ness than this worthy squire since he came West-he was a Vermonter-and I was compelled to bid him good evening, as I wished to get back to Chicago that night. My desire to accomplish this was opposed to the inclinations of my companion; he declared it was impossible-no, he would sleep at Dutchman's Point.

"Dutchman's fiddle-sticks!" said old Mrs. Smaus, making her appearance with a goodly can of berries in her hands. "Look'ee, general; I want this here pail of blackberries to be left at Ira Isham's store this evening. Pshaw! hear a buster rooster like you, talk of impossibilities!—why, I would walk to the city myself, before dark," said the brisk old dame, depositing the berries in our buggy.

Nevertheless, at Dutchman's Point my companion demurred he would not like to drive his friend's horse any further that evening; but even the tavern-keeper lifted up his voice against halting there he had only one stable, and a sick stud-horse therein; consequently, if we stayed, our horse might roam at large prairie.

"What signifies forty miles to that horse ?" continued the host. "I'll warrant I have driven him near to seventy in a day with a bigger load than that ere gimcrack buggy."

It now came out that the horse and buggy belonged to a livery-stable keeper, as I found to my cost, paying three dollars for the equipage next day. I was not sorry to get back to Chicago, where I found my chamber occupied by two ladies and three children, and my baggage kicking about the house. Next morning, I had an early visit from my young friend ; he told me his father was anxiously waiting to see me.

The colonel's office was situate in a three-story house, as dingy a brick building as might be found even in Auld Reekie. The colonel soon grasped my handhe was delighted to see me; led me into his front room, or private office, facing the street.

"I thought you would have slept at the squire's last night," said he; "he is a most amiable gentleman, exceedingly hospitable, but rather pinched for room. I hope you found yourself at home in his house."

Some light conversation of this nature having passed, "Boys," said the colonel, slapping his thigh as if he had found a mine of gold, "have ye paid for your horse and buggy?"

"I paid for it, of course, sir," said I.

"Oh, sir! you're too ceremonious," cried the colonel; "when we free and easy folk live together we are all as brethren-thick as pickpockets,' as the Londoners say, eh?-ha, ha! Apropos to London, bring me a bottle of porter, Tom.”

Tom, being the clerk, in the back office, hastened to wipe two dusty tumblers, then ran down stairs, was seen crossing the street, and presently returning with a bottle of that delectable beverage. I assured the colonel I never drank porter in the morning.

Not so the colonel-he drank the best part of the bottle, and resumed the theme; talked about his private affairs, his profession, his lands, the government, and other matters that did not concern me in the least. Anon, he spoke of his merino sheep, his bucks, his wool -pulled forth a parcel of fine wool,--begged me to take a bit of it.

"I pride myself upon my sheep on Fox river," said the colonel; "my bucks fine, full blood, merinos, cost me five dollars a head."

"Five dollars!" said I.

“Yes, I may say five dollars, though I have paid as high as six. The prairie," continued he, "is peculiarly adapted for sheep. Come, sir, are you inclined to make me an offer for that farm ?"

I begged leave to decline the purchase; and the colonel was evidently displeased.

"I have another farm, sir," said he; "a beautiful spot on Fox river; there is a mill site thereon. I'll sell half of it; or you may build a mill there, while I hold the lands or let us build a mill there together, it would be as good as coining, at the present prices. Only think, wheat, six York shillings a bushel-flour, one dollar; why, sir, we could make our fortunes. And the farmers round about Fox river want a millthey would assist us to dig a mill-pond and form a dam."

Finding I was rather cool about the speculation, the colonel leaned back his head, lighted his pipe, elevated his heels upon the top of a high desk, and began asking questions about England and the Eastern States; he had never visited New York, Philadelphia, or Baltimore.

"Hello! what are you doing there?" exclaimed a gentleman, peeping in at the door.

"Come in-come along in!" cried the colonel, turning back his head, as he introduced me to an Irish doctor with a most abominable gash over his eye.

"I have been dressing up my article in a new robe," said the doctor.

"Send it in to-night, and I'll revise it," said the colonel; "but your last critique was too severe."

"I meant it to be so," said the doctor, freely helping

himself to a glass of porter.

"Your health, Mr. rejoiced to see you here. Yes, colonel, I like to bring the sledge hammer down bang upon their noses -I'll powder their noses, and wigs too."

Four gentlemen entered the office, and were severally introduced, and shaken by the hand by me. Another came, of shabby external: he was introduced as a London gentleman, lately settled in those parts. He denied being a cockney with great vehemence

"No, no; Ilived in the west-end, amongst the fashionables," said he. ("The devil you did,” thought I.) "Whereabouts, pray, did you hang out, sir?"

66

Islington, sir; high ground-classic ground, near the toll-gate."

"Then perhaps, sir, you are descended from one of those generous men who—

'Open their gates did throw,'

for the celebrated John Gilpin."

"I never heard of him," said the Londoner, doggedly, not relishing the laughter of his friends. "Never heard of the immortal Gilpin !" said the colonel, laying down his pipe.

"A train band captain eke was he,

Of famous London town,''

said the doctor, drily.

The Londoner got up, pulled up his shirt collar, and left the room.

"You have many poets and fine writers in England, sir," said the colonel; "but not one of them all can approach the sublime Watts."

"Give me Bryant," said one.

"I'll back Goldsmith," said another.

colonel.

"Watts, Watts !-he is truly sublime," said the "In reading and singing his hymns, gentlemen, probably you remember that splendid verse, wherein he speaks of bathing his weary limbs in seas of heavenly rest. Oh, sirs, there was an idea-a sublime idea, never yet rivalled," said the colonel, as he repeated the verse, and looked as if he really felt the want of a bath of heavenly rest; though, certes, in my humble opinion, his long weary legs resting on the table, and lank body balanced in the chair, would have been just as much delighted as his imagination, in the midst of a hot bath of clean water.

I found it was no easy matter to get away from the colonel, but succeeded at last, urging that the dinner must be over at the Tremont House, and much as I was delighted with his conversation, I was fain to resort to that unpoetical practice of chewing food. "You are right, sir," said the colonel. "It is a great pity we cannot live without eating and drinking. I never walk out on the prairie or lake shore, in the wind, without thinking of Job's query- Can a man fill his belly with the east wind?' The very idea makes me cholicky."

Walking by the lake side this evening, I found a regular encampment of Hoosiers. The Hoosiers are a genus of the pedler tribe, having a dash of the tinker and freebooter in their veins. Having heard the word Hoosier pronounced with respect mingled with fear, in the eastern states, I was happy to fall in with those respectable ogres. Their large covered waggons were drawn up in hollow squares on the lake shore, and their horses, tethered and harnessed, browsed upon the stunted grass. Here and there, fires were blazing, pots boiling, pork toasting. The gaunt