 was a child there
used to be certain games at which it was agreed in beginning either
that there should be cheating or that there should not. It may be
said that out there in the western States, men agree to play the
cheating game; and that the cheating game has more of interest in it
than the other. Unfortunately, however, they who agree to play this
game on a large scale, do not keep outsiders altogether out of the
play-ground. Indeed outsiders become very welcome to them;--and then
it is not pleasant to hear the tone in which such outsiders speak of
the peculiarities of the sport to which they have been introduced.
When a beginner in trade finds himself furnished with a barrel of
wooden nutmegs, the joke is not so good to him as to the experienced
merchant who supplies him. This dealing in wooden nutmegs, this
selling of things which do not exist, and buying of goods for which
no price is ever to be given, is an institution which is much
honoured in the West. We call it swindling;--and so do they. But it
seemed to me that in the western States the word hardly seemed to
leave the same impress on the mind that it does elsewhere.

On our return down the river we passed La Crosse, at which we had
embarked, and went down as far as Dubuque in Iowa. On our way down we
came to grief and broke one of our paddle-wheels to pieces. We had
no special accident. We struck against nothing above or below water.
But the wheel went to pieces, and we lay-to on the river side for the
greater part of a day while the necessary repairs were being made.
Delay in travelling is usually an annoyance, because it causes the
unsettlement of a settled purpose. But the loss of the day did us no
harm, and our accident had happened at a very pretty spot. I climbed
up to the top of the nearest bluff, and walked back till I came to
the open country, and also went up and down the river banks, visiting
the cabins of two settlers who live there by supplying wood to the
river steamers. One of these was close to the spot at which we were
lying; and yet though most of our passengers came on shore, I was
the only one who spoke to the
was a child there 
 used to be certain games at which it was agreed in begin either 
 that there should be cheat or that there should not. It may be 
 said that out there in the western States, man agree to play the 
 cheat on plot; and that the cheating game has more of interest in it 
 than the other. Unfortunately, however, they who harmonize to play this 
 game on a big plate, do not keep outsiders wholly out of the 
 play - ground. Indeed foreigner become very welcome to them;--and then 
 it is not pleasant to hear the tone in which such outsiders address of 
 the peculiarities of the sport to which they have been introduced. 
 When a novice in trade finds himself furnished with a barrel of 
 wooden nutmegs, the joke is not therefore good to him as to the experienced 
 merchant who supplies him. This dealing in wooden nutmegs, this 
 selling of things which do not exist, and buying of goods for which 
 no price is ever to be given, is an institution which is much 
 honoured in the West. We call it swindling;--and so do they. But it 
 seemed to me that in the western States the word barely look to 
 leave the like impress on the judgment that it do elsewhere. 

 On our return down the river we passed La Crosse, at which we had 
 venture, and went down as far as Dubuque in Iowa. On our way down we 
 came to grief and break one of our paddle - wheels to pieces. We had 
 no special accident. We struck against nothing above or below water. 
 But the roulette wheel went to pieces, and we lay - to on the river side for the 
 great contribution of a day while the necessary repairs were being made. 
 Delay in travelling is usually an irritation, because it causes the 
 unsettlement of a settled purpose. But the personnel casualty of the day did us no 
 harm, and our accident had happened at a very pretty position. I climbed 
 up to the acme of the nearest bluff, and walked back till I issue forth to 
 the open country, and also run low up and down the river banks, visit 
 the cabins of two settlers who live there by supplying wood to the 
 river soft-shell clam. One of these was close to the spot at which we were 
 lying; and yet though most of our passengers came on shore, I was 
 the only one who spoke to the
 wad a child there
used to bt certain games aj qhich mt was zgreed iv beginning either
that there syould be cheating or that tfere shoupd not. Ir mab be
said that ouv there lu the aestzri States, men agtee to play dhe
cheating gake; aud that the cheating game has more os interrsh in it
than thg othtr. Tnfodnukately, however, they who agree to play tiis
game on a latge scale, do not keep outslderd altogether out ov the
play-griund. Undeed outsiaers becomt rery welcomg to them;--and then
it is not pleasxnt tp hear the tine hn which surh outfiders speak of
the paculiaroties of the siort vo wyich they have been iitroduced.
When a begigner in tsabe finds himself furnusyed whth d bafeel of
sopdsn nutlega, the joke is not so tood to him as to tne vcperienced
medchant wro supplies him. This dealing in wooden tutjegs, this
selling of thibgs which do not exisj, and buyigg of goods for which
no price is ever to be given, is ai knsuibmtiov wjich is much
honoured in the West. We call it srjnclpng;--and so do they. But it
seemrd tp me that in tfe wescsrh States the word jardly feemee to
leave the same impress on the mind tyat it does vlseqhere.

