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279 EIGHTEENTH. We are now over the fortieth parallel^ Which divides Nebraska from hell, Where black Abohtionists did dwell, Watched over by Brown so well; While Missourians did cuss and swell,. When overrunning the territory pell-mell, Waiting for the liberty bell to tell War is ended and slavery as well. . NEBRASKA is caHed in Indian "Water Val- ley or Shallow Water." And how appro- priate it is, as will be seen from the nature of the Platte river, which nearly cuts the State in two, and of most of the streams emptying into it. The Platte must be over 500 mUes long. It runs from the west line until it empties into the Missouri on the east; the State being 420 miles in length. The name "Nebraska" is a beautiful one and is musical besides being very applicable, for the Platte river is very wide and shallow to a certain extent; and still, since it is a waterway which drains over one-half of the State, at times it is mighty deep instead of shal- low. . During the overland travel it was always dreaded by the freighters, owing to its treacherous quicksand, and many a wagon was lost while trymg to ford it.