Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-06-18
THE DowNEAsTER AND THE BULL.
AN ADVENTURE ON A PRAIRIE.

AN ADVENTURE ON A PRAIRIE.
What l am going to relate, happened in
Muscatine county, Iowa, midway between
Iowa city, then the capital Of the State, and
MuscatiDe city. f1ourishing town on the Mis-
sissippi, IN IA section of the country called the
Wapsnoenoc Settlement, from creek bear
ing that name which runs through the settle
ment.
1t was in '52 (and that part of iowa was then
thinly settled,) that found myself one even
ing at the Eagle Hotel, in West Liberty a viii
lage of some five houses, about one mile east
OF Wapsinoenoe creek, Wapsi-white, noe
earth, noc-creek {; Utterly white earth
creek,) and situated on beautiful prairie
billow.
Some alfdozen travellers and villagers
were loungiDg in front OF the ample fire place
In the bar-room for though the settlers had
only few days since finished their harvest.
the evenings were somewhat cool, and a small
fire was necessary to perfect comfort-talking
of their prospects, and whether there was
likely to be large emigration pass through
to California in the spring to buy their surplus
feed and other produce, when a new character
burst upon the stage. AS the door was flung
open ali eyes were fixed in a stare of astonislIr
ment and wonder upon the new conner.
The stranger was raw boned, lantern Jaw
ed individual, with fuxen locks stra ggling
about his shoulders. His long spindle legs
were encased in blue jeans, and be wore a coat
of the "steel pen cut.'' and in color what he
would have denominated 'but'n nut" with an
oil cloth cap drawn so tightly down upon his
head that it had the appearance OF having
grown on.
Then what appeared most strange and un-
accountable was, that he was dripping wet.
His whtish-, elbow ear locks were parted down
10 bis cheeks, and streaks of dirt mark ed the
divers miniature water courses across his fore
a,,1 a \
the claw hammer tails of his coat and from |
the wrist bands of the same. On his back he |
carried an oil-cloth carpet bag, securely fast |
eDed by stout leather straps which crossed |
npon the breast. Marching into the middle of |
the room with an immense clatter of COW hide |
boots, he halted and cast an inquiring glance
around the circle occupying the benches in |
front of the fire. Bagley, the landlord of the
Eagle" arose, nodded and said
"Good even'n', sur
sHow dye dew Be yew' the landlord o.
this heouse ?''
"Yes-r.''
"Want T. know ? Reckon We couldn't keep
a feller hur, nor give him a bite o. suthin' fur
supper, could yer?''
"Ycs-r.'
sYe mean to say ye ken-bed an break
fast rs
"Yes-r.'
"Gol darn glad to hear on't-an' if yeou
Kin jist mix a feller little suthin' hot an
strong. with good deal o. rum int an but
lectlc water it'll do me a mazin' sight O.
good.''
"Yes-r."
"Strong, mind; good deal o. lcker.
You've got rum ?''
"Yes-r.'
While the landlord was preparing his rum,
The stranger stood in front of the bar with pack
still on his back, evidently bent on seeing that
81, |
water minglng. Then having lmbibed
regular snorter," he asked the landlord to
assist in removing his pack. This being done
ne was about handing his carpet-bag over to 1
he landlord to put behind the bar. when he
caught sight of an immense rent in it. and
herefrom protruded the corners of art icles of I
clothing within it. The instant he made the (
discovery, the carpet-bag dropped from his
lands, his jaw dropped, and for few seconds {
le stood the very image of despair At length {
le reused himself, and striking his clenched (
st against his forehead, he howled in a voice /
# heart.rending agony |
"RuIned! ruined ruined Tetotaliy bust 4
q IN smash One hundred and fifty acres S
: the best land that ever lay QUITE door. rip i
'ed all TO flinders Oh, Sarer Ann, little t
,nowest that we are ruined, busted family /
Little thou thinkest thou art beggaf Oh, @
erewsalem Heow shall | ever meet yeou. i
'n this destruction hev bin wroughted S
arter all our skrimpin', an skrewin' ,an' sinch- p
0 an turnin', an twstin' arter selln' old G
'arney an the steers arter sellin' the tew- a
ear-old halter an the nine shoats; an arter n
hou, oh, Sarer Ann, goin' to church in cali il
er, we'er busted famerly Oh, Jerewsa- L
EN-! All, all lost-gone in mint Oh, b
COW, leetle Jed, an Sarer Ann, ken meet S
ecu 20 d
This outburst from the tall Yankee took us n
II by surprise. We could not imagine what ii
ao happened to cause him so much alarm a.
nd grief, for the tears were flowing penti- W
lliy down his brown weather beaten cheeks. ST
"What in the world has happened to you, O
IT, 10 cause you so much distress You are rt
ertainly not amenting at this rate over that o
ent In your carpet-bag ~ asked 1, advancing Il
where the Yankee stood.
"Oh, no, no J. Holy Jerewsalem, eff twas te
othin' else but that Oh, murder, murder CT
= dasent hardly think on'ti There's poor, m
oor Sarer Ann, feelin' so proud, am tallSn' cl
. ieetle Jed about our fine new home in the in
aries, Jest like me am her us't often to dew I'll
J. mere, Oh, Jewdas is q whole quarter Sec m
Al" :, oI inc neatost land in Iowa gono to etcr ii
81 smash 20 b