Whatever may be
the other qualities of a border man, he is seldom deficient in the
virtue of hospitality. The emigrant no sooner heard the sharp call of
his wife, than he cast his eyes about him in quest of the stranger, in
order to offer him the place of distinction, in the rude entertainment
to which they were so unceremoniously summoned.
"I thank you, friend," the old man replied to the rough invitation to
take a seat nigh the smoking kettle; "you have my hearty thanks; but I
have eaten for the day, and am not one of them, who dig their graves
with their teeth. Well; as you wish it, I will take a place, for it is
long sin' I have seen people of my colour, eating their daily bread."
"You ar' an old settler, in these districts, then?" the emigrant
rather remarked than enquired, with a mouth filled nearly to
overflowing with the delicious homminy, prepared by his skilful,
though repulsive spouse. "They told us below, we should find settlers
something thinnish, hereaway, and I must say, the report was mainly
true; for, unless, we count the Canada traders on the big river, you
ar' the first white face I have met, in a good five hundred miles;
that is calculating according to your own reckoning.
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