Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-08-12
THE STORY TELLER.
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
THE PANTHER SENTINELS.
BY a TRAVELLING NATURALIST.

The following incident was related TO me
many years ago by person who didn't
know what it was TO lie,' and l have not
added one single feature TO the original
story e.
Jeremy Cossit lived twenty miles west of
Madison City, territory NOW Statc) of Iowa.
No prettier country has ever been found out of
Eden, than that same country back of Madison
city. Old Black Hawk, as good jndge of soil
as any human being, told me in 1887, while
eating with him at Montose, that the country
styled the Sac and Fox purchase was the best
land he ever saw, and he mad but lately return
ed from his government tour through the Uni
ted States, and besides that, was familiar with
the lay of land so far west as the Rocky noun
tains. | hear testimony to the same fact, and
will maintain it against all odds, that Iowa is
the best farming country in the United States,
and were 1t not so extremely cold in winter,
my four children should have hailed it as their
birth place instead of more southern clime-
The peeuliarity of the country consists in the
equal and beautiful distribution of small fertile
prairies, with tall excellent timer, distrbu-
tion not often seen, as timber near prairies
is generally scrubby, and prairies near timber,
usually barren. When | first visited Iowa,
the land was not surveyed by government, and
consequently was not in market The settlers
were all squatters, and were establishing them
selves, cultivating and building, in hopes that
some new pre-emptlon law would secure TO
them their rights against the ravenous NAV OF
the speculator. Among the rest who were
engaged IN this great enterprise, were Un-
Gle Bobby Box, and his nephew, Jeremy Cos
sit.
| shall not weary the reader with all extend
ed account Of those worthless; they are Just
such as form the staple of the stories of Long
street and Hooper, and, sooth 10 say, those IA
cetious writers have used the staple well. Un-
Gle Bobby was old and Incorporate, qnarrelsome
and blasphemous. Marks of hard service in
the cause Of Bacchus, were upon all parts Of
his person, and those who helped LAY him out
in 1899, gave his fame in few words, well,
if this chap hasn't had more bruises than any
other human, It's wonder y
His nephew, Jeremy Cossit, was raised up,
very unfortunately, as an orphan; unfortunate
ly for two reasons, that it is hard to miss the
humanizing influence of kind parents, and still
harder to fall into such hands as those of old
Bobby Box. But so 1t was, the only educa-
tion he ever got was the foul language of old
Bobby, the only work he ever did was to walk
twice week 10 Burlington to fill old Bobby's
jug, the only discipline exercised upon him
was hearty kick whenever he was gone too
long or broke the jug. With this brief sketch
OF character may prudenlly proceed with my
story. About the first of May, Bobby had q
raising and an extra supply of whiskey was
demanded.
starring Jeremy on ahead with the lug. he
followed after, having the keg strapped TO hi.
back, and his heavy rifle on his shoulder. lool,
ing as much like palmer as red-faced bacl,
woodsman looks like anything else. Th,
precious fluid was duly purchased and the ami
able pair retraced their steps, burdened wit,
the load, but elevated by considerable porto
of its contents-for say what you will of ol
Box-he never would refuse to others the CON
fort that he took himself. The journey la
across several small prairies, and then woun
| up by passing through Skunk river bottom,