Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-10-29
From Chambers Joural.
THE BLIND SQUATTER.

Nearly four hundred miles up the Trinity
river, Texas. at the extreme point to which
the fiat bottomed steamboats ran up in search
of cotton and other productions. is Robin
Ferry. Below. the river is narrow with high
steep banks, within the shadow OF which the
waters roll noselessly and swiftly towards
the ocean, while groves of somewhat stunted
trees run down TO the very edge OF the cliffs;
here however. the stream extends into a
broad and shallow lake, the shores of which
are low and even unsightly, as il generally
the case in Texas.
We arrived at a landing place three miles
below the junction of the lake and river late
one night, and early the following morning !
was padding up against the stream in light
bark canoe, which. having but slight hold
in the water served better 10 STEM the cur
rent than one of larger dimensions. For
sometime ! continued within the shadows OF
the clifl in comparative gloom; but after a
somewhat fatiguing hour, my eye first caught
CLEAN of the shallow lake, where had
hoped to find sufficient abundance Of wild
fowl to glut my most murderous appetite as
sportsman. The dawn had long since pass
ed; but nature appeared yet asleep, SO calm,
so still was the almost urtrodden spot Gil
ding swiftly out of the influence of the cur
rent, allowed my canoe To stand motionless,
while gazed around. Far as the eye could
reach. perfect wilderness Of waters, for
ward and TO the right and to the letl, per-
fectly unrufeG, for not so much as blade OF
grass or leaf was stirring on the shore.-
Here and there rose huge trunks OF trees,
borne from above by the almost periodical
inunGations. and which reaching some shall
low part became stationary, until time and
decay removed them from their resting place.
Snags were visible all around, while low
bushy Island lag about quarter Of a mile to
the southwark. The waters sparkled in the
sun. revealing at some distance the presence
OF hundreds of ducks, geese and swans float
ing upon the surfuce. For some time they
remained unheeded, so charmed was by the
quiet beauty OF the landscape but at length
the prospect of a late breakfast awoko my
killing propensties, and raising my paddle,
gave true Indian speep, and glided nois.
iessly towards the little island above alluded
TO.
Ny progress was rapid, bur not sound
could have been detected by any save an alb
original. The covy of ducks which had
drawn me in that direction was sailing to-
wards the island, and was within gun shot
long before was perceived, as, better to de-
ceivc them. lay almost on my. face at last,
and padded with my hands. At length al
lowed the canoe to drift with whatever i'm
pulse it had previously received. and clutch
ing my double barreled apology for Joe
Manton. rose in the boat. Ere however,
could gain my feet, crack! crack! went two
barrels of a towling piece, whlstllng was
heard close to my ear, and the ducks save
and except few victims, flew away with a
loud rustling of wings. ! was astounded.-
My first impulse was 20 return the fire at
random, as the idea of Indians crossed my
brain.
could, however, plainly detect the pres
9nce of fowling piece by the peculiar re-
port, while was clear the ducks had been
he object aimed at. Still, the proximity OF
he al l. my .ars was lar from pleasant,
ind naseuel to prevent recurrence OF SO
iang erous an experiment. "itallo! friend,
;red in Il loud. aud in somewhat angry
'oice, 'are you duck shooting or man shoot
ng, because d like to knowf' a maa rose
instantly above the So" Merciiul
1eavensr' cried no. "have | wounded you
ir! Come in, will explain this accident,
| readily complied and a few minutes pla-
led me beside the sportsman. | al once saw
hat he was bind. Nearly six feet high,
hin, even gdunt, he presented most re-
appearance. Clothed in the ord-
Iary garb Of a backwOodsman. there was an
AMI even nobility of character
u his features, which struck me forcibly,
While the sIghtless orbes at once revealed To
ne the cause Of what nearly proved fatal
cciGent. "You are not aloneP said |, CLAN
ing curiously around the bushes i am,
e replied smiling, quite alone. But let me
iost sincerely beg YOUR pardon for having
ndangered your life.' No excuses said |, {
epositing the victims of his volley at hIs feet;
but if you would explain to me how you arc
lone, and how being here you are thus en-
loyed, you will assuage very strong feel
y of curiosity With PLEASURE he repli- /
d, 4 owe you an explanation, and besides,
0 continued, Il believe we arc countrymen,
nd the meeting gives mo true delight ,,
4 am an Englshman, [ said. Aud | am !
Scotchman. In Britain it makes US cOun-
ymen; IN strange land il makes us broth
rs
Struck with the blind mans manner,
AIDED, prairie fashion, a couple Of corn-cob
pes with some excellent leaf tobacco, and
inding him one, seated myself quietly by
IS side. Closing his oyes ftom haDit, as If : :
read the past, he was 81 ent for few mo-
ents. My name is Campbell,' no said.
ithout further preface, and by trade am &
cabinet maker To begin at the beginning. il
Ihon | was twenty, aud that is not so long v
70 as you may think received an offer to S
, to New York. 1 was engaged to be mar "
cd to a sweet cousin of mine. Poor Ellen! b
could not 90 without her, and yet was II
er young to marry. Still the offer was a
,od. and rather than ! should lose the op- o
,rtunity of advancing myself, they all con 81
nted il should be a wedding. The day af
T our happy union, we sailed for the far Il
est. "
We reached New York in safety; | en- 81
red upon my employment with firm and "
titled determination to secure, if not for "
ne, at least a competence. Wages in those II
lys were very high: was good workman; u
" master had Confidence in me- and besides q