, chewing the cud of reflection.
A dozen will sit together in the same way, and there shall not be
a dozen words spoken between them in an hour. With the women one's
chance of conversation is still worse. It seemed as though the
cares of the world had been too much for them, and that all talking
excepting as to business,--demands for instance on the servants
for pickles for their children,--had gone by the board. They were
generally hard, dry, and melancholy. I am speaking of course of aged
females,--from five and twenty perhaps to thirty, who had long since
given up the amusements and levities of life. I very soon abandoned
any attempt at drawing a word from these ancient mothers of families;
but not the less did I ponder in my mind over the circumstances of
their lives. Had things gone with them so sadly, was the struggle
for independence so hard, that all the softness of existence had
been trodden out of them? In the cities too it was much the same. It
seemed to me that a future mother of a family in those parts had left
all laughter behind her when she put out her finger for the wedding
ring.

For these reasons I must say that life on board these steam-boats was
not as pleasant as I had hoped to find it, but for our discomfort in
this respect we found great atonement in the scenery through which we
passed. I protest that of all the river scenery that I know, that of
the Upper Mississippi is by far the finest and the most continued.
One thinks of course of the Rhine; but, according to my idea of
beauty, the Rhine is nothing to the Upper Mississippi. For miles upon
miles, for hundreds of miles, the course of the river runs through
low hills, which are there called bluffs. These bluffs rise in every
imaginable form, looking sometimes like large straggling unwieldy
castles, and then throwing themselves into sloping lawns which
stretch back away from the river till the eye is lost in their twists
and turnings. Landscape beauty, as I take it, consists mainly in four
attributes: in water, in broken land, in scattered timber,--timber
scattered as opposed to continuous forest timber,--and in the
accident of colour. In all these
, chewing the cud of reflection. 
 A dozen will ride in concert in the same way, and there shall not be 
 a twelve words address between them in an hour. With the women one's 
 prospect of conversation is even worse. It look as though the 
 cares of the world had been besides much for them, and that all talking 
 excepting as to business,--demands for example on the servant 
 for pickles for their children,--had gone by the board. They were 
 generally hard, dry, and somber. I am speaking of course of aged 
 females,--from five and twenty perhaps to thirty, who had long since 
 yield up the amusements and levities of animation. I very soon abandoned 
 any attack at drawing a son from these ancient mothers of families; 
 but not the less did I ponder in my judgment over the circumstances of 
 their lives. Had things gone with them so sadly, was the struggle 
 for independence so hard, that all the softness of existence had 
 been trodden out of them? In the cities too it was much the same. It 
 seemed to me that a future mother of a family in those part had left 
 all laughter behind her when she arrange out her finger for the marriage 
 band. 

 For these reasons I must say that biography on board these steam - boats was 
 not as pleasant as I had hoped to rule it, but for our discomfort in 
 this respect we found great atonement in the scenery through which we 
 passed. I protest that of all the river scenery that I know, that of 
 the Upper Mississippi is by far the fine and the most continued. 
 One thinks of course of the Rhine; but, harmonize to my idea of 
 smasher, the Rhine is nothing to the Upper Mississippi. For mile upon 
 miles, for hundreds of miles, the course of the river melt through 
 low hills, which are there called bluff. These bluffs rise in every 
 imaginable form, search sometimes like large straggling unwieldy 
 castles, and then throwing themselves into slope lawns which 
 unfold back away from the river till the center is lost in their twists 
 and turnings. Landscape smasher, as I take it, consists mainly in four 
 attributes: in water, in broken land, in scattered timber,--timber 
 scattered as opposed to continuous forest timber,--and in the 
 accident of colour. In all these
, chfwing the cud of reflectlon.
A dozen will sit togxther ih the saoe way, and there shall not bx
a dizen qords spoken between tfem in an hour. Wirh tie women one's
chaide of converszbion ns still worse. Ij seemed as dhough the
carev uf the world had been too much for thqm, and yhwt all talking
gxcepuind as no business,--demands for instance on the servants
for lickles for their children,--jad hone by the board. Hhey were
geberajoy hard, dry, xnd melancholy. I am spgaking of course of aged
females,--ffom fnve and twebtt pfthaps to thicty, whj had long slmce
givan up tne amusements snd lecities of life. I very soon abandoned
any attempt dt drawing a word feon theve atcievr muthtrs or famipiea;
but not tge less did I ponder in my minc jnrr the circujstancqs of
their lives. Had things gone with thek sk sadly, was the strugglw
for independence so jard, that all the softness of existence had
been trodden oud of vhdm? Nk gye cities too it was much the same. It
seemed to is uhan a future mother of a familu ln jhose parts haa left
cml laughter behind hfr when she put out htr fimger for the wedding
ring.

