sins. Finally, she paints you a monster of depravity: you almost quail to think such enormity exists. You shudder that the soft voice of a woman should be the vehicle through which so much vice is made known and patent. You unsuspecting sister, that he has broken his own consequence, it is of some other person's wife's heart, that he is a living lie from head to foot, an incorporated selfishuess, a coward at heart. The only brave point about him is, that he dares to pretend to be a saint, and that to you, who cudgeled him at school, and knew all his vileness at college! And you respect a pre-endeavor to escape, but she walks you up and tense so mighty, and, considering how much of a pretense it is, you believe him to have a greatness of soul which commands your respect. He stays four hours. You glance at your papers hopelessly. You hint, but he does not understand; you are compelled to say-but he interrupts you. What sustains you but a love of science? He talks of himself, of the money he makes, of the good he is doing, and, above all, of the serenity of his own soul! Beautiful lesson! You think of your standard, and determine to cast it to the dogs and erect Culvert in its place. Finally, he tells you that he has met Emily Brown. That deeply afflicted as he is by his wife's death (he is a soft and tender widower), yet so unmistakable are the signs of Miss Brown's preference that down a piazza from whence you see Arabella Claymore, Emily Brown-and, can it be! the guilty Millefleur-all going boating, to have a "splendid time." Maliciously you point out the party to Mrs. M. She then tells you in sweetest accents that Emily Brown is the very monster she has been describing, and winds up with "Poor girl." The appetite of the tiger for human flesh is not interesting to the unfortunate traveler who, deserted by his convoy, finds himself afflictingly near the hot breath of one of those agile creatures in an Indian jungle. But suppose that man to have gone to India, not for base purposes of commerce, but to examine the characteristics of the tiger. Imagine that before his eyes floats an enormous book-"Somebody on Tigers." Every glimpse of the tiger becomes valuable. His own life, his comfort, become secondary considerations. Science and love of fame sustain the feeble flesh. So I, impelled by love of science, and sustained by the vision of this article which is to cover me with glory as with a garment, cultivated and endured Mrs. Millefleur. When I got home I added to the ornaments of Juggernaut her soft voice saying Love of science vanishes; you tell him what you think of him; he goes on-you kick him down stairs. On the second landing he brings up, bruised yet smiling, black and blue yet bland and forgiving, and tells you he forgives you, and regrets to learn by the violence of your treatment how much you must be interested in Miss Brown. What a necklace you hang that night on the viperous things, her delicate face expressing the neck of Juggernaut ! worst and meanest passions, and her constant boredom-her never-ceasing, all-beginning conversation, and I assure you it was a horribly valuable addition. The pomposity of dear old Brown, "Emily's father, who didn't like me, his bowing down before that calf of a Johnson who was rich (as why shouldn't he be? old J. packed pickles and did it well, and young J. found a snug plum in preserve for him), was formerly disagreeable to old Brown is a deeply interesting study to me. In your summer at the sea-shore you begin to feel that you have less opportunity than usual to study your favorite science. Emily is there, and tells you she detests Culvert. Somehow the disagreeables have vanished; perhaps a phantom of themselves pursued them and they jumped into the sea. But no! at breakfast you recognize Mrs. Millefleur. She is somewhat young and pretty, thinks herself younger and prettier. She talks perpetually of herself and of Mille-me. Now, in consequence of my revelation. fleur, and of Wildopolis, where she was born. She adores politics and worships Millefleur. I like to see him believe himself a philanthroYou, of course, know that her family are the pist. I like to see him think himself above selfish "very first" in Wildopolis, and Wildopolis is considerations, while he talks of young Johnthe first city in the Union. You have, she has son's amiable character and good habits, when heard, good singing in New York; but did you, he knows that young J. is a selfish and vulgar know that your favorite prima donna, whom you voluptuary. I like to see him put a dollar on supposed an Italian, was born and educated in, the contribution-plate with the air of its being Wildopclis, and the Wildopolitans wouldn't list- twenty-and he regrets it is not more, but that en to her? Then New York bread is so unen-, is all he can afford. durable, so much fresher and more countrified than Wildopelis bread. As for Millefleur, a very good bull-dog of a fellow, he (unlike you) is bored with his wife-probably because he has not had the revelation you have had of the secret of happiness—and flirts, er is disposed to flirt, with Arabella Claymore, the fast girl of the season. Mrs. Millefleur puts her little hand inside your white linen coat-sleeve and fastens you for the morning. When she isn't talking of her To be sure I still talk to Emily, but her father is my attraction. She is the olive which stimulates my tongue, but old B. is the roast beef which satisfies my appetite. I bear