Generally at the end of five years these poor voyageurs were in debt from fifty to 150 dollars and could not leave the country until they had paid their indebtedness; and the policy of the traders was to keep as many of them in the country as they could; and to this end they allowed and encouraged their engagees to get in debt during the five years, which of necessity required them to remain. ceeded over a rough, uncultivated, hilly, and tolerably well timbered country, some six or ten miles to a pretty spot called Diamond Grove, near which was the residence of Col. John B. Terry. Here it was proposed to stop, but on approaching the house, it was evident that the family were not at home, and I proposed to pass on, but was overruled by Col. Daniels, who insisted that it was the seat of genuine hospit These new hands were by the old voyageurs ality, where the latch string was never drawn in called in derision, mangeurs de lard-pork-eaters-which proved to be the case on that occasion, as on leaving Montreal, and on the route to at least, and the whole party entered the house. Mackinaw, they were fed on pork, hard bread, And although no member of the family was at and pea-soup, while the old voyageurs in the home, Col. Daniels, presuming upon his friendIndian country ate corn soup, and such other ship with the proprietor, opened the cupboard, food as could convenietly be procured. These and set out an excellent cold collation, to mangeurs de lard were brought at considerable which was added a bottle of something stronger expense and trouble from Montreal and other than milk, on which the party regaled themparts of Canada, frequently, deserting after selves most satisfactorily. they had received some advance in money and their equipment. Hence it was the object of the traders to keep as many of the old voyageurs in the country as they could, and they generally permitted the mangeurs de lard to get largely in debt, as they could not leave the country and get back into Canada, except by the return boats or canoes which brought the goods, and they would not take t'em back if they were in debt anywhere in the country, which could be easily ascertained from the traders at Mackinaw. But if a man was prudent enough to save his wages, he could obtain passage, as he was no longer wanted in the country. WESTERN WISCONSIN IN 1836. (By S. M. Palmer.) Desirous of visiting Cassville, Prairie du Chien and that part of the territory bordering on the Mississippi, I accepted a cordial invitation from Col. Daniels, of Cassville, to take a seat in his carriage for that place. It was a delightful morning in September, when, with an agreeable party, consisting of the colonel, Mr. Latham, of Mineral Point, and a Mr. Payne, of Boston, we bade adieu to the noble, generous people of Mineral Point, and pro Proceeding across a fine rolling prairie, beautiful as a garden, though almost in a state of nature, with at rare intervals a small agricultural improvement, or a hamlet of miners' huts, we struck the military road, which traverses the dividing ridge extending across the territory, the western terminus being at Prairie du Chien, along which we continued through a succession of natural landscapes, the most rich and gorgeous that can be imagined, until we reached the intersection of the Cassville road; near which, but a short distance along the last named road, we stopped for the night, at a small log hut, the only building of any description in the vicinity, excepting a small one on a recent improvement, said to have been commenced by Hon. Thomas P. Burnett, near where we diverged from the military road. We were generously welcomed, and as comfortably entertained as the limited means of our kind host and hostess would admit. The ride from this point to Cassville was through a country of extraordinary beauty, with a soil of unrivaled richness and fertility, though with the exception of a very few small buildings and improvements, untouched by the hand of man. The people of Cassville, proverbially intelligent, accomplished and enterprising-proud of what they considered the great beauty and immense natural advantages of the location of their | town-were all bustle and excitement in view of many grand and important improvements already projected or in progress; first among which was a magnificent hotel, the foundation for which was already being laid. All classes appeared prosperous, happy and contented, looking forward with confidence to a brilliant future for themselves and their favorite town. After remaining a short time here, I took passage (kindly accompanied by Capt. Estin, and Mr. Latham) on board the steamboat Adventurer,a very small dilapidated and filthy boat, (for at that time there were comparatively few steamers of any description plying on the Mississippi, above Dubuque), for Prairie du Chien. This town, located on a beautiful prairie, some four miles above the mouth of the Wisconsin river, would have been fully equal in appearance to any other site on the Mississippi, but for a slough or bayou which ran through it nearly parallel with the river, thus dividing the town, and giving to that portion next to the river, or Old Town, as it was called, the appearance of an island, which was exclusively occupied by the store and warehouse, a large and elegant stone structure, and other buildings of the North American Fur Company, with a few mean huts tenanted by a miserable set of French and Indians. It was here that John Jacob Astor, the New York millionaire, as a member or chief of that mammoth fur company, made, it has been said, a considerable portion of his immense wealth. garrison were exceedingly courteous and agreeable, exerting themselves to render our visit in every respect pleasant and satisfactory. The New Town contained but few dwelling houses, and those of a very ordinary character, the only one of any pretensions, which I recollect, being that occupied by Judge Lockwood. Returning to Cassville I took passage on board the steamer, Missouri Fulton, and bidding adieu to that delightful territory, in the fond hope of being permitted to visit it again in after years, set out cheerily for my eastern home, at Rock Island, in which stood Fort Armstrong, a handsome and truly formidable fortress. The captain kindly landed to afford the passengers an opportunity of witnessing the formalities of concluding a treaty which was being held between Gov. Dodge, acting for the United States, and the chiefs of the Sauk and Fox Indians, during which the latter ceded to the government their immensely valuable reservation situated on the Iowa river, west of the Mississippi, and nearly opposite to Rock Island, the sum stipulated for the purchase being, as it was then understood, seventy-five cents per acre.