XXIX
The Burial-ground—A holy Spot—Our culpable Indifference—Cemeteries in our Land—A sad Reflection—The last Petition—Reverence for the Departed—Civilized and Savage Nations—The last Resting-place—Worthy of Thought—A touching Expression of the Heart—Franklin—The Object of Admiration and Love—The Burial-ground of Decatur—The dying Emigrant—The Spirit's Sympathy—A soothing Reflection to Friends—The "Grand Prairie"—The "Lost Rocks"—Decatur—Site and Prospects—A sunset Scene—The Prairie by Moonlight—The Log-cabin—The Exotic of the Prairie—The Heart—The Thank-offering—The Pre-emption Right—The Mormonites—Their Customs—Millennial Anticipations—The Angelic Visitant—The dénouément—The Miracle!—The System of "New Light"—Its Rise and Fall—Aberrations of the Mind—A melancholy Reflection—Absurdity of Mormonism [325]
XXX
A wild Night—An Illusion—Sleeplessness—Loneliness—A Storm-wind on the Prairies—A magnificent Scene—Beauty of [vi] the lesser Prairies—Nature's chef d'œuvre—Loveliness lost in Grandeur—Waves of the Prairie—Ravines—Light and Shade—"Alone, alone, all, all alone!"—Origin of the Prairie—Argument for Natural Origin—Similar Plains—Derivation of "Prairie"—Absence of Trees accounted for—The Diluvial Origin—Prairie Phenomena explained—The Autumnal Fires—An Exception—The Prairie sui generis—No Identity with other Plains—A Bed of the Ocean—A new Hypothesis—Extent of Prairie-surface—Characteristic Carelessness—Hunger and Thirst—A tedious Jaunt—Horrible Suggestions!—Land ho!—A Log-cabin—Hog and Honey [338]
XXXI
Cis-atlantic Character—Avarice—Curiosity—A grand Propellant—A Concomitant and Element of Mental Vigour—An Anglo-American Characteristic—Inspection and Supervision—"Uncle Bill"—The Quintessence of Inquisitiveness—A Fault "on Virtue's Side"—The People of Illinois—A Hunting Ramble—A Shot—Tempis fugit—Shelbyville—Dame Justice in Terrorem—A Sulphur Spring—The Inn Register—Chill Atmosphere of the Forest—Contrast on the Prairie—The "Green-head" Prairie-fly—Effect upon a Horse—Numerous in '35—The "Horse-guard"—The Modus Bellandi—Cold Spring—A presuming Host—Musty Politics—The Robin Redbreast—Ornithology of the West—The Turtle-dove—Pathos of her Note—Paley's Remark—Eloquence of the Forest-bird—A Mormonite, Zionward—A forensic Confabulation—Mormonism Developed—The seduced Pedagogue—Mount Zion Stock—The Grand Tabernacle—Smith and Rigdom—The Bank—The Temple—The School—Appearance of Smith—Of Rigdom—Their Disciples—The National Road—Its Progress—Structure—Terminus—Its enormous Character—A Contrast—"Shooting a Beeve"—The Regulations—Salem—A New-England Seaport—The Location—The Village Singing-school—The Major [348]
XXXII
Rest after Exertion—A Purpose—"Mine Ease in mine Inn"—The "Thread of Discourse"—A Thunder-gust—Its Approach and Departure—A Bolt—A rifted Elm—An impressive [vii] Scene—Gray's Bard—Mount Vernon—Courthouse—Site—Medicinal Water—A misty Morning—A blind Route—"Muddy Prairie"—Wild Turkeys—Something Diabolical!—The direct Route—A vexatious Incident—The unerring Guide—A Tug for a Fixen—An evening Ride—Pinkneyville—Outlines and Requisites—The blood-red Jail—The Traveller's Inn—"'Tis true, and Pity 'tis"—A "Soul in Purgatory"—An unutterable Ill—Incomparable—An unpitied and unenviable Situation—A laughable Bewilderment—Host and Hostess—The Mischief of a Smile—A Retaliation [362]