The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-12-24
For the Ottumwa Courier.
Western CorrespOndence-.NO. q

For the Ottumwa Courier.
Western Correspondence. 2
DEAR READER: Did you ever ride in q
boat constructed by your own hands the pro-
polling power of which resides within your
self? If so you are lucky (!) fellow, if not
Just pick up your saw and hammer and come
with me. All if professional eye were to
see us now trying to fit those boards together
we would be called glorious ship carpenters
but no difference "Where there's will there's
way" and we are bound fora boat ride. Now
il is done, the cracks are filed with pskum,
our boat Is hauled to BELOW and now we ttust-
ourselves to the muddy waters OF the mighty
Missouri Tis', trne at first we are awkward
The oars won't go Just where we want them
to, but soon we get upto the trick and now
our tiny little craft only nine feet long) skins
over the water like a blrd upon the wing
Here we are al Rock Bluffs and now we pun
up to receive on companions ard load Verify
this is about all our boat will bear, but we have
started and were bound to got Kind friends
follow US to The the river bank. the parting
hand is given, the last fond adieu. is spoken
and will you wonder now that strange Feel.
4 ing exists between our vest pocket as we push
our bark from shore and go dashiug around
the base Of King Hill out Of sight of this beau
/ tiful little village where dwell so many warm,
true and noble hearts. But suchis life! Day
after dav we float on, Stopping TO examine every
scene of interest on the way, Thousands of
Ducks and Geese fill the water, which with
squirrels, rabbits and turkeys from the shore
1 furnished us with an abundance of food. The
beautiful white Swan the Pelican and Crane
are frequently around us. Every day, almost
every hour some new, some unexpected pleas
ure greets us. This is life in the West With
such new and ever changing scenery passing
before us. what care we for the hardships we
endure, the dangers we brave? Tis' true We're
those who dwell in warm houses to see MS in
/ the EVENT. G when we phil our boat ashore and
goto scratching awaythe deep snow to build
/ a fire and spread our blankets, they would
think "Jordon hard road to ttavel,' but Just
letrhem come with US here now. Let this free,
cool AMI bracing air, fill their lungs, from
the poor sickly invalid of few months ago,
let them change to the hardy and sun
Drowned traveller. Let them feel the warm
blood gushing in healthfull currents through
their veins as we do now, then they would
count this no hardship at all. After the sup
per is eaten and the pipes are smoked they
could clutch their rifles in their hands, wrap
up in their blankets and lie down or the ground
with the SHOWS blowing over them 10 enjoy
such sleep as those who lie on feather beds
| never knew. But at last we must forsake orr
little boat and consign it over into the hands Of
strangers. It has become endeare6 10 us and
we leave it with sorrow but tis' ever thus in
| life. And now good ramble about Fl. Leav-
enWorth where it seems as though part of
all Creation had congregated 10 see how much
noise. could be made. An unusually large num-
Der of soldiers here now, and the grounds are
covered with mechanics, preparing winter
quarters for them. All is hurry and hustle.
Uncle Sans gold brings out the labor. After
taking peep at Leavenworth city, we won
der up TO the beautiful village of Oskaloosa,
Jefferson Co. Here we find more old Wapello
County friends than we ever expected to SEE
out of Iowa. Or every corner and from al
most every door we are hailed by some old &C.
quaintance. Verify this seems ike getting
home again. The road from Oskaloosa TO
Leavenworth across the Delaware Reserve,
\ runs through what Iwould consider the gar
den, spot of the west. The lard is rich. con-
tains plenty of good limestone and an album
dance Of the best kind of timber. Were this
land to be opened for settlement now, in less
then twenty four hours, there would not be a
vacant claim on the whole Reserve. Lecolnp.
ton is not as large place as we had expected
to find it The workmen have all ceased oper-
alton On the Capitol building. The walls are
now about fifteen or twenty feet high. But
forthe presen. Adieu.
! n ID