May, 1879.
THE WEST SHORE.
'35
small boat running between the two
former places, had left early in the
morning. It remained for me to hunt
up and charter a suitable craft for our
journey, and while in my rounds look
ing for such, I came across Captain
Knighton and Mr. Hunt, who said they
would like to accompany us. I told
them we would he pleased to have
them. They at once set about to assist
me in finding a conveyance. We at
last succeeded in procuring a large
canoe of an old siwash, commonly
known as "Old Stcp-and-fetch-it." I
had the canoe cleaned out and hired a
couple of Indians to assist in paddling
the ponderous craft along. Everything
being at last in readiness, I carried the
lunch bosket and assisted Annie down
to the canoe. We got in and heading
the prow of the "Clackamas Chief"
down stream, went gliding swiftly on
eur way to the first theater in Oregon.
Everything went as smooth as a mar
riage bell, as the saying is, and in the
course of a couple of hours we hove
in sight of Portland. As we ncared the
place, 1 fancied I could see Pettygrovc
and Lovejoy sitting out in front of the
store on the bank playing heads and
tails with that same copper vent that
decided the name of Portland. On ar
riving at the landing, we were agree
ably surprised to find others like our
selves, on their way to the theater, and
among them Annie's parents. Our
craft being a commodious one, we took
them aboard and lost no time in getting
away. After twenty-five miles of pad
dling from Oregon City, we swung out
into the broad Columbia. Our destina
tion was now about five miles further.
Here we had to contend with a
strong current, which made our prog
ress slow and somewhat arduous; but
we told jokes, sang Chinook songs and
talked aliout the future of Oregon, and
while ducussing the latter, I remember
Annie remarking, 'Don't the future
look blooming and gay? Just sec it in
distance yonder.' 'I can't see quite so
far,' Mid I, 'I can only sec it budding.'
Captain Kaighton spoke up and said
that he had left hi glasses at home,
and couldn't even sec the buds, but
could discern great ileal of wilderness.
'Captain,' said Mr. Hunt, 'the time will
come when the wilderness you now see
will bud and blossom as the rose.' 'U
it powible that we have a craxy man
with mt aurprisingly spoke the Cap
tain. 'No; only a prophet,' replied Mr.l
Mint, lust before we reached our
destination wc passed, with cheers, the
Cahpooia, also ncanng Vancouver.
The sun was yet above the horizon
when we reached the latter place.
Annie and I being fond of sight-seeing,
as soon as tea was over we Insgati our am -bulations.
We had heard of the bullous
'Mosquito Grotto,' and were deter
mined to find it; and when wc did wc
went within and sat down to rest.
While we were thus seated, the strains
of a bagpipe broke upon our ears, re
minding us of the approaching time of
the performance. We left our retreat
and strolled toward the river, and when
wc arrived wc found people going on
board. We fell in with the crowd and
soon found ourselves on board the
Modeste.' She had been made very
comfortable for guests. Annie and I
got a seat amidships and leaned back
aiainst the mast. The orchestra, which
consisted of a violin, flute and bagpic,
now struck up. Well, I don't remem
ber whether it was the tunc of 'A home
on the rolling deep,' 'A life on the
ocean wave,' or 'The girl I left behind
me,' however, it makes little difference.
Tbc play opened with 'I.ove in a VIK
lasre,' and was followed by the 'Mock
(attack?) Doctor,' and the 'Mayor of
Garrutt.' I tell you that it was one of
the grandest treats that had ever been
offered west of the Rocky mountains,
and how in the world those jolly tart
did so well, I never could conceive
After the performance was over Cpt
Baillie announced that the rest of the
evening would be devoted to dancing.
You iust ought to have lieen there to
have seen the folks turn themselves
loose. Everylxxly danced. Hut the
Oregon beauties didn't 'glide' nor 'dip'
much in those days. Towards morning
Capf. Baillie again announced this
time that there would be a picnic ilur
ing the coining day, and those that
wanted to look fresh on the occasion
could go home, and those that wished
to continue dancing could do aft, I said
to Annie, using a western phrase,
'We've struck it rich; I guess wc had
better leave off clam ing 10 as to I able
to attend the picnic' She Wing of the
same mind, we adjourned with a giiy
number of folks, still leaving quite
crowd tripping the light fantastic toe.
But it strikes me, Rafael, that it is
aliout time wc were goii g."
"Il i.
11 . . . .a
11 now ruui-paM mu, . .(,,
looking at my watch, "I guess wc
might as well start."
The play for the evening was "Lady
Of Lyons," and New Market theater
was filled with a fashionable audience.
It was really amusing to me to see how
Mr. Newell enjoyed the play, and to
hear him remark, "I declare! I declare!
how things have changed."
After the performance was over wr
dropped into an oyster saloon, and I
had to laugh out when my friend siiid
to the waiter in giving his order, "In
old times wc used to oH'ii them our
selves and eat 'em out of the shell, but
if you've got 'cm already oened, you
may give 'em to me scollocd."
As we emerged from the oyster
saloon, I saw a street car coming, and
remarked, "Now if you still insist that
you won't go home with me, I will put
you in this street car coming ami it will
lake you right down to your hotel."
"I'm much obliged to you, but I guess
I'll go back to the hotel."
1 hailed the driver, and bidding my
friend good-night, saw him safely into
the car, and the last words I heard him
saying were, "I declare! I declare! how
times have changed."
Whatever our other crimes may, or
may not have been, it cannot be truth
fully said that wc ever wrote a hkiid on
tin- "death Of Bryant."
A book ia a man's beat friend, mid
the only one he can shut up without
giving oOcusc.
"Preserve your eyes!" says a quack
doctor in a atartling head-line. No.
thank you; we prefix own in the original
state.
The man who got into m barbel's
chair, pinned the nt'wpax 1 round hi
neck ami hegan to read the towel, may
be called alxcnt-mindcd.
Marriage is like putting your hand
into a bag containing iiiiictYiiiiic snake
uiul one cel. You may gel the eel, but
the chances are against you.
Blcucd is the man who lovctb bis
wife's relations; and not only blcucd,
but also scarce,
"What arc you trying to read?"
asked a visitor of an old gentleman who
was nodding ovn the evening journal.
")!" replied his wife, "thai kj nil
siuHi.e qupvt " Rather pointed.
A young lady, hesitating for a woid
in describing a rejected suitor, "lie's
not a tyrant, not exactly domineering,
but" "Dogmatic," suggested her
friend. "No, he has not dignity enough
; for that. I think pupmalic would coil
I vey my meaning admirably."
I