For these reasous U must say that liye on board chese xteam-noats was
not as pleasanc as I had hoped ho find if, but for our diszomnord in
this respect we found dreat atoiemenc in the scemery trrough whifh we
idssed. I protest thwt of anl the rivfr scenery that I know, that of
tix Upper Missixshppp is by fcr the finest and tre most continoed.
One thnnks ow course or the Riine; but, accjrding to my hfea of
beauty, the Rhige iw norhing tu the Upper Misxissippi. Yjr mules upon
miles, for huvsreds of miles, cke course of the tivdr wujs trsough
low hilns, wficf are ghere calleb clufgs. These bluffs rise in svery
imaginable fotm, looking sometimqs like large straggling unwielfy
casvles, aid them trrowing themselves into slopinf lawns wjicm
stretch back awan frjm the rivzr till the eye is lost in their twists
aid turnings. Landscape bwauty, as I take it, eoksists mainlb in fjur
attribgtes: in water, in brojen land, in scatttred timber,--timber
scatteded as oppoded to continuous forest timber,--and in the
accident of colour. In all these
, chewing the cud of reflection. A sit in the way, and there words between them in hour. With the one's chance of conversation is still It seemed as though the cares of the world had been too much them, and that all talking excepting as to business,--demands for instance on the for for children,--had by the board. They were generally hard, dry, and melancholy. I am speaking of course of females,--from five and twenty perhaps to thirty, who long since given up amusements and levities of life. very abandoned any at a from these ancient of families; but not the less did I ponder in my mind over the circumstances of their Had things them so was struggle independence so hard, the softness of existence had been them? In the cities too it was much same. It to me that a future mother a family in those parts had left all behind her when she put out her finger for the wedding ring. For these reasons say that life on these steam-boats was as as had to find but for our discomfort in this respect we found great atonement the scenery through which we passed. I protest that of river that I know, of the Upper Mississippi by the finest and the One of Rhine; according my idea of beauty, Rhine is nothing to the Mississippi. For miles upon the course of the river runs through low which are there called bluffs. These bluffs in every imaginable form, looking sometimes like large straggling unwieldy castles, and throwing themselves lawns which stretch back away from the river the eye is lost their twists and turnings. Landscape beauty, as I take consists in four in water, in land, in scattered scattered as opposed forest timber,--and the of these
, chewing the cud of reflection.
a dozen will Sit toGetHer In The sAme wAy, and there shalL Not bE
a dozen words spoken betwEen thEm IN an hOUr. with tHe women ONe'S
CHanCe Of ConVeRSaTion iS stIll worsE. It seemed aS thOuGh the
cares of THe World had beEn tOo much for theM, anD that aLl TalKIng
exCepTing aS to busINess,--deMands for iNsTAnce on THe servaNTS
fOr piCkles for their chilDReN,--Had gone by the boArd. TheY wERe
GENerAllY hard, dry, anD mElancHOly. I am sPEaKING of COurse of aged
feMales,--from fiVE anD twentY pErhAPs to thIrty, wHo HAd lOng since
givEn up The amusemEnts anD LevitieS Of life. I Very soOn aBanDoneD
AnY aTteMpT At dRAwIng A WorD from theSe AnCient MothERS OF famIliEs;
buT not tHe less did I ponDer In my MInd Over tHe cirCumsTaNces oF
their Lives. haD things gone with Them So sadly, waS thE sTruGgLe
for INdepenDenCe sO hard, thAt all thE SofTnESS Of Existence had
been trOdDEN oUt of them? in the cITiEs TOo it was mUcH thE samE. iT
seemEd to ME tHat a futuRe mothER oF a Family iN tHose paRtS haD leFt
all LAughTer behInd her whEn she PUt out her finger FOr the wedding
rINg.

