Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-01-23
Life on the Border No. IL.

BY CORA MONTGOMERY

EAGLE Pass, TEXAS, Dec 10, 1850
We have the living counterpart oil Cooper's leather
stocking here at Eagle Pass only that wild and hon
est hunter is married Can you fancy the simple
and sincere woodsman OF the Last OF the Mohicans fall
ing In love and winning the heart OF a lively ambitious
girl of mixed blood, whose whole ambition to live in
the settled and comfortable independence Of the white
womenf If you can; ii yOu fancy the rover OF the
wilderness ruling down his strong impulses and striving
with the docility OF n child, build, and plant and
gather wealth, the fashion Of the whites please
his wife, and beaming all with proud satisaeto
her and the children dressed their TASTE you
before you Bapsie lie is born creole Of Leu
sana Of French parents but he live among hous-
es-that is he could not il domestic affection did not
draw HIM with hooks of steel and bind him down where
his industrious little wife dress and school her child
like other Christians They both great favor
ties of mine, and should be sorry confess how many
scores Of my genteel acquaintance | would part
with than Baptste and his family. His tall FORM in
descrhable head gear and never missing gun-Beptise
without his gun would not be BaptisTe-looms along
daily and without words deposits a choiae
wild turkey, brace of ducks, handful of pigeons
and patrdges at the kitchen door and disappears. He
hates Indians oil course all borderes do unless perhaps
they make exception of particular tribe with
which they maintain treaty of warm alliance and
friendship, Baptiste has exceptions and thinks they
created TO be killed like rats. snakes and game
Not to kill one that fairly in his way would bur
then his conscience he would feel like one that has
omitted TO perform serious duty. Then he despses
the poor Mexcans. Ii Is common contempt he feels,
that any of them probably say, do PROPOSE but
like his hatred of the Indians, il tempered by his
gueless nature that all Mexcans like him. and
fdc IN him, while they live IN perpetual awe OF his
summary outdeaing of justice
Soon after he here but must first describe hs
dwelling for It is like HIMSELF curious graft OF civil
cation the natural stock. Our embryo lies a
sloplng prairie, sprinkled with musqueet like
and venerable peach orchard and falling in
sye platforms terraces down the rivers edge. The
bank nearest TO the actual water brm steep bluff OF
ten OF TIVE I've feet in height and ia the face OF this buh
our man OF nature has concealed has dwelling. say
concealed. Tor there IS sign OF habatlon until yea
haye penetrated the cunning little ravne that leads 10 his
door, and there yon surprised find spacious and
convenient chamber scooped out OF the bill side. One
side that the face of the bank and looking towards
the lattced with and hidden by the herb0ee
but IT Is sufficiently open receive the cheering breeze
and fresh light OF this mild climate. The other three
sides cut square and from the solid earIh which
is here sandy, with slight admixtnre OF clay and these
are mud washed aud neatly witened The poles for the
roof rests closely laid these walls and across them
again is carpetng OF reeds and over the whole
thick layer OF grass and earth. carriage might drive
over the roof without endangerng IT, and scarcely sus
pect the existence oil a dwelling beneath. This is Bap
tistes handy work His wife grew tired Of living
among the Mexicans the other side OF the river and
in the intervals of his employment at getting
lumber this side, he dug the cave cut his reeds and
rafers, brought them in his from island nearly
opposite and almost single handed prepared this for her
temporary residence. They have cows swine and pou
try, for his wife is pattern Of thrift and industry, and
in the spring they will build house Of stones and
adobes and convert this into a cool commOdous dairy
, room.
ri The yexatious scarcity of good mechanics and in de-
fault of mills the price OF umbereghly
dollars the thousand leet-makeS these sdobes OF
mean value to builders on the Rio Grande. They are
the description oil immense mud-mOulded Sun-dred
bricks of which the inferior walls of ancient Babylon
butand such as the children OF Israel were set 70
make BY their Egyptian task-masters. The Mexicans
pile up these adobes in massive walls with few open
ings, aud then plaster and whewash them. This gives
heavy and peculiar effect TO their houses; they look
like huge square blocks with huge barn doors before
them. They have of the lghtness aud grace i'm
parted by frequent and symmetrical windows.
Mexican masons cannot build unless they provided
with three times the quantity of material that Amer
lean would require 10 give the same strength and ten
times the finish and beauty. They patient Of re.
proof and willing learn, but they marvellously
slow understand and retain any improvements upon
the ways of their fathers. corps OF mechanics con-
ssting of two, carpenter with an axeman
for rough hewng, cainet maker and one competent
set up well making (or every body needs water at the
door, and every body IS willing to pay Tor 10 would mud
sure employment, and immediate independence at
gle Pass They could build up homes and homesteads
for themselves, while they were putting up houses and
for the merchants and others who pouring IN
this newly opened gate the silver mines and trade
of nos thern Mexico. From the start they csud COM
msnd the essential comforts of life, and obtain
land stock and much other liberal encouragement in
turn for their skill and industry, they were capable,
intelligent and disposed to become good and permanent
citizens.
This is remote and neglected corner of the Union
We know perfectly well that the late President meant
when he talked of establishing kindly relations with
the rest of mankind and if he had lived it might have
come to pass; but almost IN the Union.
If it is but short hundred miles and good natural
road, from here Corpus Christi, and If immigrants
n would bring with them strong Wagon or cart, or
each family they could buy that place, if they
landed there, Port Lavaca, fine yoke OF oxen for
S25 $780, and their way at almost no expense
and in perfect independence When here It they the
# taken with the gold fever they already over half
difficulty and expense of going TO California, and New
= Mexico stands wide epen a rich untitled and inviting
field every class of enterpriseexcept law and farm
4 ns. They have than enough Of oyer.acuie law
yers and enough common laborers in their Pc
ons and their owners. But these the only class who
know any thing do any thing. OF which the land Of
silver has an abundant supply.
81 GovERNoR's MEssAeE-This sound and able document
occupies large portion flo days paper but its Perusal