with his vulgar patronage, his low-bred assumptionsfor the sake of science. Your society snob was formerly my aversion. Now he is my pet macaw; I admire his lovely plumage, his gracious airs, when he sees his superior macaw approach. I admire his graceful timidity of being seen with a poor relation, his there is the army of bores; there is the school pretty confusion when his cousin Grandiose sees | there is the fool who believes himself a Solon; him receiving an obligation from his cousin Rusticus. Rusticus is rich and generous, and oblivious of snob-weakness; or if he knows it, he is pleasantly unconscious of it, as a lion lets an impertinent puppy play with his beard. Still Rusticus has no position in society, and dresses fearfully. Unfortunately Rusticus will go to the opera, where Snob walks nightly in the wake of Grandiose, to whom he is distantly connected by marriage. How delicious to see are Snob's writhings as Rusticus, remembering with a glow of pleasure how happy he was to loan Snob some money in the morning, presumes Snob will be equally happy to talk with him in the evening. Then do I cultivate Snob, then do I eavesdrop, that no gem of degradation, no lovely lie of self-disrespect, no contortions of a mean soul, may escape me. Sometimes I think I love Snob better than any variety of my pet reptiles. Unfortunately he is not quite rare enough to be priceless; I can almost always find a perfect | specimen, which is, as every naturalist knows, almost a misfortune. Delicious Mrs. Aminadab Sleek! How I used to loathe the weeks which a cruel destiny, and a distant relationship compelled me to spend at your country house! How I reprobated above all things your intense hypocrisy! How you profaned in my eyes all that was most lovely and pure! Now, as a perfect specimen of your class, how I adore you! How I love that temper of yours, which, like Sykes's dog, snarls and growls at every body who is not of your set! How I admire your devotion to hours and days of public worship, and your disregard of the dinner hour of Mr. Sleek! How I like your dignified contempt of that hard-worked and thin individual, and your adoration of your Aunt Fangs, who is such a lovely character that she looks savage enough to be cannibal, and who tells you that love for your husband and children is a weakness, a low degrading sentiment, a temptation of the flesh, and that a high and elevated human character is one which loves only the church-and herself. No! the soft eyes of my wife are looking unconscious reproaches at me. Old Brown is dead, "that good old man.” I treated my long endurance of him to the delightful reward of marrying his daughter. I did not "shed a many tears" for one of the choicest of my specimens ; I bore old Brown's death with composure, the calmness of a philosopher and man of scienceknowing as I did that I had but to go into Wall Street to replace him, should I ever forget him. Fearing that my favorite science may grow upon me too much, and wishing to avoid Scylla without embracing Charybdis, I confine myself principally to the society of my wife, and women of her stamp, who are not too religious to love their husbands, play with their children; those pure ones to whom all things are pure; whose spotless hands can touch, without being defiled, the fevered brow of the Magdalen; who emulate a charity which has on it the seal of Heaven; who can look unmoved on the superior beauty of other women; who can love and forgive; who can read and yet not quote; who can enjoy, and get a little cross occasionally, and have to be forgiven; who sometimes forget what year Charlemagne died, but never what hour Charles comes home to dinner. With the same virtuous intentions I sometimes spend my time with some good and agreeable fellows. Very much do I affect some excellent men who honor that cloth which so many degrade—men of courage, of true goodness and honesty-one such man, whom I hear on Sunday, knocks JugHow I love to see you abstain from amuse-gernaut off his pedestal. When I see the earnments, from the opera where you would hear a depraved woman sing a beautiful song, and to see you devote that evening to tearing your beloved sister in the church into tatters! How I love your fine sense of honor and truth, when you uphold your favorite clergyman in his course of tergiversation and cringing, and condemn your neighbor for openly holding the same opinions which cause your clergyman to cringe! Oh! Mrs. Aminadab, you stalk abroad. Our cities, our villages, know you by heart-if you are not interesting as a specimen, how can you be endured at all? There is the man with the sickly smile who will not take any hint that you do not wish to be persecuted by his visits, who understands no persuasions but the heel of a boot, who admits no soft impeachment but that of a crab stick; VOL. XV.-No. 89.-S s est face, the small feeble figure, infused with a mighty soul—when I behold his life, so worthy of its mission-I do not study my favorite science so attentively. When at my club I meet men of refinement, of manliness, devoid of pretense, I conclude not to give myself up entirely to my favorite science. But let me assure you it is a great revelation, a great truth. You can not complain of want of opportunity, you will not be driven to foreign countries, out on the deep and dangerous waters, into the academies of science, or the halls of medical colleges for specimens. They are to be found on the highways and by-ways. Unlike most sciences, it can be pursued together with your ordinary avocations. Let your motto be, COME ON, YE DISAGREEABLES!" 