Saturday Evening Gazette/June 7, 1856/A Western Boatman

A Western Boatman.—Some years ago, one of this class took passage for New Orleans, and for several days seemed quite desponding for want of excitement. At last the boat put into Napoleon, in the state of Arkansas, for supplies. Just at that moment there was a general fight, extending all along in front of the town, which, at that time, consisted of a single grocery. The unhappy passenger, fidgetting about, jerking his feet up and down as if they were touching upon hot bricks, inquired of a spectator: “Stranger, ar this a free fight?” The reply was prompt: “Well, it ar. If you want to go in, you needn’t stand on ceremony.” The passenger went in and soon after came out again, appearing to be reasonably satisfied. Groping his way on board, his hair half torn out, his coat in tatters, one eye closed up, and several of his teeth knocked into his throat, he sat down on a hen-cop, and soliquized: “So, this is Napoleon, is it? It’s jeest the most refreshing place I’ve seen in many a day.”