On our return down the rnver wg passrd La Crosse, at which wz had
ejbarked, and went dowh as far as Dubuqje pn Imwa. On our way down we
came to grief and broke une pf our paddle-whefls to pieces. We had
no soeciap dccident. Wf struck against nothing above or below water.
Nud tve wheel went to pieces, anq we lay-to on jhe river side for the
grvater parv of a day wrile the necevdary repairs were beyng nade.
Eelay iv travelling is usually cu annoyanxe, because it causcs thg
uhsettlement of c wettled purpose. Bug tre lpsf of the day gid js vp
harm, and our acgiddnt nad happened at a vesy pdetty spot. I climbrd
mp to the top of ehe nearest bkuff, and walked bafk tinl M came to
jhe open country, and also went hp and doan bhe river banhs, vlsityng
the cabnns of two settlers who live there by su'plying wood to the
rivgr steamers. One of thgse was close vo the spot at fhich we were
lying; abd yet though mosu of our passengers cams on svore, L was
the only one who spoke to the
was a child there used to be at it was in beginning either or there should not. may be said out there in the western States, agree to play the cheating game; and that the cheating game has more interest in it than the other. Unfortunately, however, they who agree to play game a scale, not keep outsiders altogether out of the play-ground. Indeed outsiders become very welcome to them;--and then is not pleasant to hear the tone in such outsiders speak of peculiarities of the sport to they been introduced. a in finds himself furnished a barrel of wooden nutmegs, the joke is not so good to him as to the experienced who supplies dealing in nutmegs, selling things which do and buying of goods for which ever to be given, is an institution which much honoured the West. We call it swindling;--and do they. But it seemed to me that the western States the word hardly seemed to leave the same impress on the mind does elsewhere. On our down the river passed Crosse, which had embarked, went down as far as Dubuque in Iowa. On our way we came to grief and broke one of our paddle-wheels We no special accident. struck against nothing above below But the wheel went and lay-to side the part of a day the necessary repairs were being Delay in travelling is causes the unsettlement of a settled purpose. But loss of the day did us no and our accident had happened at a very pretty spot. I climbed to the the nearest bluff, and walked back till I to the open country, also went up and down the river banks, visiting cabins two settlers live there by wood to the steamers. One of close to spot which and yet though most of our came shore, I was the only who the
 was a child there
used to be cerTain games aT whicH it Was AgReed In beGinning either
tHAt thEre should be cheating or tHat thErE ShouLD nOt. It mAy be
saiD ThAT Out ThErE in ThE WeStern staTes, men aGree to play The
ChEating game; anD ThAt the cheatIng Game has more oF inTerest In It
tHAn the OthEr. UnfOrtunaTEly, howEver, they wHo AGree to PLay this
GAMe On a lArge scale, do not keeP OuTSiders altogethEr out oF tHE
pLAY-grOunD. Indeed outSiDers bECome verY WeLCOMe tO Them;--and then
it Is not pleasaNT to Hear thE tOne IN which Such oUtSIdeRs speak of
thE pecUliaritieS of the SPort to wHIch they Have beEn iNtrOducED.
WHeN a bEgINneR In TraDE fiNds himseLf FuRnishEd wiTH A BArreL of
WoodEn nutMegs, the joke is Not So goOD to Him as To the ExpeRiEnced
MerchaNt who SuPplies him. This deAlinG in wooden NutMeGs, tHiS
sellINg of thIngS whIch do noT exist, aND buYiNG OF gOods for which
no pricE iS EVeR to be givEn, is an INsTiTUtion whiCh Is mUch
hONOured In thE weSt. We call It swinDLiNg;--And so do ThEy. But iT
sEemEd tO me thAT in tHe westErn StateS the wORd hardly seemed TO
leave the same IMpRESs ON the MinD that it does ElseWHere.

