Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-03-09

heavy eye-lids, in vain did | attempt to persuade
myself that was going to sleep. The bull
frogs in front of my window began "to charm
the listening shades" believing in full chorus
with the force of so many calves; and those
most active classes of western population, the
feas and musketoes, exerted their malice to the
utmost, and with the air of the bull-frogs very
effectually "murdered Sleep" | tossed and
tumbled about nv bed until the wooden clock
had stricken twelve, and then / fell into n bro
ken slumber only to awake OH the stroke of
three, feverish, pettish and miserable. At the
first gray streak of dawn arose, dressed, threw
open the window and read as well as was able.
The sun rose, and sick and dizzy / threw my
self once more upon my couch OF luxury, and
slept three hours from very exhaustion. A good
beginning of western life, thought |, as paid
my bill and departed. N'importe! comfort does
not take up its abode in the wilds. My rhos-
ophy, however, was put to severe test when,
after riding few rods, passed comm odious
tavern, handsomely situated on the top of hill,
and which seemed palace compared with the
hovel where l had passed the night. put
spurs to my pony, and relieved myself Of the
tantalizing mansion.
took the sold Territorial Road" as it is
called in virtue of its great age, which is said
to be four years. Mr.. Hoffman's account of the
Kalamazoo country made me desrous of seeing
that beautiful tract, and moreover by taxi ng this
roundabout way, | placed myself beyond the
reach of those annoying harpes, the specula-
tors. The country for fifty miles is wretchedly
wanting in interest; it is mere succ e';sion of
small farms opened to the east, and thus expo
sing the traveller to the scorching rays of the
sun. The direction was southerlv, and my
quarters for the night were taken up at very
pretty village, called Ann Arbor. On alghting
at this place. divers of the good democratic cit
izens thereof clustered around me, to admire
my gun. One Of these free republicans, with
out any "by your leave, sir" proceeded to ex-
anime my /" stub and twist" barrels, and when
his observations were completed, another fel-
low-ciizen" more polite than his BROTHER seiz-
ed hold of my gun and begged me to excuse
his impudence, inasmuch as the said gun was "a
great curiosity in these parts" BY the way of
making myself popular, l immediately slipped
the band over my head, and delivered over this
" great curiosity" into the hands of the peo-
ple" who pored over it with huge delight, and
made many pithy remarks concerning it, to my
great amusement and satisfaction.
The season at the west is far ahead Of the
east. Last evening had the pleasure of eat
ing some wild strawberries gathered in the
+" marshes" wherein this territory seems espe-
cially to abound. l am told that the season is
unc ommonly backward. | was rather glad to
escape from the pleasant village Of Ann Arbor,
for this being court week, the taverns were
crowded with the learned profession, who had
assembled, from all parts of the country, to ur-
der Murray in the neat brick courthouse, which
is the pride of Ann Arbor. was good deal
amused to find young gentleman, who had
been my fellow student" in a law office in
New York, invested with the dignity of &" Judge"
and the amiable manner with which he bore the
in1iction Of that grave title almost set me in
roar.
forgot to mention in my first letter that l
dined between Detroit and Ann Arbor, at n
place called Plymouth Corners, rendered re-
markable by n great tame bear that is kept
there, who, if | remember rightly, has been
by the name of "Bill." l was a
good deal puzzled, while luxuriating over my
bacon and greens at dinner, to hear fellow at
table deploring, with no small pathos, the sad
condition ofpoor Bill. "The poor fellow pants
like a steamboat" quoth he, and | guess
had better take him down to the creek and let
him cool himself" | was not long stranger
to Bill. Ny horse had taken but a few steps
from Plymouth Corners, when he gave sud-
den start that nearly threw me over his head
| looked for the cause, and truly it was ssuf-
ciently ludicrous There was old Bill, walow-
ing up to his neck in mud and water by the
side of the road, and looking so miserable, that,
for the soul Of you, it was impossible to avoid
laughing in his face.
But to return to Ann Arbor-I had proceed
ed but few miles before / was overtak en- by
horseman in athunder-and-lightn riding-coat
and blue pantaloons. He was middle-sized,
red faced person, with very sharp and knowing
features, and his whole air was queerly set off
by bit Of Grape which was tied round his hat
Prima facie, should have supposed him tai
lor, but he spoke so nightly of land specula-
tions that | was soon driven from that opinion.
He accosted me with great civi!ity, and said
that he had hurried on to overta.ke me. My
wherefrom and whereto were soon extracted
from me, and finding to his credit that he was
in good company, he proceeded to impart his
woes without mercy. He deplored his happy
home in "York State;" expatifted feelingly on
the Inconvenience of riding on horseback for
the first time, and in the course of the day ejac-
uated most devoutly, 81 wish was to hum"
But should abuse the sacredness of personal
intercourse should | lay before the world the
manifold griefs wherewthal this worthy indivd-
ual was afflicted. Any man may wear a thun-
der-and-ghtning coat, and wish himself to