66 N THE SIEGE OF FORT ATKINSON. daily expected with the presents. There could not have been less than 10,000 in all, many of whom were encamped in the immediate vicinity of the fort; though the "big village" was some ten miles farther up the river, where the pasturage was better, and fire-wood more easily obtained. KXP to Kis Carson, unquestionably the two most notorious characters in all the region of the Far West, at the present time, are Bill New and Yellow Beat war-chief of the Arrapatrians The name of Bent is too well known as require a mot of neotretien to the The scarcity of fuel and grass is the chief in1:0) w Bear basever been Bent's warm-convenience experienced by this fort, though je meni, si zas arei bat ni Tader's be for in other respects it is by no means agreeably 1 in line at a time nun. Es minence is prob- situated-its location having been chosen solely som prater than ta í er penis chief with a view to the accommodation of the neighte în dan mies, mats the thefly boring Indian tribes and the protection of the tae sem maahied to keep Santa Fé trade. The Arkansas River flows thats with two of the within a few rods of its walls, having a depth beans the Chey of three or four feet at certain seasons of the Yes. Yellow Bear, year; but in summer, like most of the prairie us tam vìn cổ the streams, its bed is generally nearly dry. The TEL. FITSOLĀJ & M in surrounding country is a barren waste, without WIPL is atelectual vegetation, save a few shrub bushes and the all me created from a crispy buffalo grass, diversified only by innu† great personal brav-merable sand hills. No wood is to be had ne er in de run of pro- within thirteen miles; and "buffalo chips," the IESKASSA TARDEST, together dernier resort for fuel, once found in great << I Iní“ Ásposten, and a abundance, are now quite scarce, the buffalo vet of insuit his friends having almost entirely disappeared from this e) 12 vile does respect but vicinity. The fort itself is of adobé, or sun3 res ne shade of the dried brick, roofed with canvas, containing fair a song the banks of many accommodations for the garrison, and defended IT De vierness has by a few small field-pieces and the usual armawitness, ze scenes of strife and ment. It has also a large corral on one side, zu zarde the hood and blanch five feet in height, for the protection of the winch, fermes, some brief recital | animals. A garrison of ninety men (infantry, asset v seves incredulous ears. 6th regiment) and twenty B dragoons comprised dagan ng 2story connected with the the entire force at the date of our narrativeSent's Fort during the winter surprisingly deficient for so important a post. 62 or some half-distorted facts have » mom,79 parceis so readers of grmure, and a mors too, which creed 4 noe who have in charge vour Prian affairs, might xes in the fame. So, also, *** *) Zen—ch calls loudly the wesent noder as reThe slowing triteax ze hugh with astrations xxch, and vás view are e moved on the printed Two weeks had nearly elapsed since the time appointed for the distribution of presents, but no agent yet made his appearance. The Indians had thus far borne the unwarrantable delay with remarkable patience, considering their naturally restless and irritable disposition, and the by-no-means-pleasing consciousness that they were, day by day, half-starving their horses on the sparse and abominable pasturage, and rapidly eating themselves out of all kinds of provisions-most of them, too, having traveled hundreds of miles to meet the agent at the time appointed. To this was added the suspicion of the red men (ever mistrustful of the whites) that they were to be cheated of their annuities. Thus, as day after day passed by, and still no agent came, they became more and more uneasy, and soon began to manifest unmistakable evidences of hostility. Indeed, the proposition was warmly espoused by many of the younger men that their treaty with the United States should be at once annulled, the annuities rejected, and an exterminating war declared; but the plan received little favor with the head men. They began now to gather around the fort in great numbers, threatening to annihilate the garrison if the presents were palady awaiting not speedily forthcoming, and occasionally enpitspastich, the agent for deavoring to force their way inside the gate. crowd, dobinë time, was' In vain the officers expostulated. They knew, they said, that "the Big Chief at Washington | lar form and threatening attitude of the savage intended to cheat them out of their just dues. confronting him; but putting as bold a face They were a heap mad; and if the presents did as possible upon the matter, he straightened not arrive within ten days, they would not only himself up, and informed him in a tone decidtake toll' from the first wagon train they met, edly military, that he "could not come in.” but would wipe out every United States soldier The savage persisted. The sentry resisted, and and every white man on the plains who had presented his bayonet, whereupon the other deany thing to do with the Government." liberately knocked him down, and walked quietly toward the fort; the rest of the Indians following in a body. Of the remaining sentries, some fled precipitately within the walls as soon as they saw what was done, while the others stood motionless and dumbfounded, and