The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-06-11
Correspondence.

took the o'clock train for Lasalle. The
cars contained more than the usual num-
Der of sick and disabled soldiers from the
battle field of Shiloh. Some were suffer.
ing from wounds, but by far the greater
number from that scourge Of our army up
the Tennesssee,-dysentery. 1t was sad
to listen to their tales of sorrow, and sad.
der still to reflect that every day adds
hundreds to the already large army of in
valids.
AT one of the way stations couple from
the rural districts got aboard, their coun-
tenances and actions, betraying by that in
describable, but unmistakable something,
that the nuptal knot had been tied about
one hour before. The bride was pretty, and
the groom reasonably good looking, but evi-
IDENTITY in sore distress. His ''store clothes
manufactured for much smaller man,
were beginning to rebel at the unnatural
strain put upon them, and showed in vari.
Gus places that ''rents were enormous" :"
His pants lacked just four inches Of ''form-
ing Junction" with pair of ssrviceable
shoes. His coat had ''cerne down from
former generation,' and was known to our
forefathers as the "Newmarket style" In
the earlier days of the "oldest inhabitant,"
it might have been the 'thing, but length
Of years, had curtaled it's length of skirt,
and it failed ignominiously, in protecting
that part Of the person, where honor is
supposed to be located Arrayed in the
stiffest Of standing collars, and narrow
trimmed "stovepipe" hat, his cravat so
tight that his eyeballs seemed suspended
across his nose, he sat bolt upright beside
his inamorata, as though his existence de-
pended upon his maintaining perpendicu
lar position. His bride, too, poor soul,
was i'll trouble Her dress was not exactly
1.-The fashion," nor her bonnet the latest
style. Her hoops were sadly disarrangcd,
and persisted in tlattening out, rearing up,
and behaving as no well disposed hoops
should. Her curls, ''got up regardless Of
expense" had seeded, and were curls no
longer. They had been twisted in papers,
tortured with combs and scorched with hot
irons, until 'forbearance had ceased to be
a virtue" and were in open rebellion.
At Joliet the passengers left the car, ex-
cept our two friends and your correspond
snt, who appeared absorbed in the morning
paper. Watching his opportunity, he (the
groom) leaned over and snatching kiss,
shot back to q perpendicular with a jerk, that
threatened to dislocate his neck, while his
cosntenance displayed all the colors Of the
rainbow. At B Junction, they left
US. While he was looking after their bag
gage, the bride disappeared for moment,
and upon his return was not to be seen.-
The fellow seemed to think some invisible
power had spirited her way, and began to
scream, Marcy" Oouder) "Naney," Qoud
est) "N-A.N-c ZEE" There was sudden
rush ito arms" a ferveat embrace, and
kiss which sounded like closing the family
Bible, or shutting closed door. I had
began to fancy me were in the Seventh
Heaven" at last, when cry Of call on board"
recalled us to this bread and butter world.
The change since leaving home seems
magical, the forests have put on their sum-
mer livery, the fruit trees are in full bloom,
the corn in heightened rows peers above the
prepared ground, and the wayside hedges
are joyous with the carol Of happy birds.
realize the feelings of the man who had
passed thirty years of his life on the east
ern shore Of Maryland, and afterwards re-
moved into the fertile regions of Pennsyl-
vania, who thought the Lord in making up
the allotted three score and ten, should not
count the time passed then.
Upon the rich bottoms Of the Illinois
River, we passed numerous mounds and
other remains Of the unknown people who
once inhabited these lands. That this
whole continent was once densely populat-
ed is evident. Can no champion be found
to unravel the mysteries Of these wonder
full tumuli; is there no Layard to exhume
the records Of this long last race. NY
Journey South extended no farther than
Fl Paso. Finding it impossible to procure
pass up the Tennessee, reluctantly turn
ed my steps northward.
Yours truly,
E.