EPISODES 



287 



that useful companion, my gun. I was in fact covered 

 just like one of the poorer class of Indians, and was ren- 

 dered even more disagreeable to the eye of civilized man 

 by not having, like them, plucked my beard, or trimmed 

 my hair in any way. Had Hogarth been living, and there 

 when I arrived, he could not have found a fitter subject 

 for a Robinson Crusoe. My beard covered my neck in 

 front, my hair fell much lower at my back, the leather 

 dress which I wore had for months stood in need of repair, 

 a large knife hung at my side, a rusty tin-box containing 

 my drawings and colors, and wrapped up in a worn-out 

 blanket that had served me for a bed, was buckled to my 

 shoulders. To every one I must have seemed immersed 

 in the depths of poverty, perhaps of despair. Neverthe- 

 less, as I cared little about my appearance during those 

 happy rambles, I pushed into the sitting-room, unstrapped 

 my little burden, and asked how soon breakfast would be 

 ready. 



In America, no person is ever refused entrance to the 

 inns, at least far from cities. We know too well how 

 many poor creatures are forced to make their way from 

 other countries in search of employment or to seek un- 

 cultivated land, and we are ever ready to let them have 

 what they may call for. No one knew who T was, and the 

 landlord, looking at me with an eye of close scrutiny, 

 answered that breakfast would be on the table as soon 

 as the company should come down from their rooms. I 

 approached this important personage, told him of my 

 avocations, and convinced him that he might feel safe as 

 to remuneration. From this moment I was, with him at 

 least, on equal footing with every other person in his 

 house. He talked a good deal of the many artists who 

 had visited the Falls that season, from different parts, and 

 offered to assist me by giving such accommodations as I 

 might require to finish the drawings I had in contempla- 

 tion. He left me, and as I looked about the room I saw 