permitted the Indians to pass in without opposing the least resistance. Aside from this single act of violence the Indians seemed quite peaceable, and offered no injury to any of the troops, though they refrained from nothing by way of gesture, words, or supercilious bearing, to manifest their bold Such was the ferment excited by the single error of delay. "Delays are dangerous." Never were they more so than in the case instanced. The most serious consequences often result from the most trifling and needless mistakes. Charles Fitzpatrick, veteran trader and mountaineer that he was, and well versed in Indian character, knew well the difficulties to be apprehended from procrastination; but he could do nothing. The fault lay with the Government, though its sins were likely to be visited upon the head of its agent, who was thus placed in a most trying and uncomfortable position, liable to be instant-ness and their supreme contempt, their object ly sacrificed to the frenzy of the enraged and being apparently to show what they could do if abused Indians, who would not pause to dis- disposed. There were altogether three or four criminate between persons. This might have hundred inside the fort, walking about the prembeen the first step in an open and protracted ises, and satisfying their curiosity by examining war; the next the massacre of the garrison; the barracks, officers' quarters, armory, and deand afterward, the end would not be until thou-fenses, but taking nothing of value, being probsands of lives had been lost and millions of money expended. But fortunately no such war ensued; though seeds of enmity and dissatisfaction, sown by this and other like abuses, have already germinated, and prove no insignificant tares to be uprooted from the fallow field of Indian diplomacy. The startling events of the past fully prove it. ably restrained by Ter-hausen (Little Mountain) their chief, with whom the officers were well acquainted. These, now recovering from their first alarm, and finding the Indians disposed to be peaceable, took especial pains to show them all the defenses of the fort, hoping thereby to intimidate them from making any subsequent attack. All this extra attention and civility But to return to the fort. In the present the savages received with their wonted gravity, emergency, an attack being momentarily ex- manifesting no surprise, but emitting a guttural pected, and the garrison in the greatest excite-"ugh" from time to time, expressive of their ment, it was determined to send to the States approbation or indifference, as the case might for aid. But instead of dispatching one of the be. So, for the greater part of the day the fort common soldiers, the commanding officer im- remained thronged with these unwelcome visitprudently undertook the commission himself, ors, causing the garrison no little anxiety; and leaving the fort in charge of Second Lieutenant when, at evening, the last of them withdrew his Sand Sergeant R, valiant men, but in- swarthy form from the place, and the gate was adequate to the arduous and delicate duties as- closed, a pleasurable sensation of relief came signed them. These now used every means in to each soldier as he exchanged congratulations their power to keep the Indians quiet, and pre- with his fellow, thankful that they had been vent them getting possession of the fort. Sen- spared a tragedy like that which, years ago, tries were stationed at regular intervals near the made old Fort Mann a depopulated waste of gateway, with orders to shoot down any Indian ruins.* that might attempt to pass; and every possible precaution was taken to guard against a sud- No more trouble came that day or night; den attack. Fortunately, however, for the pres- but the thin blue smoke curled silently and pleasent, matters did not assume a more threatening ingly from a myriad fires as the squaws prephase. It was not until the following day that pared their evening meal, while the low drone the first direct attempt was made, when a gigan- of the camp, and the yelping and barking of a tic Kiowa, six feet three in his moccasins, ap- thousand gaunt and half-starved curs, were the proached one of the sentries as he was patroll-only sounds that fell upon the ears of the dising his beat, and demanded permission to enter the fort. He was evidently the champion of several hundred Kiowas gathered in groups of twenties and fifties a few rods distant, who had deputized him to make the demand, and now stood eagerly awaiting the result. The soldier, a diminutive Celt, stood trembling as he regarded with no little apprehension the muscu II. tracted soldiers. Nevertheless, the garrison lay Fort Mann, once a thriving post, situated some twenty miles from Fort Atkinson, was attacked one night by an immense war-party of Pawnees, who stealthily scaled the walls while the guard slept, and put the inhabitants to death, sacking and burning the place. A confused mass of ruins now mark the spot, affording a startling memento of one of the many fearful tragedies enacted on this "Dark and Bloody Ground." the chiefs held a few moments' consultation. There were present, besides Ter-hausen the Kiowa chief, and Shaved-head, chief of the Comanches, and other minor chiefs of the two tribes, several Cheyenne chiefs, and Yellow Bear, the Arrapaho—all having considerable influence with the allies. These latter being friendly to the whites, earnestly dissuaded the others from molesting the troops, as