The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-05-11

make the coieer Our hrst night had passed
pleasantly, and all slept well upon our buff
alo cench; but a bracing atmosphere ad-
monished us that We had stornachs which
needed "wooding up" in order to keep the
engine Of life in full play.
"Give me the coilee-pOt'" said Brown,
"Fll get get some water"
"Tll boil the Coffee" says Fred. "rll
see what chance there is at the stove"
"Whats the matter, Brown 2" asked
as he came back with an empty coffee pot.
"Well, there's no water TO be had, that's
settled"
s'No water?"
"Not the first drop, unless take river
water. and that's SO muddy nobody can
use it.''
"No place at the stove-the Dutch and
French have monopolized the whole," says
Frededbnrg in pet-'there ant chance
to light pipe"
never wanted coffee so much in my hfe.
undertook to give up the use Of tea and
coffee about ten days ago, and drink cold
water. | had an ague chill and fever the
same day, so l concluded to defer the ex-
pertinent till got on the plains.
"Giye me the coffee pot" says I, and !
went below TO the pump with visions OF
flowing coffee bowls long past and gone
dancing before me. seized the pump.han.
die desperately, filled my pot from the mud
dy stream. elbowed my way through the
crowd of Europeans to the stove, and en-
CURED Of a mn.tacheoid, bewh,kered item
Of mortality if he could ''pdrle- rous Fran
cdis!' "OUi Monsieur" "Well, then,
will you please to move your pan and give
me chance al the fre?n (Qu.-Did
you ever read the story of the Irishman and
the cridronD WELL" says !, "Ican't but
move your dish so that | can boil my
Coilce,' and suting the action to the word
gave it, jog that made him understand
what | wanted; aud my eiIrontery gained
me share in the stove, aud a capital cup OF
hot coffee. To be sure. the mud all settled
10 the bottom aud left the "simon pure" al
the top. Having SCOT the hang Of the barn."
as the boy did Of the school house, we have
had no trouble since Did yuuever have
an appetite that would not he satisfied .
o yes. You have been to Mexico, and know
the effect OF Air upon your gastronomiC era
wings. For two years past have suffered
much i'll health, with loss Of appetite, and
especially FOR the last tw o months. But how.
for the last four or five days, | am worse
than half starved Indian. I've an appe.
hIe like an ant bear, and III continues " hen
] get among the Eutahs, you may get some
feeling remarks about the exquisite flavor OF
baked paPoose, or roasted Indian. My
health is decidedly improving.
While we were breakfasting, rumor
reached our ears that the cholera was in the
cabin. 1t ran like wild fire through the
boat. The Cholera! Great heaven! And
there were many anxious faces, " lille OH
er' took the matter calmly. Some doubted
II TO be genuine cholera, and thought it sim
pie cholera morbus. But the groans Of the
afflicted one proved his suiierngs severe, be
it what il might. lie was young man
about twenty-three years Of age, belonging
TO the Virginia company. lie had been We
~ imprndeut in ST. Louis in eating fruit-it
is also said in the use Of ardent spirits, and
was taken with vomiting and cramps the
evening that we left port. During the day
OF Wednesday, every indication showed the
character oi tie disease, and a physician Oh
board pronounced it genuine cholera. AT
night he appeared easier, and hopes were
entertained of his recovery. But they were
only Elusive, for he expired about ten o'clock
OF Thursday morning.
Here was melancholy beginning for the
company. One of their number, a favori,e
too, one Of high hopes, with many friends
behind, was suddenly stricken from their
midst, thoughin the full enjoyment of health
hut few hours before, and was to become
lood for worms in n strange land. far from
those who loved and cherished him AS their
own. Yet he was not neglected. An was
done that could be under the circumstances
and although he had no mother to smooth
the pillow of his sufferngs, or weep over his
distress, yet there was not a heart on that
boat that did not yearn TO do something for
his comfort. A rough box was made in
stead Of a collin, of the only material that
could be had, and a little before night the
boat lay mp to The shore TO give an oppor-
tnnity to bury him. 1t was in gorge, be-
tween two lofty hills. and place was selec-
ted about midway Of that on the right hand,
beneath cluster Of trees on a bright green
sward. Many aud willing hands lent their
and IN digging his grave, procession was
formed from the boat aud proceeded to his
last resting place with all the respect and
solemrty used in such occasions at home,
and when the corpse was lowered into the
grave, ard, by the faint twilight, n friend
read the episcopal funeral service, although
1t was in the midst of drizzling rain. every
hat was removed simultaneously, and every
heart seemed softened with respect for the
deceased and reverence for God. How lit.
Ito can man ioresce his own destiny How
brittle is the thread of life The first use
made OF the spade that was taken 10 turn I'm
the rolde" sands Of California, was TO bury
one OF Their own companions amid the rock Y
bluffs Of the Missouri.
IN The midst Of the succeeding night, ;he
crowd were again awak ed by
an agoni2ng cry in the cabin, of "fleaven,
have mercy on me Spare me. o God ! they
are canning they are coming! Drive them
oil! Don't you see them bite me-" A mi.
SCRABBLE wretch was paying the penalty of
and, in fit Of dciirium ire.
mems, iancied that snakes were crawling
over him, and erinnng devils were coming
TO carry him of,
Our heavily laden boat is making slow
progress against strong current and n
strong head wind, and our trip to ST. joseph
Iromisesto be about double the usual length
OF time. Friday morning developed the fact
that we had some of the sporting gentry on
board. One adventurer was iloCced Of eve
ry larihing OF his money at the card table,
and two OF the cabin passengers found their
pockets cut by some scientific operator,
Finding our supplies Of brcads,uT too