* The acquisition of this domain was considcred of great importance to the country; not so much on account of its intrinsic value, as to get rid of those mischievous tribes of Indians, who up to a period very recent, had kept up a continual warfare with their white neighbors, at the instigation of Black Hawk, who strenuously maintained to the last, that they had been *This is substantially correct. The Sauks and Foxes ceded at this treaty, 400 sections, or 256,000 acres, in consideration of which the sum of $30,000 was to be paid them the following year, and $10,000 a year for ten years thereafter, making altogether $130,000. In addition, the government agreed to pay certain debts due to traders, and other claims, amounting in the aggregate to $56, 294.67; and still farther provided to pay certain annuities for several half-breed children for On the opposite side of the bayou, or Nem Town, was Fort Crawford, in which were about 300 United States troops. It occupied a high, airy and commanding position on the prairie, their education, etc., the total amount of which cannot be well and comprised four substantial stone buildings, each some 200 feet long, forming a hollow square, in the center of which was a spacious parade ground. The officers and ladies of the estimated. This would show the cost of the ceded lands at between seventy and seventy-five cents per acre. It is inter esting to notice that Black Hawk, who was present at the treaty, had no official connection with it, having been unjustly deprived of the lands and homes inherited from their fathers, and which ended only with the capture of that brave old chief, and the consequent termination of war in August, 1832. Pending the treaty, some 400 of the Sauk and Fox tribes, old and young, male and female, were encamped on the western bank of the river, opposite the island, who, contrary to the supposed proverbial taciturn and stoical disposition of that people, were engaged in all manner of sports, including horse racing and gambling of every description. The men, many of them, were painted after a variety of grotesque fashions, their heads ornamented and decked out in scarlet cloth or flannel, with a profusion of feathers, beads and other finery. They appeared decidedly happy, and at times were boisterous in their mirth. After the passengers returned to the boat, they were visited, among others, by the co-chiefs, Black Hawk and Keokuk, who exhibited evident signs of pleasure and gratification at being intro duced to them, particularly the ladies, toward whom they were decidedly gallant. This treaty was considered, and justly too, a highly important one, settling, as it did, forever, the difficulties and misunderstandings which had so long subsisted with those Indians, who were the original owners and occupiers of all that beautiful country on both sides of the river, for a considerable distance above and below Rock Island, and Gov. Dodge was highly compli mented for the skillful and successful manner in which he conducted the negotiations for the final result. Thus have I hastily and imperfectly jotted down the reminiscences of a brief residence in the territory, nearly a quarter of a century ago; and if, among them all, there shall be found a single fact worthy of preservation as connected with its early history, I shall feel amply recompensed for the little time and labor it has cost me in its preparation. POTTSVILLE, PA., November, 1858. CHAPTER XXVII. POETS AND POETRY. In the domain of literature, there are not, nor have there been, any citizens of Vernon county who have been rewarded with a worldwide reputation; nevertheless, the efforts of not a few have been creditable, and some have achieved a success that has attracted attention both at home and abroad. But this success has been, in a marked degree, confined to versification. No prose work has ever been printed in Vernon county. Efforts in that line have been confined to now and then an article published in some one of the county papers. Not so, however, in poetry. Ever since newspapers have been printed in the county there have been frequent poetical contributions to them;and an unusual number of these have been of a high order of merit. These effusions have, by no means, been confined to school girls and lovesick swains; but many of the older and most substantial citizens of the county have thought it not beneath them to court the muses; and they have done this sometimes over a nom de plume, but more frequently with their own signatures attached. Occasionally an anonymous piece of poetry has been given to the public, through the medium just mentioned, deserving of particular notice; but these are few. A correspondent of the Northwestern Times contributed under the nom de plume of "Esmarelda," more than a score of years ago, some fugitive poems that were meritorious. We copy one, entitled THE INDIAN. Oh! lone Winnebago, The white man hath robbed thee How sad is thy journey, Through these wide rolling prairies, No more thou art free; Scarce a grave for thy dead Will they grant unto thee. No more o'er these bluffs Shall thou roam with delight, Nor chase the wild deer With fleet step and light, Nor 'round the great council fire Recline at thine ease, Nor smoke with thy kindred The calumet of peace. No more shall thou fish Of the tomahawk gleam; Oh! sad Winnebago, We grieve for thy fate, Thy wrongs by the white man Hath earned them thy hate. May the spirit thou worship Yet grant unto thee A portion with braves And home with the free. In the following poetical contribution to the Censor of Dec. 20, 1865, the cumulative measures are striking, and the poetic images decidedly above mediocrity. It is anonymous and is entitled SUNSHINE IN WINTER. The golden sunshine, Earth's dreary days, Storm clouds on storm clouds Such dark storm clouds- Kavish'd vision, Like a pure angel, A wing'd angel, From Heaven's clear blue The sapphire blue, The deep, deep blue above, It strikes on our heart-strings, Eve's last zephyr. Smites the silk cord, Of alone, lone harp. A lost, lost harp, Earth's sweet flowers. And oh, the charming music, The wintry air, When the sweet sunshine, The charming sunshine, And floods the whole world, The whole, whole world! Who in Vernon county does not know Wm. F. Terhune, one of the oldest of its lawyer and citizens? Few would suspect from his matterof-fact way of talking that his thoughts ever ran in a poetic groove; yet, he has published a number of fugitive pieces, of which he may well be proud. We select from the Vernon county Censor of April 21, 1874, A WISH. When summer's sun pours down its ardent rays, He is, By far the most prolific of Vernon county poets is the Rev. William Haughton. His contributions, at home and abroad, to various papers, have been numerous. indeed, a true poet. He has an exhuberance of fancy, and his style is picturesque and attractive. He paints a pen-picture with a masterly hand. He has published a collection of his poems, entitled, "Sylvicola, or, Songs from the Backwoods." The book is a beautiful specimen of the printer's art. It was published in 1878 at Viroqua, by Henry Casson, Jr. The author's preface is brief and we give it entire: PREFACE. "I know not what may be the fate of this little book, I make no appeal to the hearts or |