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THE PRAIRIE. 



On my return from the Upper Mississippi, I found myself obliged to 

 cross one of the wide Prairies, which, in that portion of the United States, 

 vary the appearance of the country. The weather was fine, all around 

 me was as fresh and blooming as if it had just issued from the bosom of na- 

 ture. My napsack, my gun, and my dog, were all I had for baggage and 

 company. But, although well moccassined, I moved slowly along, attract- 

 ed by the brilliancy of the flowers, and the gambols of the fawns around 

 their dams, to all appearance as thoughtless of danger as I felt myself. 



My march was of long diu-ation ; I saw the sun sinking beneath the 

 horizon long before I could perceive any appearance of woodland, and 

 nothing in the shape of man had I met with that day. The track which 

 I followed was only an old Indian trace, and as darkness overshaded the 

 prairie, I felt some desire to reach at least a copse, in which I might lie 

 down to rest. The Night-hawks were skimming over and around me, at^ 

 tracted by the buzzing wings of the beetles which form their food, and 

 the distant howling of wolves, gave me some hope that I should soon ar- 

 rive at the skirts of some woodland. 



I did so, and almost at the same instant a fire-light attracting my eye, 

 I moved towards it, full of confidence that it proceeded from the camp of 

 some wandering Indians. I M^as mistaken ; — I discovered by its glare 

 that it was from the hearth of a small log cabin, and that a tall figure 

 passed and repassed between it and me, as if busily engaged in household 

 arrangements. 



I reached the spot, and presenting myself at the door, asked the tall 

 figure, which proved to be a woman, if I might take shelter under her roof 

 for the night. Her voice was gruff, and her attire negligently thrown about 

 her. She answered in the affirmative. I walked in, took a wooden stool, 

 and quietly seated myself by the fire. The next object that attracted my 

 notice was a finely formed young Indian, resting his head between his 

 hands, with his elbows on his knees. A long bow rested against the log 

 wall near him, while a quantity of arrows and two or three raccoon skins 

 lay at his feet. He moved not ; he apparently breathed not. Accustomed 

 to the habits of the Indians, and knowing that they pay Uttle attention 



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