Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-02
MisttIIaRtDus,
An Incident in Arkansas +;
OR, NAPOLEON IN 1886.
BY A WESTERN MAN.

In early boyhood business engagements COM
PEELED my father to leave home and go to Lit
h tie Rock | had lived all my days on the
I sbanks Of one of the largest eastern tributaries
3 Of the Mississippi had heard of the majes-
5 tic flow Of the Monarch River of the wild,
strange rude population living west OF it. So
asnuch had betn told me of thcm-of their har-
ply reckleSsness and daring, of their curious
acts and sayings, of their unbounded generosi-
FY and hospitality, and of their bravery, that
sny bOyish Imagination was completely taken
captive. When my father was first making
preparation for his journey l endeavored to
fOtan his consent to accompany him. lie
laughed at me for my pains persisted, how
tFer, in my purpose, with the obstinacy which
Pas characterized me through life, until |
frung from him reluctant promise that L
Rhould go. Ny mother, who always gratfied
Pc in everything, set about making what pre-
faratOns she deemed necessary for nae. These
Fere soon completed.
We at last began our journey, and We met
lh no incident worthy of record until We had
foae to the capitol of the Territory of Arkan-
fas then just emerging from her pupilage and
aOOnt to assume the proud position of an equal
II The Confederacy, and were upon our return.
AS our small steamer was on her way to the
fouth Of the Arkansas, / noticed man who
as tall and gaunt in form, and who wore the
3taaSer-Cut coat and white nec6erchief VIII ch
L This day mark the Methodist clergyman in
gemose rural districts. He wandered listless-
N about the confined cabin and deck, passing
aNOngh and among the frontier merchants,
4Olsh planters and hunters who were coming
fo~n the river. He was among them, but
W OF them. While he kept apart from those
nOog whom such isolation was like to attract
s'el'ion and comment, yet he was SO mild
H. 80 gentle withal, that none took offence.
nad made at least one-half the distance
tween the capitol and the mouth of the ri
~. When accident caused an acquaintance to
Img up between him and my father. J.,
rAuike, was playing about the deck, when
ualoed and pitched forward, cutting myself
,eieY about the face and head He stood
lar OH at the time. He picked me up,
OH = Me Gown into the cabin, got bandage
"Htn from his own rough trunk, washed
"ounds, and bound them up skillfully.-
caused my father as soon as he awoke from
afternoon nap, to approach him and thank
~ 1hlS led TO an acquaintance, which RI
~ r'O into friendship ere We reached Napo-
4I's village stands below the point where
". AiAaTsaS al lazly debouches into the great
M NJ :. Here We were to go ashore and for a
" take US to Louisville the steamer we
k vac vaeceHded the Arkansas upon was bound
W." Orleans. We landed on Thursday
;ne' Just at Sundown. Our friend was
70 plantation few miles below, to
co"ai "Oihe ;, Gays with au old acquaintance, and
,nn ~,ula'y invited us to accompany him, as
Ing Us that we should meet with q most
y M ~ welcome. We were compelled to de-
~ W.: we Invitation, upon the ground that a
|: hmlsnt reach us, bound up the river, at
s IN vn S"' aud 1t was necessary for us to re
nome at the very 6rst opportunity. He
goodbye, aud invited US, if We were