splendid equipages; and above all, and over all, and unapproachable by any other painting in Nature's gallery, those charming creatures, whom I could neither class nor specify, a thousand times more beautiful than flowers, and more musical than birds, with steps lighter than those of the fawn, and hair mocking the wild grapevine, and lips like mossrose-buds,—but I must not stop to relate all that came to excite curiosity and astonishment, since some of them not mentioned in my catalogue, might lead my readers to imagine my mind of a light order, thus to have noticed trifles at a comparatively mature age. upon the second day, the beautiful fields which bask | How many beautiful and attractive objects, before in the eastern horizon of the Alleghany mountains, the sun went down, came to "shew my eyes," but were revealed to my wondering eyes. The sun not to "grieve my heart." Beautiful houses, had just risen, and was throwing a flood of mellow light on the fields of golden grain, just ready for the sickle. The vast plain beneath us was dotted thick with the bounteous bequests of the beneficent Ceres. Nature had decked herself as if for her bridal; and had bidden a party of all that was bright and beautiful, both in the floreal and cereal world. My journeys since that period have been neither few nor brief. I have been over many a league of the earth's surface, and seen Dodona's Grove, and the shades where Pan piped to Omphale, and where Daphne listened to the syren notes of Apollo; but I have seen nothing to compare with the view, one obtains of a Summer morning from the eastern ridge of these mountains. About the latter part of June, or first of July, when the wheat-fields are beginning to wear the russet hue of harvest, and flocks and herds are besprinkling the emerald pastures, a more splendid scene can scarce be imagined-it almost realises those depicted in the oriental pastorals. Very soon, the novelty and freshness of things were gone; and my affections, never estranged from my first love, wandered back to the wilderness and its quiet joys. I had besides, solved most of the problems which I had formed to myself in seclusion, or upon my journey to the metropolishad ascertained that the arms of young ladies were not made of snow, as I had at first supposed, from "Grandfather," said I, in much the same tone that Little Red Riding Hood may be supposed to have asked her grandmother what made her face so hairy, "Grandfather, where are the birds? what has become of the birds?" For the whole distance, my childish feelings the epithet "snowy" frequently bestowed upon were lost in wonder at the new and strange things them, but were actually warm, soft, real flesh. I continually occurring. I was "perplexed, and re- had found out that their eyes, though sufficiently perplexed"-lost, by turns, in alarm, astonishment, bright and sparkling, were not diamonds-had admiration, disgust-now weeping, and now laugh- guessed that their lips, though very red, were neither ing-excited to equal remark and observation by rubies, nor "cleft rose-buds," as I had supposedthe strut of a peacock, and the glories of a militia and poets, I thought, did very wrong to say so, and training; and as anxious to make the acquaintance should be held by the public to more literal writing, of a poodle-dog, and a bee-hive, as of a man in a A hundred lesser misapplications of terms had been red coat, surmounted by a cocked hat and umbrella. corrected, and restated with algebraic truth; as And when, on the morning of the fifth day, I found many apparent enigmas solved, and the answers myself within three miles of an immense metropo-to them placed among verified apothegms; and I lis, the rising sun shining full on its slated roofs was weary of the city, of society, and of humanity. and glittering spires-dense columns of smoke curling up from furnaces and forges; and the the-but all have beheld the panorama of a great city, seen at a morning hour from an eminence, that overlooks it; my joy was expressed in no measured terms of satisfaction and pleasure. Here lay, a bay it might be, but its appellation was doubtful, its margin studded thick with the magnificent villas of the civic gentry; and there, a wide and rapid river, white with the canvass of many vessels plying seaward, or running with flowing sheets into the haven of havens. Instead of the wild crags and abrupt precipices of my mountain- "A fine city indeed, and very fine woods to have home, here were vales reposing in all the beauty no birds in them! I see no wolves nor foxes." of luxurious cultivation; or the ground was broken "There are none, my son, but what too nearly into gently-swelling hills, crowned with stately resemble ourselves in figure, to be classed with trees; the soil every where rich, and every where your acquaintances in the forest." highly cultivated. Soon I began to hear the "hum It is not easy for any one to forego old pursuits, of business," as it is called the agony of man or quit long-entrenched habits. I found not even toiling for wealth he does not need, and cannot use, and will not enjoy the great race in the hippodrome of life-where the winner dies midway in the course, the loser having perished at its outset. 