St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-06-27

acquiring the habit Of purchasing their
liquor IN limited quantities and retiring to
tho woods or elsewhere to enjoy quiet
drunk, like decent people, old Mes exrc-
rience must consequently be successi"n
of incidents and scenes, in the participa-
ton of which Mos part is not likely to
awaken envy.
Nc. keeps gun barrel in a I,and.
place among his other barrels, which upon
the first display of an ugly disposition on
the part of his Red customers, is instantly
produced, and unless the customer is very,
gerry drunk, generally brings about hasty
reconciliation. Not 50 how ever, the other
day. After the "Poor Indian, who Sees"
&C., had been pummeled until he couldn't
see, his arm broken and head nearly mash
cd, Nc. des;sted for want of breath. In
dian fearful of renewal of hostilities took
this opportunity to escape, breathing
threats Of vengeance. Walking out to
the corner of the house, Nc inserted his
favoritc weapon between the logs project
ing, and getting purchase straitened it,
as he had actually crooked it over the In
dams head. Nc. thinks he did not make
favorable Impression Quite likely he
will have to repeat the operation at no dis
tant day, and may come out second best,
He remembers every face he has ever
seen, from Lord Selkirk down to his recent
adversary. Not being accustomed to the
use of the pen, SO necessary in business
transactions, his prodigious memory serves
him in lieu, and he will name, in settling
with his customers, every article trusted.
out, with its price. In figuring he uses
kernels Of corn, much after the style of
instructing juvenile classes in the four
ground rules.
Having occasion to visit Piae Lake,
observed that there yet remains acres of
towering pines unfelled, although Mr.. An
derson has stocked the Red River lumber
market with pine for the present season,
and drawn it from the forest about Pine
Lake, yet enough remains to furnish the
Red River Valley for years to come with
the best Of pine. The great pine district
of the Upper Mississippi touches the Red
River waters only at this point. After
this limited pinery is exhausted the Red
Lake country will not be overlooked {:
there are extensive pineries in the vicinity
of that lake, but as yet the soil has not
been "treated" for. Returning to Otter
Tail I met Mcdonald, who, pointed to the
westward calculated "scalps." In. that d.
rection columns of smoke were slowly RI
sing upward in eight or ten different pla-
ccs. "How?" said 1. eyes, scalps," re-
peated Me-, "the Sioux have killed some
of them, two Canoes" he went on further
to enlighton me, event down the lake
yesterday to hunt elk on the Pelican, and
I'm sure they've met the Sioux, its time
for 'em now" then looking hard at somc-
thing in the air, " but I believe they did,
mt any Of 'em owe me-" A Chippewa
was shot lately in drunken broil. Nc.
relating the circumstances to me, ven-
tured to inquire whether the Indian owed
him. "No," said he, che paid up the
other day in rats, but he's no account any
how, he wont Spring hunt at al" Thus
old Nc. measures his Indians.
Battle Lake lay on my route back; this
ID beautiful sheet Of water, to me the
prettiest of all the numerous lakes in the
Otter Tail region. The clean pebbly
beach, the prairie sloping gently down to
the waters edge, the verdant groves Of
thrifty young oaks, in the distance the
bald hills terminating the Leaf Noun
tains, form pleasing landscape. The
entire length Of the "Contom du Grand
Bois," from the big bend of the St. Pc
ter's to Itasca Lake, is studded with beau
tiful lakes. The heart of Minnesota is
capable Of sustaining the densest popula-
ton. The woods yet swarm with game
several deer and elk bounded across the
road before me when returning. I also
observed several fresh bear tracks. In
fact Bruin is seen almost every day by
! teamsters and others. One made his ap-
pearance near the shanty of settler few
days since. Settler grasped gun from a