The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-05-26

MuscATrNE, May 10, 1856.

Morrison, on Saturday night, for St. Paul.
Fully determined not to be annoyed by any
thing at all not caring when the boat stop
ped, nor where, nor how long putting poll
tics, and business, and every sort Of care and
vexaton ont of my mind, it was my fixed
design to make this "pleasure excursion"
in very truth, if possible, and for a brief
season to do nothing at all but enjoy every
thing that was enjoyable And am happy
to inform you that | find myself remarkably
well qualified, under existing circumstances,
to transact precisely that kind of business.
Thanks to the kindness of the Captain, and
" Chris" and " Jim,'' | am permitted TO
consider myself Just as much at home, as
though owned the concern. Every thing |
want, ! have. There is plenty of pleasant
company aboard, and passing leisurely up
in the midst of the placid beauties Of the
Upper Mississippi, with mind discharged
of MI care or anxiety, how could do other
wise than enjoy myself? ! am trimming
with happiness, and indeed just the extra
drop is added which makes me run over with
delight. Cynics say, almost every body
SAYS. that it is impossible to be perfectly
happy on earth. know better. am
pretty much so, commonly; and wholly SO,
now. Thanks, thanks, TO Him who gave me
life, elasticity of spirits, and this pleasant
world to live in.
| Some time between midnight and "sun-
up" Judged by the wheeling and coughing
that we had taken our departure from the
Keokuk levee, but not knowing, or caring,
where daylight would find us, went on with
my sleeping till | had procured an ample
supply, and arose TO find that we had lust
achieved Montrose. However, felt no So
| lictude about the matter, for | thought
could afford to travel as slowly as the Cap
tain, and if il had been nghtfall it would
have been oil the same TO me. The river is
high and strong, and boats proceed slowly.
| am glad of it. ] shall have oil the more
relaxaton and ] don't know as it is any
particular matter to me how hard YOU have
to work while am away, for don't trouble
myself to think how much you may or may
not have TO DO.
We arrived at Burlington some time in the
afternoon; | can't tell you what O'Clock, for
don't keep track Of the hours now.
couldn't think before | left home what it
was that made the Hatckeye snap up our lit
tie item about their railroad with SO much
petuanee. We simply gave currency TO a
| report with regard to the track on the east
side of the river, but the next day qualified
il to the exact truth. | understand it all
| lington isn't very good about these DAYS
| They are not troubled with & hard" roads or
muddy streets there at present. The houses
stick right up out of the water, and every
thing IS as smooth and clear as the Missis-
sippi can make it. The railroad track is |
know not how far under water, but far enough
| to damage the road bed very much for a
! long distance, and TO require some time after
the water subsidies TO repair. For all which
am sorry, for the road is an advantage to
US as well as Burlington, and take no de-
| light III such misfortunes to any body.
We made Oquawka jast us the golden
banners of the setting sun were &C futtering
al the gates of the West" | had almost
forgotten Oquawka. / thought she was
high up on terra iirma. But she is at last
so low that the Father of Waters has found
his way up around many Of her houses, and
she looked as we came up to her almost as if
she were just emerging from the sea. The
gold and purple sunlight of departing day
cleaned softly over the waters and covered
the town with beauty and though it was
but new village on the wild western waters,
the scene, altogether, could hardly be sur
passed by oriental magnifcence.
Yesterday was the Sabbath and Sabbath
on the Mississippi; but yet it was to me q
Sabbath of the heart. am glad / did not
come up before, when the airs were chill
and shiyering, and the trees were bare. I
am glad did not wait till the sultry heats
OF summer were upon US. am glad that
came precisely now We had no preaching
On board, though some Of the folks inquired
Of the Captain, pointing 10 me, what preach
er that was he had along with him, and /
suppose some of them expected they might
have services. And | felt rs if | could
preach. 1t seemed TO me that every body
must feel good enough to preach. But to
have read, or listened TO, sermon, and to have
observed formal services, would, fear, have
been very unpleasant, rather than otherwise.
ana any preaching for me or my com panions
yesterday should have been out of the com
mon line. lndeed-inde ed-out of the COM
nonsAne we had it. Silent Nature preached
to silent hearts, and the solemn nlunetions