The boatman sat down on the bank, reflecting on the fate of the philosopher; and, as the beaver disappeared in the bend of the river, he rose up and gave vent to his reflections in the following terms: "I guess that gentleman was never taught much of the useful; learning is a good thing in its place, but I guess swimming is the thing on the Mississippi, fix it how you will." As I have alluded to that _rara avis_ in the United States, a totally uneducated man, I may as well give an amusing specimen of the production of another Western, whose studies were evidently in their infancy.

It is a certificate of marriage, and runs thus:-- "State of Illenois Peoria County ss "To all the world Greeting.

Know ye that John Smith and Peggy Myres is hereby certified to go together and do as old folks does, anywhere inside coperas precinct, and when my commission comes I am to marry em good, and date em back to _kivver accidents_.
"O---- M---- R---- [ss] "Justice of the Peace." Let us now return to the "Western World." Having committed the indiscretion of taking my passage on board of her, the next step I took--i.e., paying for it--was worse, and proclaimed me a griffin.

The old stagers know these waters too well to think of paying before they are at, or about, the end of their journey.

Having, however, both taken and paid for my passage, and committed what old maids and sailors would call the audacious folly of starting upon a Friday, I may as well give you a description of the boat.
The river at many places and in many seasons being very low, these steamers are built as light as possible; in short, I believe they are built as light as any company can be found to insure them.