em as they came out
with a letter would immediately break the seal and commence reading,
although this subjected them to be run against by every passer by, but
they did not seem to heed it, and when to much annoyed they would lean
against the palings or set down in some sheltered spot. There was the
man of business, whom you could distinguish by his brisk walk, important
airs, fine dress & appearence, he would merely glance at the signature,
put it in his pocket, & hurry back to his shop, but I noticed one old
man as he broke open his letter & was reading it, appeared dejected; he
would stop, and his mind would seem abstracted, for he heeded nothing
which passed arround him, it know [no] doubt contained unwelcome news. I
thought it might have been the conduct of some profligate son, or
perhaps of some disaster which affected his pecuniary condition. I also
noticed a woman reading a letter as she walked along leading a small
child, she appeared to be about 40 years of age, rather poorly clad;
when she broke the seal she appeared aggitated, but she had not read far
before she smiled & tears of joy ran down her cheeks, I could not
mistake the mother or wife was there; & I conjectured with some
probability that it was favorable news from a husband or son in
California. But I will not attempt to discribe all I saw, but I must say
that the noise & bustle of those two hours was enough to give one the
headache it exceeded that of the levy of New-Orleans.

[Illustration: _Distant view of St. Louis._]

FOOTNOTES:

[3] Little Wabash River of Illinois.

[4] Her husband was Lloyd Frizzell.

[5] An Americanism with various meanings,--"ashamed," "disconcerted,"
etc.

[6] Her husband.

[7] Ewington, Effingham Co., Ill., twenty-nine miles northeast of
Vandalia, on the west bank of the Little Wabash River. It was formerly
the county seat and derived its name from Gen. W. L. D. Ewing, a
prominent lawyer of Vandalia.

[8] Greenville, Bond Co., Ill., the county seat, situate on the East
Fork of Big Shoal Creek.

[9] Looking Glass Prairie, a large, fine and undulating prairie, situate
between Silver and Sugar Creeks, on the eastern border of St. Clair Co.,
Ill.

[10] Collinsville, Madison Co., Ill.

[11] They were near East St. Louis.

[12] Indian Lake may be meant.

[13] A colloquialism usually denoting a shilling, valued at twelve and a
half cents. A long bit is fifteen cents and a short bit is ten cents.

CHAPTER