His wife was a domesticated，kind-hearted old soul，who had come with him from“the queen city of the world，”which，it seemed，was Philadelphia；but had no love for this western country，and indeed had little reason to bear it any；having seen her children，one by one，die here of fever，in the full prime and beauty of their youth．Her heart was sore，she said，tO think of them；and to talk．on this theme，even to strangers，in that blighted place，SO tar from her old home，eased it somewhat，and became a melancholy pleasure。
The boat appearing towards evening，we bade adieu to the poor old lady and her vagrant spouse，and making for the nearest landing-place，were soon on board the Messenger again，in our old cabin，and steaming down the Mississippi．