The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-12-27
E'Ess, ssGtris,,AtiNys,


BOAT.
\ number of years since. when was con-
necttd, III the capacity Of agent, with the
large manufacturing establishment in which.
! ain now partner, business Of importance
| obliged me to PASS several months in trav,ll-
Ing TO and fro in the great vail,y Of the West;
and one CT the most lovely afternoons of de-
parting Spring behold me at St. Louis, upon
the point OF embalking IN the snug little
steamer Lucy Wiimot, for NV Ollvans.-
There were many passengers Oh board beside
| myself. and the greater part Of them were
destined TO some port upon de lower MisSis-
| slpIl. Among them, were several sturdy
| planters with their families and number of
merchants and river traders making upon
| the whole very respectable and pleasant
company. The river was low, and we were
| delayed somewhat by the shoals; upon one
occasion we were obliged TO land colsidela-
bic portion of our cargo IN order 10 pass some
| laplds about fifty miles above Cairo. After
| reaching the mouth Of the Ohio river, how
eyer, We encountered no further detention,
but rlowcd the muddy waters rapidly past
Memphis, Napoleon, and Nlcksburg, tow ards
| uur destined port.
| had been SO unfortunate as to secure a
berth beside one Of the pa,u. boxes where
my cars were perpctually Saluted with the
din OF the machinery and the splash Of the
waters. In the night time | was especially
DISCONNECTED. 1t is customary for the pilots
in the darkness Of The night, TO steer their
boats as near the middle Of the channel as
possible; for the purpose of avoiding snags
and sand bars. unlappily, this is the por-
ton of the stream where the great mass OF
floating timbcrs and rubbish accumula,ts,
and as the steamer rushcs onward, her wheels
at every revolution, so thump, thumr, against
the floating logs; Sc that the prominent idea
in the mind Of the sleepcss traveller is that
of padding all night over corduroy road
Sometimes the monotony is varied by the
( Aoarse rattle of slab or branch, which be-
comes entanglci in the paddle, and is dragged
around by them within the box, for an inter-
val of five minutes OF more
Among the passengers with whom was
brought most directly in contact. was youth
Of about twenty years OF age, IL resident OF
st. Louis. lie was slender, intellectual
looking lad, Of refining habits, and was On
his way to visit 4 relation in New Orleans,
with the design of seeking employment in
sone mercantile pursuit In that city. lie
rarely conycrsed with his fellow passengers.
Circumstances, however, conspired TO bring
us lnlO SOncN nat lllllilialt ColIiCCJlOU curing
the carly part Of our voyage and he conlided
to me portion Of his history.
lie was the son Of New England farme,
named Gale, who five years previously, seized
by one of these emigration fevers which from
time to time have ragged SO extensively in this
section of the country, gathered together his
movable household goods; converted tlle
principal part Of his property into cash, and
| ~, n l,g Ia.
er, a wife, and three children, the Oldest OF
whom, Stephen-th the lad who related the story
to me-was less than fifteen years Of age, be-
gan his pilgrimage towards the land Of pro-
mise. .-.... -..- ....-
One day, as their little caravan was slowly
winding its way over the fertile prairie swclls
which risein graceful undulations from the
eastern border of Rock river, in Illinois, an
accident to the wagon which contained the
more bulky portion of their goods, caused
some delay, and at length it was resolved that