Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1849-07-12
MtsreuaMfnuS.
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal.
The GOld-scckcr and the Watcr-ScCkCr.
A MEXICAN NARRATIVE.
by PERCY b. ST. JOHN.

AT no great distance from The city of Chihua.
hu, IN vast plain, is small village in the cen
ire OF wood, almost wholly unknown save TO
the wandering hunter, and the poor inhabitants
who dwell in lis poor huts 1t is called Torpe.
do. Twenty sheds, with roofs, it is true, but
with scarcely any walls save on the northern
side, composed with one exception, the small
hamlet. A ueat wooden hut stood aloof from
the rest, marking an advanced degree Of civil
zatlo, which excited the wonder, but not the
emulation of the happy but idle and poverty.
stricken Nexicans. This hut had been built
by an American who. having taken 10 tho
woods after quarrel in the capital, had select
ed this obscure retreat for himself and his two
boys, now orphan youths ofnine,een and twenty
The Mexlcans did as their fathers did before
them; they planted little maiz and a few
vegetables; they caught wild horses, and hunt.
ed enough to procure what was strictly neces.
sary; and after this need of exerlion, thought,
themselves JUSTIFIED in spending their leisure
hours, at least nine months in the year, in smo-
king, drinking puiquc, and gambling for the
few rags which they managed to procure in cx-
change for little SURF lus maz, some fowls aud
other commodities which their wives and daugh-
ters took to the market of Chihuahua Jealous
and Patient Jones, the lads above mentioned,
were very far from being satisfied with this state
of existence. They worked six days in the
week, they went to market themselves, they
took there six times as much produce as did any
other two men in Torpedo; they bartered obac-
co-the vaporous luxury of all idle nations and
idle people-against maiz and wild turkeys, and
at the time we speak Of, babe fair to make of
the lerhargc village place of trade, and hence
a place of prosperity, Though only just emery
ing from boyhood, they could have bought the
whole village. inhabitants and all.
| But Jealous and Patient Jones had no such
vast desires; and Of all the men, women and
children residing in the hamlet, they coveted
only the possession of two These we're Zan
ella and Juietta, the daughters of the alcaIde
or mayor Of the small locality. Jealous loved
Zanet,a, and Patient loved Julietta Then
affection was warmly returned and nothing was
wanting to their felicity but the passage of
year, when il was agreed that all parties would
have arrived at their years of discretion, which
however, are ollener supposed to be reached
than really attained.
1t was warm autumn afternoon, and the
brothers sat at their door enjoying the refresh
ing breeze waited over the trembling tree tops
and odorous with floral richness They were
talking of the future, and of the world of which
they knew SO little, when a horseman suddenly
aPpeard before them. lie wore costume which
was not OF the country, and had features which
reminded them in their character of their depar.
ted parent. They rose as the traveller halted
before their hut, and asked in very bad Mexi.
can. the way to chihuahua.
Jealous burredly replied in English that it
was eleven miles off,
81 expect you're coun,rymen, said the
harseman, much surprised
owe are from New York State" replied
Jealous
"WelI. that's pleasant. I'm dead beat, so is
my horse. Will you give countryman shake
down for the night"
The young men eagerly preferred their hut;
and while one held the horses head the other
assisted the traveller to dismount Mr. Bennett
merchant who travelled annually to Mexico,
was the visitor the hospitable Americans had
received; and it was difficult to say who derived
most pleasure from the meeting. Mr.. Bennett
was delighted Nth the candor Of the young men