453 LIFE ON TJBTJS MISSISSIPPI.
On this up trip I saw a little towhead (infant island) half a
long, which had been formed during the past nineteen years. Since
there was so much time to spare that nineteen years of it could be
devoted to the construction of a mere towhead, where was the use,
originally, in rushing this whole globe through in six days ? It is
likely that if more time had been taken, in the first place, the world
would have been made right, and this ceaseless improving and
repairing would not be necessary now. But if you hurry a world
or a house, you are nearly sure to find out by and by that you have
left out a towhead, or a broom-closet, or some other little convenience,
here and there, which has got to be supplied, no matter how much
expense and vexation it may cost.
We had a succession of black nights, going up the river, and it
was observable that whenever we landed, and suddenly inundated
the trees with the intense sunburst of the electric light, a certain
curious effect was always produced: hundreds of birds flocked instantly
out from the masses of shining green foliage, and went careering hither
and tbither through the white rays, and often a song-bird tuned up
and fell to singing. We judged that they mistook this superb artificial
day for the genuine article.
We had a delightful trip in that thoroughly well-ordered steamer,
and regretted that it was accomplished so speedily. By means of
diligence and activity, we managed to hunt out nearly all the old
Mends. One was miSRJTig, however; he went to his reward, what-
ever it was, two years ago. But I found out all about hi™)- His
case helped me to realise how lasting can be the effect of a very
trifling occurrence. "When he was an apprentice-blacksmith in our
Tillage, and I a schoolboy, a couple of young Englishmen came to the
town and sojourned a while; and one day they got themselves up in
cheap royal finery and did the Bichard HI. sword-fight with maniac
energy and prodigious powwow, in the presence of the village boys.
Thfa blacksmith cub was there, and the histrionic poison entered hk
bone*. This vast, lumbering, ignorant, dull-witted lout was stage-
struck, and irrecoverably. He disappeared, and presently turned up
in St. Louis. I ran across him. there, by and by. He was trt^n^ing
musing on a street corner, with his left hand on his hip, the thumb
, of his xight supporting his chin, face bowed and frowning, slouch hal