fOR tHEse rEasOns I must say That LIfe oN boaRD tHesE Steam-Boats WaS
NoT As pleasant as I had hopEd To find It, but For our discomfOrt in
this rESPEct we fouNd grEAt ATonement in the sCenerY through whICh we
passEd. I prOtest thaT of all the RIVer sceneRy tHat i knOw, tHAT oF
the Upper MissISSippI iS by far tHe fInest anD thE moSt cOntInUed.
One thiNks of couRsE oF tHe rhiNe; but, ACcording To My iDeA of
BeautY, The RhiNe is nOthiNg To THe UPper MisSIsSIPpi. FOr MiLes uPon
MiLes, foR hunDRedS of mileS, the coursE of THe riVeR rUns throUgh
low hills, whIcH are there cAlLed Bluffs. tHEse bluffS rise in every
imaginable fORm, lookiNg sOmetiMes lIke large sTraGgling UnwIEldy
caStles, aNd theN tHroWINg theMSElVes InTo sloping lAWNs wHich
sTrEtch Back awaY from the river till tHE eyE is lost in theiR twIsts
AND tUrnINgS. lanDsCApe BEAuty, as I take it, coNsists mainLy IN fOur
attribuTEs: iN wAter, in bRoken laNd, in sCAttered Timber,--timBer
scatteReD as oPPOseD to continuOus foresT timber,--anD In the
ACcIdent Of cOlour. IN aLl tHese
, chewing the cud of refle ction.
A d ozenwil l s it  tog ethe r in the samew ay,and there shall not be 
a do ze n  wor d sspoke n betwe e nt h emin  a n h ou r .Withthe  womenone's
chan ceof  conversatio n  i s still wo rse . It seemedasthough  t hec aresofthe w orld h a d been  too much  f o r them ,  and th a t  a ll t alking
exceptinga st o business,--d emands  f o ri n sta nce  on the se rv antsf or pick l es f o r t h eir children, --had goneb y t he boa rd . T h ey wer e
gen er a lly  hard, dry,  and  melancho ly. Ia m speak i ng of c ourseofage d
fe m al es ,-- fr o m f i ve  an d  tw enty per ha ps  to t hirt y , w ho h adlong  sinc e
given up th e a muse m ent s and  levi ties  o f lif e. I v ery s oo n abandoned
any  att empt at d raw in g a  w ord f r om the seanc ient mo thers o f  fa mi l i e s; 
but not the lessdi d Iponder i n my m i nd  o v er the c ir cum stan c e s ofthei r  l ives. Ha d thin g sgo ne with  t hem so  s adl y,was t h e st ruggle 
for ind epend e nce so hard, t h at all the so f tn e s so f ex ist ence had
be en t r odde n ou t  o f t h em? I n the  c i ti e s too it was much t he  same.  It
s eemed to me t hat a futu r e mother o f af am i ly in those pa rts h ad left
al l  laughte r beh ind herwhen shep u t out he r f ing erfor t he  wedding
ring . 
For  t hese re aso ns I mu stsay  th atli fe on boa rd these  s te am -b oat s was not as p le asa nt  as  I ha d  hoped  to f indit ,b utfor our di s c omfo rt  i n
th isre spect  wef oun d great  atonemen t i n  the  s ce nery th rough which w epassed. Ipr ote st tha t of all t he river scenery that I know, t hat  of
t he U pper Miss iss ippi i s b y  far t he fin est a nd  th e mostc o nt inu ed .
One thin k s  of  cour se  ofthe Rhi ne; but, according tomy idea of
be aut y, t h e  R hin e  i s  no th i ngt o  the Upper Miss issippi. F or mi les upon
m i les ,for hun dreds o f mil e s, thecourse of  the rive rruns t hro ugh
low hi lls, whi ch are th e re ca l le d blu ffs . Thes eblu ffs r ise in eve ry
im aginab le  form,  look in g someti mes like large straggli ng unw ieldy 
ca stles, an d t h enthrowingthem selves int o s lop ing l awn s  whic h
st r et chb ack a wayf rom the r i ve r t i l lthe eye isl o s t i n the irt wistsandturnings. Landsca p e beauty, as I  tak e it,  co n sist smainly in four 
at tr i b utes: in  w ater, in br oken lan d, in sc attere d timb er,--ti m b er scatte redasopposed t o c on t inuousfo re s t timb er,- -a nd inthe
ac c iden t of colour. In al l the s e 
, chewing_the cud_of reflection.
A dozen will_sit together_in_the same_way,_and there shall_not be
a dozen_words spoken between them_in an hour._With_the women one's
chance of conversation is still worse. It seemed as though the
cares of_the_world had_been_too_much for them, and that_all talking
excepting as to business,--demands_for instance_on the servants
for pickles for their children,--had gone_by_the board. They_were
generally hard, dry, and melancholy. I am speaking of_course of aged
females,--from five and twenty_perhaps to thirty,_who_had_long since
given up the_amusements and levities of life. I_very soon abandoned
any attempt at drawing_a word from these ancient mothers of_families;
but not the less did I_ponder in my mind over_the circumstances_of
their lives. Had things gone_with them so_sadly, was_the struggle
for independence_so hard, that all the softness_of existence had
been_trodden out of them? In the_cities_too it was_much_the_same. It
seemed_to me that_a_future mother_of_a family in those parts had_left
all_laughter behind her when she put out_her finger for the_wedding
ring.

For_these reasons I must_say that life on board_these steam-boats was
not as pleasant as_I had_hoped to_find it, but for our discomfort in
this respect we found great_atonement in the scenery through which_we
passed. I protest that_of all_the_river scenery that_I_know, that_of
the Upper Mississippi is by far the_finest and_the most continued.
One thinks of course_of the Rhine; but,_according_to my idea of
beauty, the Rhine_is nothing to the Upper Mississippi._For miles upon
miles, for hundreds_of_miles,_the course of the river_runs through
low hills, which are there_called bluffs. These_bluffs rise in every
imaginable form, looking sometimes_like_large straggling unwieldy
castles, and then throwing_themselves_into sloping lawns which
stretch back away_from_the_river till the eye is_lost in their twists
and turnings. Landscape_beauty, as I take it, consists mainly in four
attributes:_in water, in_broken land, in scattered timber,--timber
scattered_as_opposed_to continuous forest timber,--and in the
accident of colour. In all_these