East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-08-19

gone and the supply fast making its
escape. What with whippinsg, damn-
ing and strangling, the poor beast was
at last placed upon the path, and for
the next twelve hours was put upon
short rations of oats and double ra-
tons of cuts and curses. AT the for
mer he whisked his stub of a tail, and
at the latter leared out of his solitary
eye into the water, as if about to make
another plunge. But whether the
danger Of drowning, or the liberal al
lowance of curses prevented another
catastrophe is not yet settled but it is
known that he persistently leared at
the water, whisked his tail and trav-
eled sulkily westward until relieved at
the regular relay.
The speed made in those days was
an improvement upon the lumber wag-
ons and heavy coaches of former times,
but so far behind the facilities Of to-
day that we wonder how the tedious
journey of hundred miles ever came
to a conclusion. But canal travel had
its beauties as well as accommodations,
and so far from being monotonous, af-
forded ample opportunity for variety
and amusement. If weary of riding,
nothing more easy than to jump
ashore, visit neighboring orchard or
melon patch, and catch the boat again
at the next bridge. 1t had its won
ders, too and the city of Lockport,
as it was in 1884 and as it is to-day,
exhibits a specimen of what mans
cunning and perseverance can accom-
plish. TO float a craft of many tons
burden over high hills was once inn
possible, but now as easy as foating
down stream. Our childish wonder
will never be forgotten. We see to-
day the succession of locks arising one
above another like well arranged
amphitheatre, as plainly as we then
saw ourselves climbing step by step
the perpendicular cliffs that hemmed
us in. We still remember the little
ragged urchin that ran from gate to
gate to swing upon the vast timbers
of the locks, and the awe with which
we regarded his heroic daring. To us
he was second Ajax, and we even
had serious doubts as to whether he
was not a child of the Locks, and
whether if he should die his spirit
would not still fit from gate to gate.
In our later reflections upon these
doubts, we have remembered that he
was barefoot, and that his pantaloons
ought to have been indicted for indie
cent exposure of his person. He evi-
IDENTIFY never had the misfortune TO
tumble into the canal, or he could not
have been so dirty. His squalor was
alarming, but his fearless lodging
among the locks was wonderful. He
was the pet Of the drivers, and was
an expert in profanity and vulgaiity,
and before now has perhaps become
the hardest hitter on the path, and the
bully of all the drivers.
Again our wonder famed afresh on
arriving at Buffalo to see that then
monster of steamboats, the Sheldon
Thompson" Crowded with passen-
gers, and Haunting her banners in the
breeze, she was magnifcent-by COM
parison. After a deal Of shouting and
fighting and blowing, after nearly
frightning us into fits by suddenly
blowing off steam, she slowly crawled
along the shore towards Detroit. 1t
was calm and pleasant until after
passing Cleveland, when all of a sud-
den our bowels began to yearn, and
the boat began to be very restless
We felt sick, and everybody sympa-
thized with us but the cabin boy. He
advised us to use gargle of fat pork
to be administered by tying piece
weighing half pound or so to a
string, and after swallowing to be
drawn up. We tried this and got no
relief; indeed is made us feel very
bad. We dared not say anything to
the boy, but we silently consigned him
very warm climate; and if he is still
alive we hope his digestion is horrible
and his sleep still worse. May he
ride perpetual nightmare, be awoke
at midnight with the cry of fire, and
have the devil to pay generally until
he repents of his cruelty. The cabin
boy has our entire disgust.
FUEL FOR FIcrIoN The "London
Quarterly" remarks on the great use
made of bigamy as an incident of the
sensation novels of the day. OF the
the twenty-four novels placed at the
head of its articles for reyieM. IL says.