Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1852-04-23
SELECT T " ES.

BY CHARLES H. BACON.

HT WAS in the month of August, in the
- year 1885, that | embarked at Austin
Texas, on the board the steamer San Jacinto
bound down the Rio Colorado.
Texas was then engaged in war with Mexi
co, and this, with the fact of its being a new
country, attracted wild, adventurous, spirits
from all quarters. | do not wish 10 charge all
Texans with being of this class but it is well
known that at the time OF which write, Texas
was general rendezvous FIR gamblers, horse
thieves, counlerieiters, and, In short, scoun.
dres Of every description.
II was nearly sundown when the San Jacin-
10 slipper from the moorings, hauled of into
ihs rapid current, and sped like a frightened
deer upon her way. | stood on The huricaae
deck, gazing at the beautiful scenery on the
banks II the river, as, like panorama, it swopi
past. Lost in the beauty of the scene, watch
ed until the sun had sunk In the horizon, and
the soft twilight had deepened into darkness,
when, like grand d'ssolving view, it faded
away iron my dreamy gaze.
was arousad from the reverie into which
had fallen by that agreeable sound TO II hungry
man, the supper bell, and, accordingly, | de.
scended into the cabin. The passengers were
all seated at the table, and more molly set oil
men never before saw together. There was
The man, en- whom long career OF dissipation
and crime had left their indeible traces. Their
was the hardy backwoodsman, clad in his un-
ooulh dress. with his hunting knife dangling
in his belt, side by side with the sleek smiling
gambler. Every class Of society seemed to be
represented. Nota woman was present t. lend
holy, Christening influence, or 10 tighten, like
ray OF sunlight, this coarse, dark picture.
despatched my supper as soon as possible,
and returned 10 the deck but The evening
being damp and chilly, resolved 10 pass the
evening in the cabin, and to study human ma
iure in the faces Of the passengers, Returning
to the cabin, found that the gamblers had al
ready commenced operations. All the passen-
gers, save two, were congregated around the
tables at the farther end Of the cabin and the
shutting of cards, interspersed with the gam
ber's cry Of "Money up, and hands off," told
that money was lost and won.
seated myself near the centre of the cabin,
and, as did so, noticed two of the passen-
gers seated al the end opposite that of the gam
blers. Their names were written upon the re-
eislar. but shall introduce thsm to The reader
under assumed ones, as the feelings Of the liv.
ing should ever be held sacred.
The eldest, whom shall call King, was a
man not far from ihirly-iige, tall and finely
formed. His face, though handsome and in
telligent, wore an expression Of sorrow, which
told OF something sad In the past that Time 8
sEacing fingers had not swept from his meIno-
ry. A BOY Of eight years OF age, who answer
ed 10 the name of James, stood by his side, and
called him father.
The other person shall introduce under the
name of Walker. He was younger man than
his companion no. more than thirty years had
come and gone since the time he first entered
upon the stage oI life. A little girl Of five OF
six years was seated on his knee, and locked
in sweet sleep.
Perhaps two hours or more were passed by
the two in silence. The business at The gam
ing table was evidently growing dull, for the
arsenhorns had nearly all been feeced, and
many were beginning to pay their debts with