Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-11-04
"TAKlNG THE NIISSrSSyppJ >,

While MIR. Sam Stockwel the artist. now
engaged on the great panorama of the Missis.
slppi, was one afternoon slowly floating dowr
the river in his boat, very uncomfortable
shower came patting down, at the moment
he was about dropping auchor to sketch the
picturesque establishment of squatter. He
hesitated a moment, but finally let go, and
his boat swung around in the stream "a II.
"Vot, ish you going TO pictur' him nit der
rain ~ inquired his German boatman.
"No," says Sam, "hnt I'm going 10 pictur
him NIT the pencil. We are now about at
the right spot to take good view of that odd
looking cabin, and if we go on we will lose
it, So haul out the old umbrella, and will
try sketch. Perhaps by the time we finish
our view, the proprietor will invite US TO take
some buttermlk with him."
This old umbrella had, by certain violent
conclusions received on the trip, become
quite curiosity. One half of the whale
bones were gone, and, when it hoisted it
hung like wo begone sombrero over its
owner. The pitching of it carelessly into the
boat sundry occasions, had introduced i'll
shaped sky-lights in its roof and, taken al
together it was the sorriest apology for shell.
ter ever stretched over a sovereign citizen of
the great United States. Sam, however,
worked away beneath the "gingham" until
he finished his sketch. All this time an afilu-
ent from the top of his cone-ike covering
poured flood OF dark tinged water through
one of the holes, and down his neck. His
German watched this stream with intense in
teresi, as if calculating how much the artists
clothes would hold before they would leak.
When he had finished, George, the German,
broke forth in admiration;
"Vell, for little mans, you soaks more
water den ever sees before. Ii viii take you
Won week TO be so nice and dry US We vas
shust hown
Just then voice from shore hailed them
"Look yur, you with that awful ugl hat
what in thunder are you sitting oui thar in
the rain for! Who are you! What are you
goin to do?"
81 am going to canvass the Mississippi"
said Sam.
"You're an electioneerer ar you 2" inqui-
red the squatter.
"No not exactly" said Sam, "except in
small way for my own individual benefit.
am going TO stake the river"
"Whar are you goin to take it to :" in
quired the squatter.
"All rolnd the country said Sam, ''and
over to England" A"
"Well, afore you kin do that you'll hev to
git awful big tub, and sot yourself at the
mouth to draw it off,"
''Oh, no, says Sam, III am drawing it off;
now.n .fa
The squatter looked up and down the shore
two or three times, and then shouted back
81 don't see as it gitsmuch lower-your
suckin' machine draws i, off dreadful slow"
81 am painting the Mississippi, my FRIEND
The artist A isa
he inquired. a le as fa4iff
'Yes," answered Sam, "and you too.n
"Good by, thunder !" said the squatter
'When you show me to them Ingiish fellers,
just tell 'em Pm Mississippi screamer j
can hoe more corn in day than any Yankee
ever invented, and when hit any
thin, from bullock down to human natur',
they generally think lightnin' is comm"
HAre you Taylor manic inquired Sam.
mo, by thunder,n says he. ~ s''3''
''De you go in for Cass, then" inquired