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among the willows； and in time the river will be denied the indigestion
which it confesses in shoals and bars at low water； and in a difficulty
of channel at all stages。
Meanwhile the fields flourish in spite of their unwise largesse to the
stream； whose shores the comfortable farmsteads keep so constantly that
they are never out of sight。 Most commonly they are of brick； but
sometimes of painted wood； and they are set on little eminences high
enough to save them from the freshets； but always so near the river that
they cannot fail of its passing life。 Usually a group of planted
evergreens half hides the house from the boat； but its inmates will not
lose any detail of the show； and come down to the gate of the paling
fence to watch the 'Avonek' float by： motionless men and women； who lean
upon the supporting barrier； and rapt children who hold by their skirts
and hands。 There is not the eager New England neatness about these
homes； now and then they have rather a sloven air； which does not discord
with their air of comfort； and very； very rarely they stagger drunkenly
in a ruinous neglect。 Except where a log cabin has hardily survived the
pioneer period； the houses are nearly all of one pattern； their facades
front the river； and low chimneys point either gable； where a half…story
forms the attic of the two stories below。 Gardens of pot…herbs flank
them； and behind cluster the corn…cribs； and the barns and stables
stretch into the fields that stretch out to the hills； now scantily
wooded； but ever lovely in the lines that change with the steamer's
course。
Except in the immediate suburbs of the large towns； there is no ambition
beyond that of rustic comfort in the buildings on the shore。 There is no
such thing； apparently； as a summer cottage； with its mock humility of
name； up or down the whole tortuous length of the Ohio。 As yet the land
is not openly depraved by shows of wealth； those who amass it either keep
it to themselves or come away to spend it in European travel； or pause to
waste it unrecognized on the ungrateful Atlantic seaboard。 The only
distinctions that are marked are between the homes of honest industry
above the banks and the homes below them of the leisure； which it is
hoped is not dishonest。 But； honest or dishonest； it is there apparently
to stay in the house…boats which line the shores by thousands； and repeat
on Occidental terms in our new land the river…life of old and far Cathay。
They formed the only feature of their travel which our tourists found
absolutely novel； they could clearly or dimly recall from the past every
other feature but the houseboats； which they instantly and gladly
naturalized to their memories of it。 The houses had in common the form
of a freight…car set in a flat…bottomed boat； the car would be shorter or
longer； with one； or two； or three windows in its sides； and a section of
stovepipe softly smoking from its roof。 The windows might be curtained
or they might be bare； but apparently there was no other distinction
among the houseboat dwellers； whose sluggish craft lay moored among the
willows； or tied to an elm or a maple； or even made fast to a stake on
shore。 There were cases in which they had not followed the fall of the
river promptly enough； and lay slanted on the beach； or propped up to a
more habitable level on its slope； in a sole； sad instance； the house had
gone down with the boat and lay wallowing in the wash of the flood。 But
they all gave evidence of a tranquil and unhurried life which the soul of
the beholder envied within him； whether it manifested itself in the lord
of the house…boat fishing from its bow； or the lady coming to cleanse
some household utensil at its stern。 Infrequently a group of the house…
boat dwellers seemed to be drawing a net； and in one high event they
exhibited a good…sized fish of their capture； but nothing so strenuous
characterized their attitude on any other occasion。 The accepted theory
of them was that they did by day as nearly nothing as men could do and
live； and that by night their forays on the bordering farms supplied the
simple needs of people who desired neither to toil nor to spin； but only
to emulate Solomon in his glory with the least possible exertion。 The
joyful witness of their ease would willingly have sacrificed to them any
amount of the facile industrial or agricultural prosperity about them and
left them slumberously afloat； unmolested by dreams of landlord or tax…
gatherer。 Their existence for the fleeting time seemed the true
interpretation of the sage's philosophy； the fulfilment of the poet's
aspiration。
〃Why should we only toil； that are the roof and crown of things。
How did they pass their illimitable leisure； when they rested from the
fishing…net by day and the chicken…coop by night？ Did they read the new
historical fictions aloud to one another？ Did some of them even meditate
the thankless muse and not mind her ingratitude？ Perhaps the ladies of
the house…boats； when they found themselvesas they often didin
companies of four or five； had each other in to 〃evenings；〃 at which one
of them read a paper on some artistic or literary topic。
IV。
The trader's boat； of an elder and more authentic tradition； sometimes
shouldered the house…boats away from a village landing； but it； too； was
a peaceful home； where the family life visibly went hand…in…hand with
commerce。 When the trader has supplied all the wants and wishes of a
neighborhood； he unmoors his craft and drops down the river's tide to
where it meets the ocean's tide in the farthermost Mississippi； and there
either sells out both his boat and his stock； or hitches his home to some
returning steamboat； and climbs slowly； with many pauses； back to the
upper Ohio。 But his home is not so interesting as that of the
houseboatman； nor so picturesque as that of the raftsman； whose floor of
logs rocks flexibly under his shanty； but securely rides the current。 As
the pilots said； a steamboat never tries to hurt a raft of logs； which is
adapted to dangerous retaliation； and by night it always gives a wide
berth to the lantern tilting above the raft from a swaying pole。 By day
the raft forms one of the pleasantest aspects of the river…life； with its
convoy of skiffs always searching the stream or shore for logs which have
broken from it； and which the skiffmen recognize by distinctive brands or
stamps。 Here and there the logs lie in long ranks upon the shelving
beaches； mixed with the drift of trees and fence…rails； and frames of
corn…cribs and hencoops； and even house walls； which the freshets have
brought down and left stranded。 The tops of the little willows are
tufted gayly with hay and rags； and other spoil of the flood； and in one
place a disordered mattress was lodged high among the boughs of a water…
maple； where it would form building material for countless generations of
birds。 The fat cornfields were often littered with a varied wreckage
which the farmers must soon heap together and burn； to be rid of it； and
everywhere were proofs of the river's power to devastate as well as
enrich its shores。 The dwellers there ha