The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-22
MOCCASIN IMPRINTS.
NUMBER VIII.
From our special Corresponaen

Il,
/ To the Editor Of the Pioneer: :.
Never before was party so rejoiced to reach
,.,r,a t,7ua as was Capt. Marvin and his hum
orv crew, on rowing into Agate Bay, on the
north shore of Lake Superior, twenty eight
miles northeast from Duluth. The wind had
been provokingly calm nearly all day, notwith-
standing the prayers of the hungry cook, an
incarnation from the magic.eyed Carrie, and q
sailor love-ballad from the meny-hearted and
mischieyous Nelly.
"Can YOU tell me-" said Carrie, looking at
the sweating, grooming and tired-out rowers,
as we were grumbling, because we had had mo-
thing but "white oak breeze" all day, can
you tell me why you sos0 have cause to re-
jOice!"
Each guessed, butall failed.
Because your troubles are oar n she ex-
claimed, and her musical laugh echoed along
the shore as if in derision of our exhausted en-
ergies
Nelly, her laughing blue eyes fairly dancing
with suppressed fun, "can you tell me why
Captain Marvin is responsible for this calm -
swell, suppose, replied the Captain, dodg-
ing his head to avoid boxed ear, ] suppose
it's because what man can do, he's respons-
ible for not doing; and it is well known that if
any one in the party should attempt to dispos-
sess me of this seat of honor among the ladies,
should at once raise 6reesel"
ssAs your answer is better than the one Ihad
already prepared" rejoined Nelly, 1--WE bad
better soaue the subject"
81 sea I sea I" exclaimed the captain.
A long pull, steady pull and pull all to
gether on our six long sweeping oars, brings
us to Agate Bay, and we enter its beautiful
horse shoe harbor just as the god of day has
disappeared in the west, and tinged the ever
green forest with dark sombre hue.
Landing on the sloping pebbly shore, we
drew our boat high up on the bank and COM
menced preparations for camping. First our
tents-(we have two), are taken out and hung
up to dry by the blazing fire, which friends
Ray and Beman are building from the drift
wood on the shore, and the dead fir branches
on the bank. Then comes our bountiful sup
ply of provisions-dry and wet groceries,
buckets of trout, and suspicious looking tasks
of headache medicine. After everything is all
properly packed and slowed away 80 as to be
easily got at, preparations are commenced for
supper. Having tested the superior skill of
friend Beman as cook, the party elect him by
reclamation to that eminent Office; and he
soon has the atmosphere redolent with frying
trout, bacon and tea, and the pebbles covered
in all directions with compound dishes Of
fish, flesh and fowl"
Twilight is exceedingly brief in this latitude
AZ degrees north-and by the time we are
seated at our refreshments, the group re-
sembles some of the old paintings of Italian
bandits dividing their plumber at midnight.
Black portentous clouds are rolling up from
the west, and as we move about in the inky
blackness, our figures rejecting on one side the
bright silver light of the resinous fire, the
Imagination is carried back to D0hte's pictures
of the Internal regions. No thoughts Of sol.
emncholly" character, however, fill the head
of any number of this party. All started for
pleasure, and we are bound to have it.
II wonder if it's going to rain tonight, in
quired Carrie.
ut reigns now a little-at least happiness
does, replied r.
"Wel, if anything rains. hope we sha'nt
hear of any Of you men being dry" was the re-
joinder.
1t does look like storm" exclaimed s.;
suppose we put up the tents?"
There's not much use putting them up!"
said the Captain; they are made Of such thin
cloth that they will drink the rain like sleeves"
"That is easily remedied," observed Nelly.
"How?"
"Why, pitch em, of course!"
"Now, Nelly, if you don't stop your gum
games, we'll turn You off the beach, and you
won't then feel quite 80 spruce"
No indeed! shall pine away. So let US
cease pining at once, for I shall be sycamore
| (sick O. more.)
This duel was brought to an end by gen.
| eral outburst of admiration for the beautiful
| Northern Lights, whose brilliant scintillations
were Illuminating the Heavens in the most
gorgeous manner. Never before have our eyes
beheld such grand and beautiful display Of
heavenly pyrotechnics. Leeping, fiery, spite
| full tongues of fame, dart up from the East,
West and North, and meeting in the Zenith,
parry, thrust, and aim their death-dealing
blows with all the skill, revenge and science of
hords of Infatuated fencing spirits from the
internal regions.
"Mr. Beman !" exclaimed H., "you have
supplied us with . splendid supper, now what
are you going to give us for breakfast"
II guess you viii want some agates first, :"
was the quiet reply.
"Oh oh! oh !" screamed chorus of female
voices. "Oh, you ought to be ashamed of
yourselfto think we would eat some maggots
| for breakfast"
Who's talking about nsaqgots, (" shouted Be-
| man. Il said agates, -some-GgGtes.
"Oh, ADJUST So" complacently replied
the mischievous torments,-''well, its pretty
hard diet, anyhow"
And thus the time passed in song, joke, and
repartee-and gazing on the gorgeous Anro-
IA Borealis until near midnight, when the
Captain giving word to turn in" the ladies'