No one certainly knows what changes the surface of the earth has undergone, but there is good reason to believe that the broad alluvium (the Valley of the Mississippi) from the mouth of the Ohio to the Mexican Gulf, has been formed from the deposit of the river, as such deposit is still going on at the river's mouths. TIMBER RAFT. Few large rivers are as wide near their mouths as at some point of their course, and this is true of the Mississippi and Missouri. The Mississippi, at its junction with the Missouri, is a mile and a half in width, while below the Ohio the channel decreases in width and increases in depth; but from this point the river rushes on with increased velocity (at the rate of four miles an hour), and at an average width of about one mile. But the spring floods sometimes raise the river above its ordinary level sixty feet, often forty feet; then the water spreads away over the country for thirty miles in width, producing infinite mischief and misery. It is to guard against this overflow and destruction that along the lower portion of the river the broad strong bank has been raised, called the "levee." This has been built at great labor and trouble, and needs to be jealously watched; for at all times, and especially at the time of these floods, the mad river undermines and cuts away the clayey banks; and it is not rare for acres to fall into the raging current in a night. Now and then the high waters wear away this artificial levee, when no men or money must be spared to stop the gap, to fill up the "crevasse" as it is called; and the alarm is sent from plantation to plantation to gather all hands to the work, so that crops and lands may be saved. Whenever the water breaks through, the destruction of property is frightful, and fevers are sure to follow. From the mouth of the Ohio the river loses its picturesque character. Its broad, rapid stream is bordered by level banks covered with woods, which seem endless and monotonous, and one greets a bluff with glad surprise. The broad, boiling river, covered with drifting logs and wood, is only diversified by islands, by rafts, and flat-boats with long sweeps lazily drifting with its current, and by puffing steamers, which, if coming down stream, are piled above their pilot-houses with carts and wagons, bureaus and bedsteads, and all the manifold articles turned out from the busy workshops of Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Pittsburg. We are now passing through the great Cotton Region, where this rich valley is made to produce this one article, and where the great landholders are dignified with the title of Planters-no 4 THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI. longer Farmers. We are in a different region | negroes, and the whole force of the nation is and among a different race, and a thousand things show it; towns cease to be frequent along the bank, and, except Memphis, we see no large town till we reach Vicksburg, in the State of Mississippi, a distance of eight hundred miles from St. Louis. Memphis is built on a fine bluff thirty feet above the highest rise of the river, and is a thriving, active place, with ten churches, four daily papers, mills, and factories, and its new navy yard. From this point the cotton of Western Tennessee is shipped. From Memphis down to New Orleans you see and hear only cotton, or rather cotton and turned into the production of these two articles. Cotton is on the levees, cotton is on the steamers, cotton is in the mouths and bosoms of all the people. It is curious to know that, in the year 1791 (some seventy years ago), only sixtyfour bales of cotton were taken to Liverpool from America, which large quantity then excited surprise and suspicion. Now (1850) the produce of the States is some 2,469,093 bales, which, at ten cents a pound, amounts to the enormous sum of $98,763,720. The cotton plant (Gossypium) seems to be indigenous to Asia, Africa, and America, but so far America has succeeded best in its cultiva "Not want it?" inquired the peddler, incredulously. "No." tion; she produces the most and best cotton. | barrel-"Look here, I don't think I want any But its importance to the world, and particularly more of that powder!" to the manufacturing interest of England, is so great that the commercial men of Liverpool and Manchester have at last taken the matter in hand, determined to induce capital and energy to produce cotton elsewhere. That produced in America is divided into long and short staple, or black seed and green seed. The green seed produces the largest crop, is known as upland cotton, and is the great article of commerce. The long staple or black seed flourishes on the islands and shores of Georgia, and is often called Sea-island cotton. Some of this is exceedingly fine and silky, and brings a high price. The river has ceased to be interesting until we reach the vicinity of New Orleans, where just now we do not intend to go. After this long article, we can only refer to those curious and extremely valuable people the Negroes. At every landingplace picturesque groups or figures arrest the eye, each of whom is a study for painter or philosopher. One such came aboard our flat-boat to swap cotton for powder. Our captain had some made to sell. The old negro held it in his hand and carefully turned it. He looked up waggishly, and said: "Sho, Massa-sho now, dis won't do nohow-dis looks as do't had been shot off three, fo' times sarten-dis neber do for old nigger. Waugh, waugh, waugh!" Peddlers used to sell a kind of powder in New England no doubt similar to this. "Look here, Mister!" said a storekeeper to one who had left him a half "Why not?" "I'll tell you. T'other night I went to git some, and I dropped the candle into the barrel, and nigh half on't burned up before I could put it out. You see it's rather dangerous having such powder round." It was a pure matter of business, and neither laughed. But we must end here; and as the Sultana now comes steaming up the river we will go up too. પ I THE THREE SONS. BY JOHN MOULTRIE. HAVE a son, a little son, a boy just five years old, With eyes of thoughtful earnestness, and mind of gentle mould; They tell me that unusual grace in all his ways appears, That my child is grave and wise of heart beyond his childish years. I can not say how this may be,-I know his face is fair, And yet his chiefest comeliness is his sweet and serious air: I know his heart is kind and fond, I know he loveth me, But loveth yet his mother more with grateful fervency. But that which others most admire is the thought which fills his mind; And when I look into his eyes, and stroke his thoughtful brow, I have a son, a second son, a simple child of three; I'll not declare how bright and fair his little features be, Will sing his little song of love, when left to sport alone. His presence is like sunshine sent to gladden home and hearth, I have a son, a third sweet son; his age I can not tell, And soothe him with a song that breathes of Heaven's divinest things. |