66 "Birds," he replied, never come within the limits of a city, except they be kept within the limits of a cage." "Wise birds! But, sir, I do not see any in the woods around this place." "They prefer, my child, to be where sportsmen do not annoy them." a rabbit or squirrel to play with. My attempts to find objects congenial to my old pursuits, and still unchanged disposition, consumed the greater part of the hours I should have devoted to the acquire ment of learning; and thus my solitary habits and here paper yesterday, which tells of your having feelings were strengthened, instead of being weak-wild land to sell. Now, as I have some thought of ened. trying to worry Polly, and the gals back into the "Three dollars per acre, sir," said I; "half, cash down; and the remainder in three, or perhaps, if it suit you better, four, equal, annual instalments." In my eighteenth year, I lost my grandfather, bushes, I have just called to see if I can't buy a and this enabled me to fly the city for a region part of your snake pasture, with all the racoons which afforded more congenial pursuits. He left belonging to it. What do you ask for that bit o' me two thousand dollars in money, together with dirt ?" six hundred acres of wild land in the interior of my native State. It was a wild region, abounding with the fierce and uncontrollable sons of the forest, but lately coaxed into a peace, which might, or might not, prove of a month's continuance; but which was sure not to endure beyond the current year. There were few, who, at that particular period, would have ventured into the close vicinity of a band of savages; but even their enmity was, in my estimation, a less evil than that I daily encountered in the abodes of the civilized, owing to such an utter dissimilarity of tastes, and to my knowing that I was the object of aversion, dislike and ridicule. By an advertisement in the newspapers, I offered one-half of my land for sale to any actual settler. CHAPTER III. "Oh! d- -n all 'stallments, begging your pardon, Mr. Rhinebeck, if that is your name, as I hare it is. You must talk to me in plain English. I am old, unsanctified, ignorant Saul Pepper from Doty's Neck; and, as all the merchants along shore know, can nyther read nor write." “You are jesting, sir,” I remarked. "Not a bit more than my namesake, when he called up the Witch of Endor. Why, sir, did you never hare of my way of keeping ship's accounts, when I went them woyages to St. Kitts ?" "Never," I answered. "Is it possible! I'll tell you then. I took charge of the schooner Speedwell for the house of Krout A jolly man of business-A sale, and return to the wilder- and Dobbin in Philadelphy, to go to St. Kitts in ness. The day after my advertisement appeared, word was brought me whilst I sat at breakfast, that a man, calling himself " Capt. Saul Pepper, from down East along way," was waiting for me in the parlor. Despatching my meal with all possible haste, I went to receive my visitor. the West-Ingies, and elsewhere. Says they to me, says they, 'Capt. Pepper, says they, we advance you, says they, two hundred dollars to buy your small stores, and for your month's advance to your men, and such like, says they.' Believing, that a vessell, to prosper, should, besides a horseshoe to frighten the Old One, have something beI found him a short, fat man, apparently forty longing to a woman to bring good luck, I took with years of age, but he was in truth ten more,-with me one of Polly's stockings-by-the-by sich an a bluff, homely visage, which had been a mark for ankle as Polly has!—Well! that stocking, I made wind and weather, salt water, and fresh water, till it my account-book-devil another kept I, for the had seemingly acquired the toughness, as it indubi- wauige. When I paid away money, there was so tably had the color, of well-tanned leather. His much less in the stocking,-when I received modress was strictly technical—a blue cloth rounda- ney, there was so much more. Well! I coasted bout profusely ornamented with large horn buttons; about the islands, and over to the Spanish Main, very wide trowsers of the same material; a red for a year or more; the stocking all the time growcloth waistcoat, cut rather long, and trimmed with ing heavier-my account-book showing a most white pearl buttons; and the professional glazed thriving trade. When I arrived in the 'States,' hat, tied with a wide black ribbon, the ends each and had paid the vessel's expenses, what there was a quarter of a yard long depending therefrom. left in the stocking, was the raal, clear, unsanctiAround his neck, was tied a black "Barcelona" fied gain; and a pretty considerable stout bag there neckcloth, then much in vogue with tars. From was of it, I assure you. I stumped up to the time to time, and by no means unfrequently, he counting-room with it as large as life; and glad threw tobacco juice from his mouth behind the enough to see me, they were, and no mistake." grate, with a precision and slight worthy of a bet- Captain Pepper, how d'ye do?" says Krout. ter practice. At that species of targetting, he was "Well, you are a dabster," he goes on, indeed a marksman. peck of doubloons as I live." 66 66 a half "How d'ye do, sir?" asked Captain Pepper. "A fine old fellow," chimes in Dobbin, the junior "What an unsanctified hump you have got, ha!" partner. "Three thousand dollars clear gain in and then, seeing that his speech had given great doubloons, and sugar 'pon a 'vestment of less than pain, he blundered out an apology in such honest two thousand, and all in a year. Captain, did you terms, and showed such sincere regret at his inad-bring up the 'dockments?" vertence, that I hastened to say he was forgiven. Bring up the what?" "Thank you, and now to business. I got this' "The documents-the accounts." "They