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‘ [368] lived on the Lower Mississippi, and the people down his way could take care of themselves. As long as they owned the Mississippi, the d—d Abolitionists could make all the muss they pleased. We hold the Gulf of Mexico, and the Northwest, and the Yankees may be d—d.’ A very tall, lean, awkward, bony-looking man sidled quietly up to the Mississippian, and, putting his nose, by a stoop, quite close to his face, said, in unmistakable far-Western: ‘Look here, stranger,’ and gently emphasizing his remark by taking the stranger's left ear between his thumb and finger; ‘now, yu may not know it, but I live in Minnesoty, and we make that Mississippi water you call yourn, and we kalkilate to use it some’ The stranger's hand moved pretty quick for a side-pocket, but not quite quick enough. I saw a movement, I heard a blow, and the blood spattered surrounders slightly. In less time than such enterprises usually require, the stranger had fallen heavily on the marble floor, striking his head against an iron column, and remaining in a condition which rendered it desirable to have his friends look after him, if he had any. The Western gentleman was congratulated,—when he apologized, ‘I didn't want to hurt the feller, and I didn't care about his bowie-knife going through me, nother. But the tarnal traitor must let the old country alone, and partickilarly that big river. We want to use that thar water out West.’
United States Publishing Company, 1874.
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