nanimous choice to read the
Scriptures, and he can form an idea of the last Sunday I spent with the
cow-boys. With slow and deliberate utterance, Phil Claiborne read out
the words of the golden rule, "As ye would that men should do to you, do
ye also to them likewise." Then he proceeded: "These, my hearers, were
the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, who spoke as no man ever spoke; and
I pledge you my word, gentlemen, the Bible is a good egg." Profound
attention greeted the speaker, and continuing, he said, "Whatsoever is
earthly can be soon replaced, but that which is on yon side of the grave
is eternal. If you lose your property, you may acquire more; if you lose
your wife, you may marry again; if you lose your children, you may have
more; but if you lose your immortal soul, then up the spout you go."

HUNTING THE BUFFALO.

WASHINGTON IRVING.

[Washington Irving's experiences were not confined to the banks
of the Hudson, the ruins of the Alhambra, and the rural scenes
of English life, but were extended to embrace the far western
region of his own country, a region at that time still the
domain of savage nature. In 1832, the year embraced in his "Tour
on the Prairies," the buffalo, or bison, now nearly extinct,
roamed in vast herds over the treeless plains, and wild horses
were little less abundant in the same broad region. The work in
question is principally devoted to incidents of a hunter's life
in pursuit of these two animals. The scene lies in the vicinity
of the upper waters of the Red River.]

After proceeding about two hours in a southerly direction, we emerged
towards midday from the dreary belt of the Cross Timber, and to our
infinite delight beheld "the great prairie," stretching to the right and
left before us. We could distinctly trace the meandering course of the
main Canadian and various smaller streams by the strips of green forest
that bordered them. The landscape was vast and beautiful. There is
always an expansion of feeling in looking upon these boundless and
fertile wastes; but I was doubly conscious of it after emerging from our
"close dungeon of innumerous boughs."

From a rising ground Beatte [an Indian member of the party] pointed out
the place where he and his comrades had killed the buffaloes; and we
beheld several black objects moving in the distance which he said were
part of the herd. The captain determined to shape his cours