LIFE IN THE WEST; or, stories of the Mississippi Valley - 1868 - PREFACE - A LOEG residence in the DIississippi Valley, frequent journeys through its whole extent, and years of service as the Illinois cori-espo ident of the New York TRIUUSE, have fixrnished the materials for the following stories. Within forty years a country has been developed equal to the whole of Western Europe new habits and customs prevail, families abollt to be extinguished have received new vigor, and the lowly have been exalted. Innumerable cities, towns and villages have arisen, and more than a million of highly productive farms have been brought into culthation. Results must follow which will be different from any the world has yet seen, because wealth, having ceased to descend to the oldest son, is divided among many. I11 no other country have the producers been able to keep so mllch wealth from the grasp of the idle and the wicked, and devote it to the education of their children and to making home comfortable. One language is spoken, knowledge and industrious habits are universal, and the religious sentiment. guides. A soil of remarkable fertility, a climate rich in sunshine and showers, give ab lndance of food and orchards and vineyards abound. Thousands of families, by their own industry, have created beautiful homes, and they sit at tables spread with as good, with as varied food, as any king can command with his slaves and gold. Did the shadow of a king stretch across that region, the rcd man and his game would linger still. No sentiment is stronger than a love for the Union founded on Freedom. Were it possible for the nations of Europe or of Asia to unite, they could not becoine as wealthy, as intelligent and as powerful as ours is destined to become vith its centre in the 31ississippi Valley. From our new conditions we have new ideas, and they will impress themselves on the society of the whole of the two American Continents. What this impress shall be, may, in some degree, be gathered from an account of the Iabors and hopes, from the disappointments and triumphs, and from the sorron7s and joys in families. In the Eastern States educated persons look on the comic and burlesque exhibited in the Western character as an evidence of a want of culture. Difficulties and labors which appal the refined, in the West have been overcorue. During the hours of darkness and doubt relaxation was n necessity free from restraint, and unfettered by rules, a cultivated cheerf dness ran into the comic. These things had their origin in the Atlantic States, and they arc new as ones children are new. N. C. BI. CONTENTS. Page THE OLD AXD TEIE NEW or, the Settlement of Michigan . 7 Goma TO DIE the Effects of being too Successful . . 20 SERVIXG T WO IASTERoSr, an Ohio River Story . . 27 THE STEAXEOATC APTAI Jo r, Life on the Lower Xississippi 48 m CI SSISSIP R P I I VER, and Plantation Life . . 79 3Iancnma ON or, Change of Opinion during the War . . 115 THE WAY M THE WILL or, dissourai nd Wisconsin Life 128 THE NORTE IGRYE FITGEEo r, a ReGned Family in a Rough Settlement . . 150 PRAIR LI E FE m EARLYD AYS or, How Settlements Progress 169 Rac rrs A o BLacs x or , Results of Extensive Farming . 222 A FORT A C T A E L A or, S aved from Ruin by going West 231 Tan-6 AN APPREXTICE Or, 310dern Ideas of Family Government . . 243 Gtorsa TO BE A I ORJIOZoJr, Life on the Ohio Western Re erve 2 52 THE SHOEJ F S C TR R I K S E or, the Fortune of a City Mechanic 263 HESFRIETTA or, from Pennsylvania to the West . ...