Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-07-17

Editorial Correspondence.
THE UP CONTRIBUTING BY THE way
NO, VIII. IS

|
| 1t was beautiful afternoon when in COM
pany with Maj. o. and the Sheriff Of Benton
County, seated myself in a frail canoe and
pushed out from the shore on the East side OF
the river, opposite to where the water Of Sank
River flows into the Mississippi, and about one
eighth of mile above the rapids. The cur
rent runs rapidly here, and it needs an expert
oarsman to reach the shore in safety. The
dexterity Of Maj 0. with the paddle, con-
WINGED me that he would make better boat
man than soldier, for while with an oar he
might be able 10 stem the current, we feel very
sure that with a sword lie would be unable to
harm mouse, much less a man, and yet the
Ma or is courageous, in his way. We crossed
the Mississippi, rounded point at the conilu-
ence of the two streams, crossed Sank River,
and placed our feet for the first time, on the West
side Of the Mississippi, on soil, through which
the former river meanderS on its way to the
Father of Waters Our course lay through
a sort of young forest or under-brush, and
climbing up the hill we followed the Sheriff,
whose garrulous tongue made
| s.Tic dim ring to o The free,''
and lightened the eight of our coat which
hung on our ARM and which had become OPP
prcssive from the warm rays of the sun. Up
hill and down dale; lodging the twig Of this
tree and then that-stumbling over this stump,
and almost dashing our brains out against I'M
suspecting limbs, we at last emerged from the
woods, and struck off to an unduating strip Of
land which sets out into the prairie like river
that flows into the ocean. We are now near
the banks Of Sank River. Just stopa moment
and see how rich tie soil is. See that
cluster of hazel-nut bushes? Well, wherever
those bushes grow, there you find rich soil, and
wherever they are scarce, there you will find
inferior soil. On our left, rolling off in the
distance are fields lately plowed and sowed,
while just beyond us is a new though small
farm house, almost hid from view by the trees
that surround it. Every thing is in a crude
state here, although there are evidences Of
thrift, and marks Of industry. To say that the
land is good, is saying too l;ttlc-it is excel
lent-rery rich and, in my opinion, far prelera-
BE 10 that on the East side OF the river. The
claims which fall within Tic range of the eye,
lave been taken within short time, and dur
ing another season tie farmers will be pouring
their rich products into the marts of trade and
commerce. The settlers are of the rigm
s:amp-hardy, robust and in love with their call
ing; quite eager 10 aid nature in the produc-
ton of those articles which add TO the growth,
wealth and prosperity Of our common country.
We clambered over the lences-slroed thro'
the cultivated Gclds--cntered tic rude Eut COM
Portable log houses--dfank from the purling
brooks that went dancing along in their exu-
berance Of joy, and at last. found ourselves,
somewhat fatigued, seated in tic comfortable
residence of Mrs Wood which is luilt Oh
rise Of ground within shoGt distance of Sank
River. Hat off:-coa under tie arm-slecycs
rolled up-vcst open and pants above my
boots, enabled me to present a very interesting
appearance as was introduced scyeraly to no
less than five ladies, who sat in a row chatting
gaily and glibly over the events tl.at Lad trans
pircd in the neighborhood. at first | conclu-
Uctl ldi!it: Dut IL
ced me that would not DO, as | lad become so
Drowned in the sun that it would be impossible
to turn pale. Then | thought Of retrea.ing,
but ridiculous figure appeared before my
eyes, and Idrorpcd that idea. Then I pitched
for the baby and the baby and ! had good
time of it, while the Major and Sheriff enter
tanned most gallantly those bcwtcIing eyes
that occasionally looked slantingly down upon
the baby! The baby took my watch, and then
l took the baby, and then the baby got down
and then | took it again = but this sort Of
amusement running out, occupied the time
in killing the mosquitoes that seemed TO have
a particular fancy for me and the baby, as well
as for pair of deep, spiritual eyes which occa-
sionally peered out from one corner of the
room. True hospitality is antagonistic to the
formulas Of society, and it was not long before
l became perfectly at home, for if there is any
place where real, genuine hospitality exists,
that place is in a farm house, away off On the
confines of civilization, where the hardships of
life call forth the exercise of strong arms and
stout hearts.
Bidding our worthy friends good bye, we
turned our steps homeward, but to enable us to
see the country more fully, we We're obliged to
ford Sank river, which, at this point is not more
than two feet deep. This time the Sheriff led
the way, although previously he had come after
us, and scarcely had he got into the middle of
the stream, when large stone, thrown by the
Major, fell within a foot Of him and sent the
water leaping about him like wild Indians.
His modification can be imagined, when in
form the reader that the ladies were looking at
him. Safely landed on the other side, we
scanned the country for about two miles, which
we found exceedingly rich, and well adapted
for farming purposes, there bei!S plenty of
wood and wafer. We then came on to beau
tiful prairie, just on The edge OF which winds
the flowing Sank, gently pursuing its way to
the Mississippi, but cutting up all sorts of ca
pers before it reaches it--winding around that
headland- peeping under thosetrees, scudding
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