The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-12-19
Special Correspondence.

GUTENBERG, Dec. 1866. >
Winter il. again spreading his snowy
mantle over us in feathery flakes. The
Mississippi still presents from the town an
open view. of its waters, while it is closed
above and below, by IN icy barrier, ex-
tending from shore to shore. 1t is here
that the great Father Of Rivers, reposing
beneath his icy robe, gives forth the res
pirations of his wintry slumber. The
smoky breath ascending from his nostrils
and rising in spiral columns from the wa
ter, when viewed through the window of a
warm room, presents to the gaze the
dreamy scene of an Indian summer.
Yesterday we had highly interesting
dog-fsht in the vicinity Of the Post-offce
The sympathy of the spectators, as the
cause of the fight became known. drifted
strongly to the side Of the upper dog in
the fight whose opponent being from the
|-vvr,ntry--wAifc making his first expfOra-
ton of the town, came suddenly upon one
of the large show windows in the post-of-
fee, where there had been arranged in the
most attractive manner, innumerablc toys
designed for the amusement of both young
and old, during the Christmas holidays
Pausing for moment to contemplate the
scene before him, his eye fell upon a
strange, mysterious being, standing in
their midst, muliled in the furry robes of
wolf, with huge pack on his back, filled
with the most choice of the surrounding
toys, which he appeared to be appropria-
ting to his own use. Our country cur
thinking him an intruder there, plunged
through the glass and dragged him into
the street A yell of horror arose from
every canine and other spectator in the Vi
entity, at the discovery of the unmerciful
indignity that was being offered to the sa-
cred person of our good ST.. NIcKLAus,
whom the ignorant country cur had taken
for an intruder. After having been in
formed of his mistake, through the usual
agencies extended to tho "Under dog in
the fight" he withdrew to the retirement
of his country home, with limping, sui
len stride, turning occasionally to growl a
manifestation of contempt for st. Nicklaus
and the festive honors that soon await
him.
While We are still tcnacious1y adhering
to the speaking and the preservation of the
Language Of our Futhcrlnnd, we are not in
sensible to the fact that the English tongue
is creeping insidiously In upot, US, through
innumcrable avenues that cannot be sue
cessfully guarded. A stranger passing in
the vicinity of our large Academy. at the
moment that its three hundred students
are pouring out through door and window
to enjoy the brief pleasures of recess.
10 L. .oc Al. L 4
tered some New England village. The
boisterous contentions-the joyous shouts
the pugilistic displays of incipient man.
hood, and the occasional reception extern
ded to passing farm wagon, through the
agency Of an aerial brick-b at-are ali con-
Quoted in the English language, in the
most approved New England manner.
A few evening since, tho Hall of the
Academy was occupied by crowded au-
dience, who had convened for the purpose
of hearing LEoNIDAs BENzoNE, the popu-
lar philosophical lecturer of Turkey River.
The subject of Mr.. Benzone's lecture was
n learned and labored effort to show that
the active, philosophical principle embod-
led in the friction qualities of match,
would be more easily understood, If the ig-
hitting compound were placed at the other
end Of the stick! As the speaker ap-
preached the meridian of his lecture, he
seemed to be impressed with the belief that
he could discern a manifestation of obtuse-
ness on the part of the audience, occa-
stoned by the dreamy, narcotic influence
ditlused by the white columns of smoke
that arose from innumerable pipes. Paus-
ing for momcntto recuperate his mental
resources, he again launched forth with
more llerculean ekorts to elucidate the
subject, when vagabond boy thought to
throw some light on the subject, by rub
bing, in quick, downward manner, the
exposed contents Of an entire box of match
es against the seat Of an old gentleman,
who was leaning over the railing, directly
in front Of him, endeayoring to seize, with
mental grasp, the subject of the lecture
At the conclusion Of the address, Squire
kricbs was requested to translate it into
German, but was excused on account of
his having left his pocket handkerchief at
home-he being afflicted with severe
cold Mr.. BENzONE will lecture ut Nc
Gregor next week. Will be pleased to
see him.-EDs TINES.
The Rev. Mr.. kleinline was duly in
stalled, last Sabbath, Us Pastor of our Luz
theran Church, and it is pleasant to know
that the weekly return Of the Sabbath day
will again be announced by the pleasant
sound Of the "Church-going bell; )" thus
doing away with the usual tiresome neces-
sity of searching for the Sabbath in the
worldly pages of some medicinal almanac.
Yours, Pc.