any such act would bring upon them the vengeance of the United States Government, besides precluding every chance of their obtaining the presents they were so impatiently expecting. This well-timed advice had the effect to pacify them to a certain extent, and was no doubt the only thing that prevented the total annihilation of the troops. Nevertheless, the combined influence of the chiefs did not suffice to hold completely in check the passions of the excited braves, who now crowded close upon the soldiers, threatening to trample them beneath their horses' hoofs. the whole night under arms. The next morn- | act of violence. Arrived at the Council lodge, ing every thing was quiet and orderly, and com- the Lieutenant immediately stated his demands, paratively few Indians were seen near the fort, and the reasons therefor; having received which, the greater part of them having moved a few miles up the river, near the "big village." In this improved and gratifying state of affairs the confidence of the commanding officer partially returned, and he grew more and more courageous in proportion as the danger diminished. Remembering with shame and indignation the outrage committed upon one of his soldiers the day before by the audacious Kiowa, involving as it did a gross indignity upon the authority and honor of the United States Government as vested in its army, he determined to have the offender arrested at once, and properly punished, as an example to the rest. He would give them to understand that such outrages were not to be perpetrated with impunity! Accordingly he mustered his entire available force, and taking two pieces of artillery, marched up the river, leaving only six men in charge of the fort, to defend it, if need be, against the five hundred Indians who were prowling about. Most of these, however, followed in the trail of the troops, like a crowd of loafers in a large city at the tail of a procession, anticipating some fun or excitement. In his zeal to bring the offender to justice, no thought of the danger and difficulties that attended the execution of his plans occurred to the valorous Lieutenant. He had not the least doubt that he could march up and take the Indian from his friends and his tribe without opposition on their part. He had only to state his demands, and the offender would be immediately surrendered; or, if they declined, the two field-pieces and his numerous force could not fail to effect what mere words would be unable to do. Awed by his imposing appearance, the red skins would, no doubt, come to terms It did occur to him, however, that it meght have been better to have demanded the Tudian of Tor-hausen the day before, when both wo within the walls of the fort, instead of allowing the atlair temporarily to blow over, and giving the offendor an opportunity to escape; beaded having now to contend with ten thouluciaux, mxtead of only four hundred, as would have been the case the day before. so bad the troops formed in line ontwith the su, proparatory to marching, than the Faire above were informed of their inten and prepared to receive them. The vilhed out, and when the troops cupy they at once surrounded them, so that www.completely thanked on either side, *** in the var However, they hway directly to the place where the Cembled awing their approach, Indiana uncauwhile galloping around them in wwwbo boosing and yelling, and brandtu this dilemma the big de www courage und ander we the troops considerably abated as they now expected nothing less than an aile but the savages refrained from any After a short consultation the delinquent Kiowa was brought forward, led between two Kiowa braves, and surrounded by a host of his friends, who conducted him to the Lieutenant, and in a sarcastic manner told him, "Here is the rascal-take him!" The Indians now thronged so closely upon the party within the little circle as to render it almost impossible to move, while the continual shouting and jeering rendered it difficult to hear a word that was said. It was evident to the Lieutenant that it was farthest from their intentions to give up the man, and that they had only employed this feint as a provocation to a fight, after the fashion of some "shoulderhitters" in placing a chip upon a man's shoulder and daring another to knock it off. He was completely nonplussed. His men were drawn up in line, with the two field-pieces in front, bearing directly upon the densest body of the Indians, so that their first discharge, together with that of the musketry, could not fail to make dreadful havoc among them; but it required no great foresight to perceive that a resort to arms would be the height of folly, and that at the first onset they would be immediately overpowered and slaughtered to a man. To retreat was hazardous, for the Indians, perceiving their fear, would be encouraged to attack them; while, if they attempted to take the offender, they would, of course, be resisted. In this dilemma the officers looked despairingly at each other. They had evidently "caught a Tartar." At length the Lieutenant, with more wit than valor, approached Ter-hausen, and extending his hand, graciously informed him that he was satisfied with his willingness to give up the culprit, and to have him properly punished; but he was confident that more good would be accomplished if the chiefs would punish him in their own way, rather than to have that unpleasant duty to perform himself. He would not, therefore, |