The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1871-04-07
NEW NORTH WEST.
DY SAMUEL WILKE6ON.
The Fishes Of Puget Sound.


There is magic in the word Salmon. In
. lash it has bcltcd the continent with rails,
md snatching me up from whatsoever pla &C,
labor. or mood sni in, curved the interval.
and lief. inc standing in a large wigwam Of
rusbes, at oace a dwelling and a drying.
house. Ut the Dallcs Of the Columbia River.
Red Salmon. cleaned and split. hang over
poles everywhere suspended from the roof.
frame Of The hut The living skeleton of Il
squaw, vita! enough to have inflammation
OF the eyes. and to stretch ont claws beg
ging for tobacco. crouchcs nj the slit in the
mat, which serves for door, and mumblcs
with the organs of speech. An Indian,
sick. lies wrapped in blanket ut one side.
An Indian, lazy, rcc'incs on some rushcs
beyond. split salmon erywhcre,-much
little Indian in corners: The rush mating
sufficiently rolled Up in places OH the sides
aud ends Of the communal house, and in
the roof overhead. 10 give ventilation. A
salmon draws me 10 the girl. She is kncel-
ing. Her head doops over her work.
try to look mt her hands at work in the air
above her lap. But l have TO look at her
face; is SO beautiful. The point Of a
Lccr's hn,n is 4 tool which she uses. Her
fingers are pretty. and her hands are shape.
ly-sO pretty and shapely that ! can't sec
her woik. But l know she il BONN: a
salmon. Her lair is glossy, and smooth,
and jet black. Bronze is the color Of her
forehead, bronze and rose the color of her
checks aud her car. Her chin has dimp!c,
aud is child-.ike and round. Her lips are
rcd, and conscious, and dcmurc Long and
curved are the lashes of her lids. She Will
not look up. though l stand till the sun
scts--tor she is boning salmon. and is but
=, E,,sc had
in every coInctry. But her eyes are of her
racc-hazel black, and they are large. aud
liquid, and tender, with tire sufficient hid.
den in cac!I and u very tine m,rth, which
now is hot hidden. She inwardly laughs
nt the gray beard vino prctcnds 10 be watch.
ing the bOning Of salmon. And the bosom
OF her blue cotton tunic gently rises and
fnlls. and her shoulders slope with i ravish.
ing grace and fu!lncss. Tier work makes u
lap and an outline from girdlc TO knee that
is rs beautiful as llcbc's kncclng in Heaven
to pour drink to the gods. Thou incarnatc
grace, childlIkencss. wonianlncss, mischief,
and ravishing bc!uty.--ihou vast Il needed
revelation. Now l know the mystery of
the wonderful organization of the lludson's
bay Company. Now [ understand how
educated Scotch men and English men of
culture lived for twenty, twenty five, thirty
and never repincd for civilization or home;
developing in the wilderness year Ivy year
into absolutely perfect government OF muir
.lerous savagcs; into economists without
waste; into gathcrers OF all valuable furs
mt prices that FEVER were varied into ma
chimes that taultlessly worked their part in
tho greater Corporate mechanism. the most
perfect and successful the world has yet
seen. You girl. now blushing and smiling,
but refusing to look upward, and girls like
you. dressing the skins OF the deer. and
tash!oGing lnoccasins for the feet of the
braves. took captive every sense of those
men. and held them in bondage. They
could not quit you, and they remained in
the country. But, thou lovely bronze
statue, knccIing, boning tho salmon with
hand all white men shun'd hasten III HON
sge 10 kiss, the Hudson's Bay Company is
gone; lis traders, and factors, and servants
are gone; its marriage 10 scholars who
know Latin and Greek, is gone. Alas all
arc gone, and weep to reflect tina; ii Death
I've not mercilul, and early take you away,
Time will bring you 10 u slit in the mat
which serves for door, where you will
crouch, bJny and skinny, and beg for to-
hacco with oI,strctciicd claws. Angel Ut
Death! kill her this night and save her the
sorrow, and aver: from Art the shame and
tho ruin.
(Oh, venerable. si!vcrcd ard potent scribe.
carrying in thy veins the fires Of youth and
on thy brave old head the signct Of age,
how darc,t thou still tempt Puri,anic pro.
pric,y, though BEEcHER's OWN, with a
pictured Hai.dec and no fierce papa We
stand in doubt whether your mission be to
sell Northern Pacific bonds or oyerruu the
west with myrlads of Don Juans, bent ON
bOning salmon or salmon boning girl)