144 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



a daughter disappears and may be found some miles off on 

 a good farm, making butter and raising children, and has 

 good luck at both. The old man is getting fat, has money 

 lent out, loves to see his friends, house neat as a pin, glori 

 ous place to visit, etc., etc. But who can tell how many 

 sorts more there are in the great heterogeneous West, 

 and how amusing the mixture often is, and what strange 

 customs grow out of the mingling of so many diverse 

 materials. It is like a kaleidoscope, every turn gives a new 

 sight. We will take our leisure, and give some sketches of 

 men, and manners and scenery, as we have seen them in the 

 West. 



About eight years ago a raw Dutchman, whose only 

 English was a good-natured yes to every possible question, 

 got employment here as a stable-man. His wages were six 

 dollars and board ; that was $36 in six months, for not one 

 cent did he spend. He washed his own shirt and stock 

 ings, mended and patched his own breeches, paid for his to 

 bacco by some odd jobs, and laid by his wages. The next six 

 months, being now able to talk &quot; goot Inglish,&quot; he obtained 

 eight dollars a month, and at the end of six months more 

 had $48, making in all for the year $84. The second year, 

 by varying his employment sawing wood in winter, work 

 ing for the corporation in summer, making garden in 

 spring, he laid by $100, and the third year $125, making 

 hi three years $309. 



With this he bought 80 acres of land. It was as wild as 

 when the deer fled over it, and the Indian pursued him. 

 How should he get a living while clearing it ? Thus he did 

 it. He hires a man to clear and fence ten acres. He him 

 self remains in town to earn the money to pay for the 

 clearing. Behold him ! already risen a degree, he is an 

 employer ! In two years time he has twenty acres well 

 cleared, a log-house and stable, and money enough to buy 

 stock and tools. He now rises another step in the world, 

 for he gets married, and with his amply-built, broad-faced, 



