The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-11-25

(an English baronet) and Richard
Wade twho tells the story are re
turning across the plains from Cali
fornia, when they NEE, with Ham "
under the following circumstances y
Winter chased Us close. 1t was
full December when the plains left Us,
fell back, and beached US upon the
outer edge Of civilization, at indepen-
dence, Missouri.
The muddy Missouri was running
dregs. Steamboats, were tired Of
skipping from sand-bar TO sand-bar.--
Engineer had reported TO Captain,
that Kangaroo, No. 5, would bust, If
he didn't stop trying to make her lifI
herself over the damp country by her
braces No mere steamboating on
the yellow ditch till there was a rise (;
until the Platte seat down sand three
and water one, Or the Yellowstone
mud three and water one, or tie Mis-
souri, proper gril lhree and water one.
We must travel by land 10 ST. Louis
aud railroads
We could 20 with our horses as fast
as BY stage.coaehes. So We sold our
pack beasts and continued our gallop
Of three across Missouri.
Half way across, we stopped one
evening at the mean best tavern in
mean town-a frowsy country town,
with dusty public square, boxy
church, and spitty courthouse.
Fit entertainment for beast the tav-
ern offered.
Shall we 60 into the spiltoon p
said Biddulph.
Certainly, said Brent. The bar
room---l am sorry 10 hear you speak
Of it with foreign preiudice-is an
institution, and merits study. Argee,
upon the which the bar-room is based,
is also an institution
'WelI, | came to study American
institutions. LEI us go in and take
whifr Of disgust
Fit entertainment for brute the bar
room offered.
In that club-room we found the
brute class drinking, swearing, spit
ting, squabbliug over the price Of mig
gers, and talking what it called 'pol-
itics.'
One tall, truculent Pike, the loud
est Of all that blatant crew, seemed 10
Brent and myself an old acquaintance.
We had seen him or his double some
where. But neither Of us could it
him with a pedestal in our long gal
lery Of memory. Saints one takes
pains to remember, and their scenes !;
but satyrs one endeayors TO lose.
Have You had enough Of the spit
toon? ? asked Biddulph. Shall we
20 up They've put us all three in
the same room but bivouacs in the
same big room--out-doors-are what
wo are best used to-
Two and half beds, one broken
backed chair, washstand decked with
an ancient fringed towel and an aban-
doned toothbrush, one torn slipper,
and stoye-pipe hole, furnished our
bed-ehambor.
We were about to cast lots for the
half bed, when we heard two men en-
ter the next room. The partition was
only paper pasted over .aih, and cut
up a il q Border Rui!ian member of
Congress had pracliced at Il with a
bowie. knife before a street fight -
Every word Of our neighbors came 10
Us. They were talking Of a slave
bargain. | eliminate their oaths,
though sach fliration does them in
justice.
Eigh, hundred dollars, said the
iirst speakcr, and his voice startled US
as II dead man We knew had spoken.
Eigh, handred--thai's the top Of my
pile for that boy. Ef he warn't 20
cid and hsdn't one eye poked out !
agree bed be wuth a heap more.
WaAl, a trades trade. Ill take
yer stump. Count out Yer dimes, and
I'll fll oul blank bin of sale. Murk-
er, the boys your'n.'
Murkerg We started Al The
anne. This waE tbs saiyF We had
obsefyed il tie baF.room. Had Full