are in the stocking." "Oh you joke," said I. "I can see it by the "You're funny, Capting Saul. There's the best sanctimonious toss of your head. Why, I had it part of the accounts, no doubt—but where are the from one who was at school with Calvshedd, there receipts and vouchers for disbursements, for money wasn't a boy in the house that went into joining paid out, and the account sales, and the debits, and hand sooner, or could spell Constantinople quicker. per contras?" And he said, moreover, that he did the 'Fox and Goose and Peck of Corn' in eenymost no time." "Ah! you're an old wag, Capting Pepper," said "In the stocking." "Have you no writings?" "None whatever. How can I have when I can he. "But without any more words, we must have no more write, than an Isle o' May goat." "This will never do," said Krout to Dobbin. "We must not keep in our employment men who produce no vouchers for disbursements, and money paid out, and account sales." you and the stocking back into the schooner." "Because I don't go to sea this winter. I shall stay at home, and go to-school." for sale. If I like it, why it shall be mine, and the money yours-all upon the nail-all sanctimo niously paid, and no 'stallments about it." "And dabbits and par counteys," said I, mimicking him, and drawing down the corners of my mouth. "Mr. Krout at this fell to laughing, but I was "So we settled, and parted good friends, and grave as a deacon. Not to weary you, Mr. Rhinethey put young Calvshedd into the schooner-a beck, after I had teased him a full half hour, I convery nice young man, and a most exceeding good sented to return to their employment, if they would penman. He went just the same cruise, but give me a large increase of wages, and double my was gone three months longer than I was. When privileges. In charge of the Speedwell, drunk or he came back, he brought-oh! such beautiful re-sober, I continued till last month. But I am get ceipts and vouchers, and dabbits, and par counteys! ting tired of the sea, and having filled the stockFaith! it seemed, and so Mr. Krout said, that he ing reasonably full, I do not know why I continue run purposely in debt; and that too for useless to peril my old body upon the ocean any longer. things and knick-knackeries, that he might show I am for the woods. And this is what I will do. his owners how capable he was of steering his I will go with you, and see the bit of land you offer bark through the reef that shipwrecked old Saul Pepper. By the hookey, there was not one blot in the whole hundred and ninety-nine leaves of figures, crowded as close together as niggers in The next morning we set out for the wilderness. Demerara on a market day. Every t was crossed, After travelling five days, the greater part of it and every i was dotted; the legs of all the q's were over roads which were no roads, and through wilds carefully turned one way, and the legs of all the which were wilds indeed, we came to our future g's another; some of the figures were overscored, abode. Upon a thorough exploration of the tract, and some underscored; some with red ink, and and a fair trial to see whether the water would mix some with black ink ;--but the whole was a lesson well with brandy, the Captain declared himself to humanity. And yet he sunk them more than a satisfied; and in his own language, he nailed the thousand dollars. They tried him again, and he bargain by a "sanctimonious" tender of the money. came home again five hundred dollars worse yet." For myself, my preference had been fixed from "This will never do," said Krout to Dobbin. the first moment, by the great numbers of birds "We cannot afford to keep in our employment, which were every where flitting about the groves, these par countey men, as Pepper calls them. We and the plentiful traces of foxes, and other wild must have old Captain Saul and his wife's stock-animals. It was evident, that I should have full ing back again." scope to indulge the darling passion of my heart. Each of us took possession of his new domain at once. The Captain went to work upon a log house, and sent for his family. Travelling was not then what it is now-it was an undertaking to "Well! he came to me, and rather unsanctified he looked, I assure you; and the more so, as I, mistrusting what he came for, looked as saucy as possible and laughed, by no means softly." "Much joy to you, Colonel Krout," said I, "on be talked over, and dreamed of, for months, before the return of the Speedwell." it was commenced, and furnished matter to talk about for as many months after it was finished. At this day, a pilgrimage from Zetland to Lorette, had been attended with fewer prayers and preparations. "Not much occasion for joy, Captain Pepper," "Nevertheless I thank you for your good said he. wishes." How many 'par counteys' has she cleared this time?" I asked. 