Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-09-27
Week among the Pi0neers-N0t all Darkness
Homeward Bound.

Although the Pi0neer Is ObilEed TO deny himself
many of the luxuries of life by the force of cir
cumstances, still he is left not without some means
of pleasure, the most prominent of which, is fish
ing, hunting, &c. lie has little or no care upon
mind-is not bound down to business--can come
and 60 when and where he pleases--and the con-
| sequence is, he becomes vigorous in looks and
developss rapidly his physical system. The mind
settles down into quietness-the nervous organiza-
tion becomes strong-the muscles receive strength
from contact with Nature, and thus it is that the
hardy son of toll generally possesses robust
constitution, while the pent-up student languishes
! for want of fresh air and exercise. Every bust
ness man should have farm fifteen or twenty
miles from the city, and he should ,ooyk upon it
himself, at least one week out of four during
the Summer season, and the result would be, good
health and just appreciation of the tiller of the
soil.
1t was beautiful morning and Crusoe pro-
posed fishing excursion. Everything was so
still and lovely that we much preferred to recline
under tree and listen to the whisperings of the
breeze that seemed freighted with q thousand
joys, but the wagon was ready-the fishing APP
paratus was prepared-the mush for our dinner
had been placed on board, and bundling in, wo
were soon picking our way through the under
brush towards a beautiful Lake, about two miles
from the town, and which for the sake of ease,
We will call-Lake Good View. After various
windings and turnings, We discovered the silvery
ripples that disturbed the bosom of the beautiful
sheet of water before US, surrounded by fine
growth of trees, and driving down 70 the edge
we found it to possess q sandy bottom. Crusoe
insisted that John should drive into the water,
unhitch the horses and leave the wagon for the
party to fish in. The proposition was carried,
and John, much against his wishes, finally con-
sented, but not without string of oaths sufi-
of the Lake the horses were driven, unhitcheJ
and the party left to make the delightful acquain-
tance OF the ny tribe, that report said, abounded
in great plenty beneath the CLASSY surface. Cru
soc was hunting bait along the shore, and an oc.
casional sound from the direction in which be
had gone, convinced Us that he had been quite
successful. He soon returned with pocket.full
of young frogs, dragging after him a large water
snake, not less than five feet in length. As re-
turns the conqueror from the field of battle, SO
returned Crusoe, and laying his prize on the
shore, be bawed outss that's the way to tell i, .
pointing to the lifeless creature before him, lie
had run stick through its head, had smashed its
body, and folly assured that life was extinct,
he exultingly dashed into the water and wading
up to his waist, was soon among US.
Fishing what delightful sport for those
who have patience! What varied emotions FIJI
the bosom as the little frog on your hook dis
appears into the water and gentle nibble sets
all the 6bres in the system on tip.toe. All was
still as death except the occasional drop of bats
into the water. No rattle of carts, no heavy
tread of feet, shrill whistles of steamers, not
the silence that brooded over the scene. Far
away to the right the lake stretched out its arms,
and was lovingly clasped by belt of forest mon
archs that perhaps for ages had stood there un-
molested. On the left sloping hill, shaded
from the SUMS beams, invited us to repose-juss
back Of US was beautiful valley, while beyond
the waters of Lake Good View mingled with
those of Lake Hattie, though not so large lake,
but BY far the most serene and the most beautiful
It was a lovely day, and the scene was one which
led the heart captive to the charms of nature.
Each fisherman was disposed to commune with
his own thoughts. Crusoe had already succeeded
in drawing from the limpid water three pickerel
upward of two feet in length. John had cap
tured bass. Tom was in momentary expecta-
tion of q nibble, when we discovered in the
distance something very much resembling sea-
serpent, winding its sliuy body towards US. In
stantly every fishing rod was dropped. John
turned pale and huddled close to Crusoe. Cru
soc mounted the seat of the wagon in order to be
safe in case the animal should take it into its
head to make US q visit. Tom had an uncon.
trolsble desire to get - near our person as pos
sibls. All was still. Every eye wss intsusiy
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