere aud
anywhere, aud were soon buried ia deep
sleep which onlyn tired soldier Knows
How long slept | know not, but | was
nwokc BY combination of noises which
exceeded anything could imagine. Feel
ing n sensation rs Of water running down
my back, put out my hand to sound, J
was lying in four inches Of water, my
blanket was thoroughly soaked and weigh
cd about hundred pounds. With a groan
Of despair ! struggled up with some difficult
t. 10 sitting posture on my knapsack, and
pecping out | endcnvored 10 ascertain
where was and how ! came there. A
prairie STERN YVES raging in all its awful
fury. Ten thousand pieces ofnriillery cx
ploding III once would have been deep and
profound silence or nj the best but maid
ems whisper; compared with the stunning,
deaicning crash Of Heavens artillery,
The rain came down in torrents, and
tho ligh,ning--but it is folly 10 attempt TO
describe II. discovered by its continuous
blaze. certain number Of poor wretches,
crawling round the wagons, shrouded in
blankets rather moist. md up 10 their knees
in water. Some Of the rascals affected To
be cheerful; principally those who had
got under the wagons. Il was
wrcichcd attempt, though, and failed sig
nallv. While sitting on my knnpssck in
this forlorn condition, neditating whether
10 call n cab or get into IN omnibus and 60
h"mc or SIT there cut Of spite, the water
had risen, so that the knapsack was floating
from under me, and was obliged to aban-
don il, with its contents which were ruined |;
no small misfortune, ] assure you. Nv
blanket too, left to its fate, and it floatcd
on to parts unknown TO INC nj this timc.)
Taking NV muskct under my arm. rushed
through what seemed small lake, and
gained wagon tongue whcrcon pcrched
until morning. A more miserable night
never pissed. While roasting, ] was a.
unused with soldier who had crawled un.
der the wagon, mud was soliloquizing in
sine-song. mcnngeric like voice. Ycs,gcn-
tlemen. this is the farlamed American des-
er, sixty miles without water, no rain falls
here. bu, the dew is sometimes exceedingly
heavy. This is only Arkansas dew, men,
Who wouldn't he soldier? wouldn't do
ANYTHING else, &c. Day broke at last, aud
with !, came knowledge Of our position.
| We had bivouackcd in a small circular
hollow surrounded bv low cminences,
whence the winter had poured down upon
US. recovered nv effects, piece BY piece
as they floatcd ashore, md while hastily
wringing and packing them. took survey
Of the scene. The men were winding about
fishing up from the bottom. sundry mus
kcts, announcements, &c. Chilled Ia the
very hcar,. MS YOU may suppose, We waited
not for the drum to beat, nor my regular
formation; but rs soon rs il was light
enough To see the trail. away We went
We travelled fast that morning, and il was
necessary.
TALENT ALWAYS WORTH A PRcE-No
men arc more justly entitled 10 fair prices
than truly qualified and competent teach.
ers. And this, not barely because Of the
vnluc of what they give in return, but be.
cause Of the great outlay Of time aud mon.
ev necessary TO prepare for their PROBES
sion. Some teachers have spent dozen
years in preparations, and have laid out
many thousand dollars: a capital Of time
and money sufficient to have made them
rich, in mcrchcn dise, or nj any mechanical
art Few persons can estimate the value
Of things. where results are produced with
ease, aud in moment. They must see
the labor performed.
A plain, but frank -hcarted and sensible
farmer, once called mt the Office of cele-.
braicd Chief Justice in the South, and ask
cd him very important question, that
could be answered ia IN instant, categori.
cally-yes, or no. NO. was promptly re.
turned. Tho farmer was we'll satisfied.
The decision was worth to him many thou
sand dollars. And now The client about TO
retire, asked the lawyer the charge for the
information. Ten doIlars,' replied he
Ten dollars" calculated the astonished far
mer; ten dollars! for saving, nor-'Do
you see these rows Of books. my friendf
rejoined the Chief Justice. 4 have spent
mnny yenrs in reading them. and STUDYING