66 In about two months the junior Peppers and Come, come, no more banter, no more non- their mother rejoined the worthy head of the sense this time, my good friend," said he. "Calvs-family. hedd has sunk us in the Speedwell, just about as much as you handed over in the stocking." The children were in number eight-four sons, and four daughters-the eldest, a son in his eigh At Captain Pepper's request, I had left the naming of the "town" to him-he had given it the one mentioned-for a century a proud one to Eastern bosoms. But the name would not abide with us-the bad habits of this hoydenish family early attached to our infant settlement the disgrace of a sobriquet. teenth year-the youngest, a daughter in her fifth. | be found to combat the horrors of the wilderness, Mrs. Pepper was a vulgar, silly woman, and very without his schemes of thrift and profit-gain and coarse in her manners, one for whom society could speculation. The portion of my land sold to Capdo nothing by way of finishing off-one whom con- tain Pepper, formed a bend or crook in the river; versation could not improve, nor even dress lend and there this wily man prepared to found, and did its factitious aid to give a touch of amiability. found, a town. Within six months after the roofCaptain Pepper was a very kind, good-hearted tree of his cabin was in its place, and before the man, though illiterate and unpolished. Born and fallen trees were fairly gathered into heaps, an adbrought up till his fourteenth year on the stormiest vertisement appeared in the city papers, which, part of the shore of New-England, without educa- after declaring that New-Boston united in itself tion-friendless and destitute, he, nevertheless, by more advantages than any other town, ancient or turning out and buffetting manfully, became, in modern, possessed a soil rivalling the Delta of time, master of a small vessel in the West-India Egypt, a climate like that of the Azores, &c. &c., trade; and after some years of diligently prosecu- proceeded to inform the unenlightened public, that, ting the business, possessed of some three or four lots, to wit: Nos. 13, 15, 17, 19 Water-Street, in thousand dollars ;—then, and not till then, Captain this pride of cities, were for sale by sundry persons Pepper took a wife. In his thirty-second year, he, therein designated-Water-Street, remark, there whose prudence had been extolled to the skies, being but one "street," most appropriately named and made the theme of wide-spread panegyric- too, a deer-path leading along the edge of the riwho could boast that in ten years' service as mas-ver, and boggy as the Sirbonian marsh. The ter, he had never lost a man, or carried away a equivocation of the fiend to Macbeth, is truth itrope-yarn, lost himself; and, despite his boasted self, compared to a great portion of these land adprudence, married a giddy girl, who had scarce vertisements. seen sixteen Summers. But she was remarkably pretty, and as playful as a kitten. "How pleasant it will be," said the tar, "to have so pretty and lively a messmate forever singing and dancing, and so"-finding it difficult to think of any other good quality, he concluded as he began, with—“forever singing and dancing." He proposed, and as he was rich, and a Captain-in that land the title par A few miles above us, on the river, there was excellence she was very willing to barter her settled a colony of Dutchmen, who boated the surbeauty and liveliness, rich voice and nimble feet, plus produce of their lands to the metropolitan for his ships and dollars; his offer was accepted. market. It was these boatmen who gave to our It was a poor choice on his part, and he soon found town the nickname that never left it. The bend it out; but he was a practical philosopher-bore of the river as they were descending it, brought the misfortune with great equanimity, and only—them within a few rods of our door; and as the took an extra glass of brandy. Misses Peppers, the Captain's daughters, were forThe character of the children might be summed ever at this door, giggling and laughing, they called up in five descriptive epithets, healthy, hardy, it SNICKERDAM. There was no shaking it off—not noisy, vulgar and awkward. Of all the people on even when the deer-path had become a cow-path, our planet, they were the least calculated to give and the cow-path a well-conditioned street-and the me pleasure as associates. They knew nothing town reckoned its court-house, its three meetingthat I knew, and I am proud to say, my ignorance houses, and other substantials of a shire-town. was as great of the peculiar branches of their In less than two years after the erection of the knowledge. I could only turn them to account in first cabin, there were twenty or more houses in the one way, and that was to study them in connection village-their occupants forming a heterogeneous, with the natural history of the bear, the wolf, and and most discordant mass-English, French, and the moose. Seldom were we together however, Irish. Various causes had contributed to bring tofor my aversion to them became speedily so great, gether individuals not often found living together; that it was positive enjoyment to eat a mouldy crust, without the inspection and remark they were sure to bestow upon so simple an action. and if together, seldom living in a state of unity. The French Revolution, the troubles of St. Domingo, the Irish Rebellion-all operated to fill the And soon misfortune pursued me in a shape I United States with refugees from various lands, then had neither suspected, nor guarded against. I had passing through the terrible fusion of anarchy omitted to impose upon the purchaser as a condi- and bloodshed. Some from all three of those theation of sale, that he should not so use his purchase tres of havoc, were of the number of our newest as to bring upon me the evils I most dreaded-so- settlers; with an Englishman, a Swede, and lastly ciety and tumult. But I had reckoned without my a Virginian. Most of them might be reckoned as host, when I supposed that an Eastern man might acquisitions, only in the light in which Romulus so regarded the recruits wherewith he set out to make