Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-11-06
cHAPTERv.
An agreeable argument unpeasantly iltsnupted by
-.

On eNne thlrd morn after the notable adven-
lures last related, Tyndall and Chaloner having
dispatched forward the team in charge of Flint,
and escorted by Sykesey, were detained for a
few moments. Then mounting their steeds
they began their daily pilgrimage in high spr-
its, and ever and anon Tyndall pealed forth
strain of merry, ringing laughter at some a. his
own, gpajpt c9nceits, which even caused Ne
more demure Harry Chaloner to smile.
Harry" said the former, "don't you think
| am a resuscitatioh Of Theodore Hook, a most
charming and witty young gentleman, the espe-
cial favorite of Comus "
."Aye,oa witty young gentleman, truly" re-
piled Chaloner; "no, George, the Attic salt is
not yours; you are not gifted with the wand Of
the god oil mirth, but any sort of wit is palatabls
Just now, and even yours may pass muster.''
"Well then, ie you will have it so,' respond
ed the other, II am the verest boor alive; rus
ttcuS es Corydon," / bear in my escutcheon, by
the tail OF the prophets mule, as the Mahome-
tans say, lay no claim to the shafts of wit, like
the noble poet, the artless Hclicon, boast is
youth, and because happen to be young and in
Experienced, must my jaw be stopt from wag-
ging." @ @
''Faith, the man that performed this last feat
would have Sinphian task OF it, but his Office
would be no sinecure," answered Chaloner.
Wy hOHOSb 1liSHu3 quOIl OtOISc, 'ltt me
appeal to your good judgment, which for the
sake of argument, We'll allow to be excellent,
though even that | might we'll controvert. /
confess, if so disposed, now don't you think it
is better to take the goods the gods provide; to
live and enjoy life; TO smooth over the rug
Iged asperities of the way, which, for our sins,
Lordkens are enough, with the lubricating oil Of
mlrth, than to potter along, as you do, moping
like an owl.
"Ah my fdus Achates" returned Chaloner,
''did you ever read one of Merrick's fables en-
ttled the owl and the sparrow? now ! will most
Willingly acknowledge my resemblance to that
emblem Of wisdom, the chosen bird of Minerva,
but | seriously fear can discover the portrait
lure of your own honored self, George, in the
conceited coxccmh of the sparrow"
"You are pleased to be severe" rejoined
ITyndall, fortunately the darts of some people,
even though dipped in their own gallish ven-
ON, the worst of all poisons, usually fall harm
| less" 90
"Say, rather" the other retorted, Z" that there
are certain good folk of whom / wot in this
wicked world of ours, so fully protected by
mantle of gross ignorance, that the blows Of wit
are disarmed and the shafts of saise are blunted,
like the arrows shot at the hide Of rhinoeeros;
it is hard to hurt turtle by humping him on
the back.'
"Well, Henry" responded Tyndall, scractch-
ing his amber locks, as if raking up ideas, ''you
have e.compared me TO tortoise | can but liken
you TO porcupine; no one can touch you with
out feeling the prick of your quills you should
steal for your motto, memo me inlprune tGceSSet.
And saying this, he put spurs TO his mule, that
apple Of his eye, and chosen one of his heart,
and actually succeeded in forcing her into an
awkward, ungainly trot, performance his Eu-
Tyalus sedulously initiated. Quere-Did Nisus
and his friend ever quarrel about each others
wits?
As they trotted along, they noticed man ly-
/ ing by the roadside in the grass, and his horse
feeding near him in the luxurisnt pasture of the
spring time. He endeavored to speak to
them, but they could not distinguish what he
said, and supposing it of no consequence, they
passed on.
They had not, however, proceeded more than
twenty rods, ere Tyndall said
.'Harry, that poor devil may be sick. Had
we not better turn back and see what it was he
wanted, any how?" @
"Well, we can turn back, Chaloner replied,
''though presume it will be lost time"
They turned about and rode to where the
man lay.
s:Are you not well, SIR George inquired, he
made no reply, and ChalOner, dismounting, ap-
preached him-he was dead!
Alone in the far open prairie, deserted by his
comrades, aud his very last moments embittered
Iby the apparent heartlessness of his race, had
he died. Far, far from his freside, from the
bosom of home, from the friends who
may have loved him, lured by the tinsellated
dreams of Fortune, in distant region had he
wandered, to strive, to struggle, and to die
To struggle with palms, and tolls, and ndhardships,
and watchings, and sufferings; to die alone,
lfriendless, forgotten or forsaken! to lay his
bones by the wayside to enrich the soil of the
prairie valley. No fond breast on which the
parting soul might rely; no pious drops to close
his glazing eyeiids; no loved one TO bend over
him and soothe his latest hours; no kind hand to
wipe the sweat of death from his forehead, and
to moisten his parching lips; no one to smooth
down his rugged pillow orto weep DER his low
ly couch Of death. He was dead!-the heav-
ings Of his breast forever stiled-the chafngs
ofhis spirit forever darkened by the iron hand Of
death; the golden phantoms which had led
dhim forth, forever curbed by the icy portals OF
eternity His bed of death, the damp verdIre
of the prairie; the only tanning of his fevered
throw, the tremulous breeze, which hoated mild
ly over the leaside; the only watching one beside
his last humble scene of existence, his horse
which grazed around his corpse, unconscious OF
his masters fate. He was deadl--and stranger;
stood beside his inanimate form, and speculateC
as to his being. Perchance that marble brow
on which were yet traced the frownings OF his
last gasping agony, was once the dome of lofty
1thought-the lordly seat OF giant reasons prou'
doninion--the home Of daring eonceptions--o
brilliant fancies. But if so, those mighty
thoughts were fled forever, and reasons seeP,r'
, broken; the grand conceptions Of intellect wer'
; inlnlged no more---the errant flights Of imagina
: tion sempternally restrained Or haply he ha
al. L.. t,rsr