Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-02-26


for marrying folks?'
81 generally leave that to the partles,'
said l.
Then ensucd another pause, broken, at
length by his saying, in depressed tone;
~ have no money now /; perhaps you
wouldn't come down aud marry US, and
wait for your pay 7"
That | will" l replied. And Provi'
dence permitting, you will see me at pre-
cisely the hour named"
The cloud lifted from the suuburn,
face, and, smilingly thanking me, he hur'
ricd away with light step.
Seven miles in prairie land is short
distance but not being in a mood to
walk, I engaged a horse of neighbor.-
Meanwhile, for the two intervening days
it raincd, or poured incessantly, moderat.
ing to gentle fall GU Thursday. On
calling for the horse, however, the owner
was reluctant to let him 60.
Elder" said he. "are you used tc
managing horses2"
Somcwhat---why?'
| : DeCauSc, ho huicut my ioiSO 10
high spirited fellow, and has a bad trick
of throwing folks. Few can ride him
without getting hurt. The fact is | did
not sleep q wink last night, worrying
about conseuting to let you have him
and | don't feel right to let him so with
ont speaking of it,"
:" How does he throw his rider p
ask ed.
by suddenly jumping to one side
He's powerful at jumplng-beats all the
horses | ever saw In that line, said lo.
Il can look out for him"
"IIe'l outwit You elder hope yot
won't try it."
But it was too late to 90 in search O
another, and pleading earnest busines:
and willingness to incur all risks, the for
midabIe beast was led ont, 4 powerful
intelligent, fiery animal, black as raven
What eau be more Inspiring than Q
horse back jaunt across Il rolling " c5terr
prairie So, despite the cold and rain
and now and then prodgious leap by
BLACK Hawk, the ride was most cxhileras
ing. 1t was two miles to the bril re, am
on arriving there, | found that the trcshe
had swept il away. Just in sight, how
ever, in the margin OF a sne grove, was !
snug little cabin and riding brisk y there
the barking Of dogs AMI my shouts brot
the proprietor to the door with beyv 0
aaxen-hairel urchins at his heels, will
eyes brimfuI Of curiosity.
Is there any way TO cross the river !?
| asked.
"Yo os. Gu the bridge" he replied curt
y.
The bridge is gone :"
Well, then thore isn't any way t.
cross"
But is there no place on the stream
shoal enough to be iorded ?"
The settler scratched his head comical
ly, scanned me aud my beast leisurcly
aud said
Take the road to the left, AMI yo,
will come to the old ford how it will b
in this flood, can't say. You can try i
though, if you like; nothing like trying
they say
There was no need of trying, foun,
on reaching the spot. There rolled tn
river, deep anl wide, with steep banks q
either side. What was to be done? G'
back and wait till tae waters subsilcd
That was not Western. The true pioncc
never thinks of giving up aa>cnterprise
A short experience in the vicissitudes o
frontier life wakes up a selt-rclancc an
love of adventure. which makes danger
thing to be eourtcd rather than shunned
indeed, they are every day occurrences
adding piquancy TO privation and hard
ship. And, as | looked down into tn
water of the river, there rose to view tn
image of that ragged, barefoot, coatless
moneyess bridegroom. and memory re
called certain facts that | had lcarncC
about his borrowing articles of appare
for himself aud bride, and material for
wedding supper Now to disappoint per
sons in that condition was hardly to b.
thought of. So chirruping to my goo(
steed, we made the plunge, and a deel
plunge it was, for the animal above n
well as for the animal below, for tn
former went nearly to his neck. How
ever, the horse soon rose to the surface
permitting his rider by happy exercise
: of unwonled agility to strike the saddle
a la Turk, which position | PRUDENT
kept till the opposite shore was reached
: Clambering up the steep bank, my Dor
rowed steed went at break neck pace
the remaining five miles to our destina
tion. 1t was a small, framed house
) perchsd on swell of land in tho mids
of wild prairie, dotted with an occas
ional cabin. The dwelling was coyereC
with rough boards, between which tn,
ever restless wind came and went at will
Alighting at the gate, gray-halred mar
tho brides father who was cutting
wood in the little front yard--laid down
his axe and eamo forward to take my
horse. lie had, as afterwards learned
served in the Mexican war, and had still
a sodierly bearing. Taking the bride
he said:
You are the minister, | suppose
We had given you up, thinking you woult
not come in such storm as this. But
how did you cross the river7 We heart
the bridge was gone"
Horseback" said |.
Well" said the old soldier, his eye
kipdling, IA minister that can do that