that time, under his able management, the wilderhis city mistress of the world. Squabbling amongst the men, and tattling amongst the women, much drinking, and much fighting, constituted the veritable occupations and amusements of our discordant population. CHAPTER IV. ness had become a garden. Childless they had been for some years after their marriage, when at length a daughter was born to them. They never had another child. In this daughter were centered all the hopes and affections of the parents, and over her head hovered all the inquietudes their well-tempered lot had ever known. And well did she deserve their love-and A man of peace, and his philosophy-A man of the forest, mine. Her singular beauty and sprightliness, rare and his stoicism. mental accomplishments and great sweetness of But Heaven had yet in store for me no ordinary temper, gave her unlimited command over the portion of happiness. On the opposite shore of the hearts of all that came within the sphere of her inSusquehannah, in a quiet little valley, lived-a fantile attractions.. At the time I became acgentleman I would call him; but he fervently quainted with the family, she was nine years oldeschewed the title, preferring to retain only the just at the age to be a pleasant little playfellow, and qualities of the predicament,―a kind, good-hearted with a disposition very arch and lively-whilst it farmer, by name George Walmesley, who had set- had nothing in it of the romp or hoyden. tled in the wilderness ten years previous to the time Next to the solitude and desolation of the forest; we made our lodgment. He was of the Society next to the loneliness of the waste, I loved a seat of Friends, a plain, sensible man, of good under- at Mr. Walmesley's contented and peaceful firestanding, and good heart, rigidly honest, exempla- side. It was in the society of this excellent family, rily sober, and peculiarly gifted with the meek and that I tasted all the happiness which society and forgiving temper, which distinguishes that most worthy and excellent sect. His were all their virtues and excellencies, with their few blemishes and defects. He was honest, moral, temperate, industrious, charitable—and his clothes were of the richest texture, and his housekeeping on the most a strong opiate, my feelings continually lacerated liberal scale. None departed from his house hungry; he cheered the sad heart, he soothed the afflicted spirit, he made more smiling faces and glad hearts, than many, possessed of what is called liberality, and with ten times his means; he kept himself, and every body in his employment, at work from sunrise till sunset. Never, for a moment, neglectful of the main chance; every cent of his earnings was husbanded to the best advantage; he was yet incessantly upon the look-out for objects upon which to bestow his charity, and expend his benevolence. social intercourse could possibly confer on one of my disposition. They understood me, and it seemed to me as if no one else did. Their unvarying cheerfulness dispelled a large portion of the natural gloom of my mind; their unceasing kindness soothed, like by the jibes and sneers of the world, upon the deformities of my person. It was only there, I was allowed to forget them-no where else, could I discover any thing like sympathy with my sufferings. Every where else, the "laugh went round” against me, as the "jest went round" on neighbor Dobbin's wedding-day in Cowper's Three Warnings. But from Mr. Walmesley and his wife, I experienced only the compassionate tenderness which they would have bestowed had I been their son. Remarking my comparative happiness under his roof, and unequivocal misery elsewhere, the benevolent Quaker gave me an invitation to reside with him altogether. The terms being settled--for my pride revolted at being beholden to any one for a living-indeed there was no necessity for it, my independence in pecuniary matters being complete-I removed to the little vale on the Susquehannah, and gave my whole happiness into the keeping of its gentle and kind-hearted proprietors. In these good deeds, he was assisted by his meek and excellent wife. Mrs. Walmesley was of English extraction—her maiden name was Fox: she was a descendant from George Fox, the celebrated Quaker preacher and philanthropist. Beautiful beyond almost any other woman of her time, she had rejected splendid offers, to put on the Quaker cap and brown gown, marry plain George Walmesley, and accompany him to the Western world. Affec- Beautiful indeed was little Mary Walmesley, tion and kindness, such as atone for the deprivation when, at the age of ten, I found her sitting at my of almost any other enjoyment in human life, re-side upon a low bench, or settle, on the evening of quited this fond woman's love. a November day in the year 17-. The season of Mr. Walmesley came to the United States in the equivoques had passed by, and cold weather had In England, he had lived much in re- come again with its bright fires, and social joys and tirement-never in the busy world. Finding, upon merriment, innocent, or otherwise, according to the his arrival in the United States, that the habits he complexion of those who make it. Mr. Walmeshad acquired could not be conquered, he removed, ley sat on one side of the fire-place; his beautiful six months after his arrival, to the spot where I wife looking just as if she had come out of a bandfound him. He had been there ten years, and in box, on the other side; and in front of the blazing year -. |