The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-06-08

have thereby entertained angels una
wares !" 30 ho, said be, that sounds
like preaching; you amt the preacher,
are you" | minated that | was, and
mentioned my name Eyeing me from
head to foot, he exclaimed, i" Well, new
err Who would have taken tuch little
dried up specimen as you for him !"
At two in the morning the happy pair
were again seated in their miserable va r
on, i" with no protection from the driving
rain but tow linen cover, through which
the water dripped in showers. We had
been oveftaken by furious equinoctial
storm, which began about midnight, and
our plight was pitiable enough. The TEN
perature had fallen about forty degrees;
the night was pitchy dark, only relieved
by frequent fa.he. Of lightning, most Wv
id, and sometimes appalling, instantly fol
thunder. But the flashes helped to light
our driver on his way, or would have done
SO had they not shown the whole prairie a
pool of water. After time, we reached
little belt of timber, indicating our ap-
proach to creek. AS we crossed the
bridge, We heard the nov swollen torrent
rushing through deep rayine, when the
broad glare revealed our position.
By Joye," shouted the driver with
gee, weren't that lucky? half a minute
more, and we'd have been all smashed
] never was nearer goin' over bridge !;
half an inch more and we'd been over, and
then salt wouldn't have saved un." To
the rather timid question of my wife as
10 whether there were any more bad
bridges t. cross before daylight, he replied,
90 yea, several but you mustn't be
skesred; we must all die sometime, you
know"
Surely not even the most muscular
Christian" woman could be expected to
like Journeys of this kind and, indeed,
however glorious MY lie the state of mat
rimony for divine in Great Britain, we
can scarcely think it suited to perpatetc
theooaians in theFar West. We our
selves, however, are sill gratitude to Mr..
nIburn for having experienced these adj
ventures which he has described 50 well.
lie has not only aroused in US a warm per
sonal interest in himself, but sincere res
pect for that hari-working and enthusIas
liz body OF men OF which he Is a meuber
The hardsh1ps which they undergo, how
ever. are endured with their eyes open,
while our unfortunate author scarce knew
whittier Q rode. be was 50 blind.
Il therefore set to work to educate my
senses thinking that if an Arab, an Indian
or a haIf savage backwoodsman could
bring his perceptions to such precision
k,enness and deicacy, why might not {?
1t becsme matter OF pride 10 conceal
my defective vision, to make up for the
want Of eyesight by the superior activity
of the other faculties. The foot became
aImostas delicate as the hand and the cheek
well nigh as sensitive 10 atmospheric i'm
pressions as the ear is to acoustic ylbra-
tons. By reason of the difficulties which
encompassed it, travelling became an art,
iavolying in its practice many clements of
science If preserved the air and seem
ing of man with two good eyes, my step
had to be as cautious and well considered
as an Indian. on the war path, and my
dislike Of bang recognized by strangers as
partially blind, was simost as great as his
dread of detection by an enemy. Self-de
aendence delighted in obstacles. There
was pleasure in securing strange req ions
alone; and although have often had my
face severely cut BY thorny branches
while riding through the woods, and was
frequently obliged TO hold my right hand
in front Of my face, the elbow extended
to the right, and the riding whip to the
left for hours together, protection to
the upper part of the person fatigue and
wounds were alike accepted as part of
the salutary discipline.
Boarding a steamer in the middle Of the
river, after night, by means of a yawl, af
ter having descended steep, slippery
bank, with no assistance but from cane,
gave me quiet satisfaction. To roam
about strange city, and make myself
master Of lis side walks, cutters and cross
incs. and become familiar with its local..
ties, thus qualifying myself to become a
guide TO others, was q tayoTte pastime.-
There was hardly large town of the
country in which did not know the short
est way between any two given points. -
Self conceit was grat:ied when, on being
introduced TO people who had heard of
me, they exclaimed: Why | thought
Won could not see very well - Mere
waking WAS HI lut~lttCAudt t1eICiae, anu
the mind found constant amusement in
solving the physical problems which were
ever demanding instant settlement +; as, for
example, giving the sound of football, to
find the nature and distance of the object
from which it is reverbratsd or the space
between yourself and the gutter you are
approaching; o., amid the Babel Of a
crowded thoroug hfare, to ascertain by
YOUR ear wher IL will be safe for you to
cross, and bow long time the rush of
lurryiug vehicles will allow you
Interesting as all this is, it is pleasant
TO have TO tell in conclusion, that these
ine,tipable blessings, " Wife, Children,
an! Friends" have now rendered the sx-
ercise Of these singular faculties 10 long
or necessary TO our author. lie has ex
changed them for the kind offices of those
who love him and he moves about the
sreef. Of Bsop klyn-Ais now settled home
with his hand always clasped in that Of
one or other Of lis children, who are as
vatgh ful aud tender towards me-, he
touchipgly writes, +" as though they were
parent anu the child"