The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-07-15

loE loWeE LSypG ITOn several 1actS, whose
existence they have taught desperately
but are being obliged to yield to- The
principal of these are the incoming of the
hated, but now indispensable Yankees,
and the operation of the detested, but now
operative free school system.
have until lately always thought of
large families as of other extensive nui-
sances, but | find myself frequently wish
ing that every genuine Yankee would fol-
low old DIR. Beecher's example in that
respect, SO as not only to keep dear old
4Neac England full, but have an inexhaust-
able supply of her energetic. liberty-lov-
ing, industrial missionaries to send out
not only to build school houses and saw
mills and make Improvements, but to start
the growth Of those brave and hardy ideas
which never do, and never will originate
in enervating and sickly climates. Their
active and intelligent presence, if tney
don't say, or even think of the abstract
truth their lives teach, is constant refu-
tatiOn of that bondage hating creed of
laziness, flat 1t IS degrading to toll. The
very fact that the slothful ignoramuses
stand in mortal dread of being outwitted
by Yankee sharpness, drives them to learn
some of the common kinds of knolwedge
which otherwise they would think they
could get along without, as their fathers
did.
The last stage ride I had in Egypt was
one of the drollest. Our way lay thro'
district from which the water had but just
subsidized, leaving mud on the bushes in
places six feet from the ground OF
course tho it was bright enough overhead
- it was rather bosterous under foot !" and
the onfy other passenger and myself anus
ed ourselves with pulling off as many va
ricties Of oak leaves as come within our
reach as we passed along. There were
some i've or SIX. There grew some bril-
liant flowers on the "barreas'" as the
patches fopen brushwood. neither timber
nor prairie. are termed. One, tuft of
bright scarlet, was common, and we COM
mented on its novel appearance and beau
ty. The stage driver alighted and gath
cred handful and gave me; which sim
pie courtesy | never should have expected,
but which | appreciated and thanked
heartily, you may we'll believe. They were
curious tufts of scarlet bracts and leaves
surrounding some inconspicuous flowers,
and as beautiful as they were singular.
When | classify the varieties of the
genus homo, | shall have special place
allotted to the queer tribe called drivers
OF these, Egyptians stage-drivers are a
unique set of specimens. They are al
kind of land sailors with all the virtues
and views of the marine ones Drinking,
swearing, fighting and Dragging are char
acteristics Of which they are rather proud
than ashamed, and a rough kindness and
rowdyish generosity, with an occasional
gleam of such unexpected phases of a
gentler character, as making leaf toys for
some tired child, or gathering a flower for
lady passenger, go to make up the COM
plement Of this type of humanity
Within ten miles of the railroad we met
a four-year-old specimen of humanity, at
tired in one exceedingly abbreviated gar
ment, riding huge horse barebacked
A girl, near the beginning of her teens,
was leading the animal, and instructing
this juvenile specimen of the uGterrif-
ed III equestrian matters. | think that
sans cuioHeS" riding school was an orig
inal invention. They imported no teach
er for that
L have on one or two occasions found
myself at loss to know what was meant
by what was said in my presence-I mean
Of things intended to be understood.
A minister presiding at the Organiza-
tlon of Sunday School said, Next, you
want for secretary, somebody pretty
peort with a pen, SO he can record names
as they can be read
A young girl comes in from the field
and throws herself in corner, saving,
I" oh dear ! I'm ptunab sick we holp pap
Ply all last week plantin, and we've got
another field to plant, and its rainin'"
The rain will make what you have
planted come up" l suggested.
/" Law sakes | reckon it didn't need
no rain, for We kivered heaps ont with
right mad! The Wabash keeps risin
and risin, and Georges farm is all xiv
cred so he could run the biggest kind of
a steamboat over his truck patch, and now
Its rainin' again. He won't plant any this
year for he tiUeS IN the 6oh( M :" And vet
though his sister seemed to assert that he
lived in the bottom of water deep enough
to float steamer, George wasn't mer-
man, he was only sucker"
When reached the railroad and the
prairles, and knew | was out of Egypt, | |
could have raised shout worthy of
troop of Camanchcs, to tind myself among
things which seemed more "hun,an." Il
like northern and central Illinois, and can
get on well enough with upper Egypt, but
for the lower regions-Oh dear
The Mississippi is now (June 18th
several miles wide and rising more than