Year: 1875

easy, natural way that would make one wish he was dead. And he was always I talking about est. Looy" like on old citizen; he would refer casually to occa- sions when he twas coming down Fourth street, or when he was 'passing by the Planters House," or when there was 0 fire and he took turn on the brakes of "the old Big Missouri" and then he l would go on and lie about how many towns the size of ours was burned down there that day.

 Two or three of the boys had long been persons of consideration among us because they had been to St. Louis once and had vague general knowledge l of it's wonders, but the day of their glory was over now. They lapsed into 8 humble silence, and learned to disappear when the ruthless cub engineer ap- preached. This fellow had money, too, and hair-o1. Also an ignorant silver watch and showy brass watch-chain. He wore leather belt and wore no sus- penders. If ever a youth was cordially admired and hated by his comrades this ono was. No girl could withstand his charms. He "crlt out D every boy in the village. When his boat blew up at last, it diffused tranquil contentment among us such as we had not. known for months. But when he came home the next week, alive, renowned, and appeared in church all battered up and bandaged, a shining hero, stared at and wondered over by everybody, it seemed to us that the partiality of Providence for an un- l deserving reptile had reached point where it was open to criticism. ,- s This creature's career could produce but one result, and it speedily followed. Boy after boy managed to get on the river The minister's son became an engineer. The doctors and the post masters sons became "mud clerks ;" the wholesale liquor dealer's son became 8 barkeeper on boat four sons of the chief merchant and two sons of the county judge became pilots. Pilot was the grandest position of all. The pilot, even in those days of trivial wages, had a princely salary--from a hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty dollars 0 month, and no board to pay. Two months of his wages would pay preachers salary for year. Now some of us were left disconsolate. We could not go on the river-at least our parents would not let us. ..-.-..--. ........v t.

 So by-and-bye I ran away. i said I never would come home again till was a pilot, and could come in glory. But somehow could not manage it. Iwent meekly aboard few of the boats that lay packed together like sardines at the long St. Louis wharf, and very hrlmbly inquired for the pilots, but got only 8 cold shoulder and short words from mates and clerks. I had to make the best of this sort of treatment for the r Io,l dreams of 8 future when should be 8 money, and could kill some of these mates and clerks and pay for them.

 Months afterward the hope within me struggled to a reluctant death, and I found myself without an ambition. But I was ashamed to go home. I was in Cincinnati, and set to work to map out new career. had been reading about the recent exploration of the Amazon by an expedition sent out by our govern ment. It was said that the expedition, owing to difficulties, had not thoroughly explored 8 part of the country lying about the head waters, some four thou sand miles from the mouth of the river. It was only about fifteen hundred miles from Cincinnati to New Orleans, where I could doubtless get ship I had thirty dollars left I would go and com plete the exploration of the Amazon. This was all the thought gave to the subject. I never was great in matters of detail. packed my valise, and took passage on an ancient tub called the Paul Jones, for New Orleans. For the sum of sixteen dollars I had the scared and tarnished splendors of Cher" main sa- loon principally to myself, for she was not Q creature to attract the eye of wiser travellers.

 When we presently got under way, and went poking down the broad Ohio, I became 8 new being, and the subject of my own admiration. I was traveller i! A word never had tasted so good in my mouth before. I had an exultant sense of being bound for mysterious lands and distant climes which I never have felt in so uplifting 8 degree since. was in : such Q gloritied condition that all igno- ble feelings departed out of me, and l was able to look down and pity the un- travelled with @ compassion that had hardly trace of contempt in it. Still, when we stopped at villages and wood yards, I could not help lolling carelessly upon the railings of the boiler-deck to enjoy the envy of the country boys on the bank. If they did not seem to dis cover me, I presently sneezed to attract their attention, or moved to a position where they could not help seeing me. And as soon as I knew they saw me l gaped and stretched, and gave other signs of being nightly bored with ttav- cling.

 kept my hat off all the time, and stayed where the wind and the sun could strike me, because wanted to get the bronzed and weather beaten look of an old traveller. Before the second day was half gone, experienced joy which filled me with the purest gratitude; fol saw that the skin had begun to blister and peel off my face and neck. Iwishe6 that the boys and girls at home could sec i, me now.

 [ We reached Louisville in time-at least the neighborhood of it. We stuck hard and fast on the rocks in the middle of the river and lay there four days was now beginning to feel strong sonst of being a part of the boats, family, { sort of infant son to the captain anc l younger brother to the officers. There Ii no estimating the pride I took in this grandeur, or the affection that began te

 swell and grow in me for those people , I could not know how the lordly steam boatman scorns that sort of presumption

 in mere landsman. I particularly

 longed to acquire the least trife of notice ] from the big, stormy mate, and I was or the alert for an opportunity to do him { , service to that end. It came at last , The riotous powwow of setting spal was going on down on the forecastle, anC , l went down there and stood around II the way-or mostly skipping out of it.

 till the mate suddenly roared genera order for somebody to bring him a cap

 stan bar. I sprang to his side and said

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