The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-12
RIO be Continued

RIvER LIFE.-Every avocation Of life, no
matter what it may be, has its eccentric features,
and "characters" are always found, " hose pecu.
liarities mark them with especial stamp. A
mong on, river men--whose lives more vari-
egated than any other-ihis feature is particularly
pronunciation, thrown into all SORTS Of society,
mingling in friendly communion with all grades Of
people, from the pauper to the prince, the wtless
and the witty the foolish and the wise, the rough
and the refined, their opportunities to read nature
mOuntaihize above all that philosophers ever have
written. Show Us the captain Of a western stea-
mer, who con not assert the precise location Of a
mans soul by his eye, and see though he were
sheet of glass; and this faculty, which he has
acquired by practical experience, and the instincts
Of association, enablos him to make himself easy
anywhere among men, and accommodate himself
to the varied notions Of a varied people. In fact,
he is and is not like the chameeon--he is so far
as his individual intercourse with men goes, In
| assuming their coors, but not, so Car as the
tabled existence on air is concerned as that don't
pay tho wood bills.
! There are some quaint characters on our wa
ters, and their anecdotes Of river life would make
an amusing collec,ion--such an one as would be
worth the attention Of any enterprising coater,
Seine of the ''yarus'' Of these quaint old cap
tains out-hood Hood himself, and contain more Of
the material of humor than would furnish texts
for prolific authors lifetime.
There was once a steamboat coming up tho
Mississippi one dark night, aud the captain ac-
cording to 'stime- -honored usages,'' was playing
cards in the social hall. The mate stepped in
/ "Captain, out Of woOd--not enough left to
make the water hot enough to shave with
''Ring the be!l,' replied the captain--"S
e light, and scare some up along the shore.''
The mate went out and the capta in went on
with the game. In few moments the mate re-
turned.
"Found boat, sir.''
The Captasp left the table. and went out
"Iiow do you sell your wood ?" shouted the
captain to the people al tthey yard.
Two and har.''
"Too much,'' said the captain, "Howeyer.
take cord or two, and look furiIier''
! A couple of cords were taken in, the game was
resumed in the social hall, aud the boat went
on.
! A half an hour elapsed, hen the mate again
appeared.
''Out Of wood, sir"
-'Bcll and light--my deal.'
! The orders were obeyed. and the mate again
announced wood yard. The captain wen,
cut.
| Whats the price Of your wood 80
"Two and halG''
TOO high, but will take couple Of cords i'll
we can do better.''
As before cpaple Of cords were taken in, and
not twenty inmates elapsed boiore the mate sgaia
aPpeard.
''Ring the bell.''
4 "Better take more, this time
''Show a light"
s'It's done SIR
In few moments, woodward was again
'sruns up," and the steamer B. went in
"flow do you sell your wood %
'Two and halE.''
"Two and a half be DID, cried The cap
tain. - q
"WelI, captain,'' answered the woodman,
eve will put il to you at two and quarter, as
this is the third time you hare trooded frifh rs TO
nightp' }-ey
The captain had nothing to say; but took tho
wood, and got quickly ont Of that stiff current,
which the boat was unable TO stem. The B.
was 50 "soemnly slow" that the captain himself
used 10 say she must have been intended for o
hearse.
| She is the same boat which the newspapers
once said made the trip from New OrlesHs to
Louisville in six days and--four weeks.-[Cin.
Commercial.