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Show 324 Early Western Travels [ V0L26 very innocently and ignorantly poured the whole pound into her largest kettle, and set it a boiling. Poultry is the other standing dish of Illinois; and the poor birds seem to realize that their destiny is at hand whenever a traveller draws nigh, for they invariably hide their heads beneath the nearest covert. Indeed, so invariably are poultry and bacon visitants at an Illinois table, that [ 72] the story may be true, that the first inquiry made of the guest by the village landlord is the following: " Well, stran- ger, what'U ye take: wheat- bread and chicken fixens, or corn- bread and common doins?" by the latter expressive and elegant soubriquet being signified bacon. Breakfast being over, my foot was once more in the stirrup. The old man accompanied me to the gateway, and shaking my hand in a boisterous agony of good- nature, pressed me to visit him again when he was not drunk. I had proceeded but a few steps on my way when I heard his voice calling after me, and turned my head- " Stran- ger! I say, stran- ger! what do you reckon of sending this young Jack Stewart to Congress?" " Oh, he'll answer." " Well, and that's what I'm a going to vote; and there's a heap o' people always thinks like old Jim does; and that's what made ' em get me groggy last night." I could not but commiserate this old man as I pursued my journey, reflecting on what had passed. He was evidently no common toper; for some of his remarks evinced a keenness of observation, and a depth and shrewdness of thought, which even the withering blight of drunkenness had not completely deadened; and which, with other habits and other circumstances, might have placed him far above the beck and nod of every demagogue. Decatur, III. |