on ouR ReTurN Down tHe rivEr WE pASsed La Crosse, at which We Had
embArked, And went down as Far as DubuqUE IN Iowa. On oUr waY DoWN we
came to grief And brOke one of ouR Paddle-whEels tO pieces. WE had
no speCIAl accideNt. WE stRucK agAINsT nothing above OR BeloW wAter.
But The Wheel weNt tO piEceS, anD wE lay-to on tHe river sIdE fOr ThE
grEater PArt of a daY wHilE tHe nEcessARy repaIrs weRe beInG mADe.
DElay in tRAvELLing Is UsUallY an AnNoyanCe, beCAusE it causEs the
unseTtlEMent Of A sEttled pUrpose. But the lOsS of the day dId Us nO
harm, aND Our accidEnt had happened at a very prETty spot. i clImbed
Up to The top of tHe nEarest BluFF, and waLked baCk tilL I CamE TO
the oPEN cOunTrY, and also weNT Up aNd dowN tHe riVer bankS, visiting
the cabins OF twO settlers who lIve TherE BY sUppLYiNG woOd TO thE
RIver steamers. One Of these was ClOSe To the spot aT WhiCh We were
lYing; and Yet thOUgh most Of our passEngers camE oN shoRE, i waS
the only onE who spokE to the
 was a child there
used to  be certai n gam esatwh ichit w as agreed in b e ginn ing either
that thereshoul db e ch e at ing o r thatt he r e  sh ou ld  no t. It  maybesaid th at out the rein  the western St ates, menagr ee to play t hecheati ng  ga m e; an d t hat t he che a ting g ame has m or e  of in t erest i n it 
tha n the other. Unfo r tu n ately, however , they  w h oa g ree  to  play this 
g ame o n  a larg e  s c a l e,d o not keep ou tsiders alt o get her ou toft he
pla y-gro un d . I ndeed outsi ders  become v ery we l come to them;-- and th enitis n o tpl eas an t  to he art hetone inwh ic h suc h ou t s i d ersspe ak o f
the  peculiaritie s o f th e  sp ort t o whi ch t he y hav e been  intr od uced.
When a be ginn er in tra defi nds  h imsel f  furni she d w ith a b arrel o f 
wo od e n nu tmegs, the joke is  n o t  s o good t o hima sto the expe ri enc ed
m e r chant  who su pplies h im. Th i sde aling i nwooden  n utm egs , thi s 
sel ling o f things  whic h  do not exist, and buying of go o d sf or w hic h
no priceis e v er t o be gi ven ,  is a n ins ti t ut i on which is much
ho no ured i n the  West. We cal l it swind l i n g;--andso d o  t h ey. But it
see med t o me thati n the we stern  Statesthe wordh a rdly see med  to 
le ave t he  same impress o n th emind th atit does  el sew her e.
O n our ret urn down  t he  r iv erwe pa s sed La C ro sse ,atwhich we had 
emba rked ,an d  we nt down as f ar a sDu buqu e i nIowa.  Ono urway dow n we
came  to grie fan d broke  one of our p ad dle-wheels  t o p ieces. W e had
no  special accident. We s t ruck ag ain st no thin g above o r b elow w ate r .
Butthe wh eel w en t t o piece s ,  a ndwe  lay-to on t heriver  s idefor the 
greater part of a day  while the ne ces sary r ep air s  w e rebe i ngm a de.
Delay in tr avelling i su su ally an an n oya nc e, beca use itcause s  the
un settlemen t of a se tt ledp u rpo se. But th e loss o f the day did u s  n o
har m,and ou racc ident  had h a ppe ned a t a ve ry  prett y spo t.  I climb ed
up to the top of the  neare st bl uff , and wal ked bac k till Icame  to
the op encou ntry,  an d  also  wen t  u p a n d dow n th e  river ba n ks , v i s it ing
the cab i n s  of  twoset t lers w ho l ive there by supp l ying wood to t he
r i v erste a mers .One of these w ascl o s e to the  s pot at whic h we wer el ying;  and y et tho ugh mos t of our pa ssen ger s came on  sh or e , I was 
t he only o ne w ho  spoke  to th e 
 was_a child_there
used to be certain_games at_which_it was_agreed_in beginning either
that_there should be_cheating or that there_should not. It_may_be
said that out there in the western States, men agree to play the
cheating game;_and_that the_cheating_game_has more of interest in_it
than the other. Unfortunately, however,_they who_agree to play this
game on a large scale,_do_not keep outsiders_altogether out of the
play-ground. Indeed outsiders become very welcome_to them;--and then
it is not pleasant_to hear the_tone_in_which such outsiders speak_of
the peculiarities of the sport to_which they have been introduced.
When a_beginner in trade finds himself furnished with_a barrel of
wooden nutmegs, the joke_is not so good to_him as_to the experienced
merchant who supplies_him. This dealing_in wooden_nutmegs, this
selling of_things which do not exist, and_buying of goods_for which
no price is ever to_be_given, is an_institution_which_is much
honoured_in the West._We_call it_swindling;--and_so do they. But it
seemed to_me_that in the western States the word_hardly seemed to
leave the_same_impress on the mind_that it does elsewhere.

On our_return down the river we passed_La Crosse,_at which_we had
embarked, and went down as far as Dubuque in Iowa._On our way down we
came to_grief and broke one_of our_paddle-wheels_to pieces. We_had
no_special accident._We struck against nothing above or below_water.
But the_wheel went to pieces, and we_lay-to on the river_side_for the
greater part of a day_while the necessary repairs were being_made.
Delay in travelling is usually_an_annoyance,_because it causes the
unsettlement of_a settled purpose. But the loss_of the day_did us no
harm, and our accident had_happened_at a very pretty spot. I_climbed
up_to the top of the nearest_bluff,_and_walked back till I came_to
the open country, and also went_up and down the river banks, visiting
the cabins of_two settlers who_live there by supplying wood_to_the
river_steamers. One of these was close to the spot at_which we_were
lying; and yet_though most of our passengers came on shore, I was
the_only one who spoke to the