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it had by this time become quite dark, so that where the horses were to be put, was at a we could find no track through the woods by distance, and I did not know the way to it. which to approach it with our sleigh and The old woman first commanded one of her horses. I therefore once more set out on an big daughters to accompany me with a lanexploring expedition, with the dim light a- tern, and then the other, but they both hesihead as my sole guide. After scrambling tated, and at last refused; and the only safe over fallen trees, and through almost imper- plan for the two dear innocents was the one vious underwood and briers, I at length they finally adopted, that both of them should reached a common zigzag rail fence, over go with me. I had no idea that I had so very which I got into a piece of open ground in formidable an appearance; for I had seen front of a rather long, but low, log dwelling. Yankee girls that had not expressed any I could now distinguish the sound of music alarm at being alone with a stranger. Howwithin this humble mansion, and on looking ever, there is no accounting for these things; through the window, I perceived at least for while some persons dare not stay in the thirty young people engaged in dancing. I same room with a domestic cat, others are waited till there was a pause in the music, not afraid of entering the den of a lion. when I knocked at the door, and on its being After having attended to our ponies, the two opened stated our forlorn condition; but hint- damsels and I returned to the house, all quite ed, at the same time, that we most probably safe; and the old mother gave them a good could not be "accommodated for the night," rating because one of them had not remained judging from appearances. The person I with her to assist in preparing our repast. had been addressing was a young woman, We had scarcely finished supper when the who said if I would wait a moment she would door opened, and in strode an ill-looking felspeak to her father, who was in the adjoining low, who appeared quite at home. I suproom, and the old man presently came for- posed at first that it might be a son and broward to the place where I stood. He imme- ther of the family; for he very uncerediately informed me that they could not ac- moniously got a pipe, which he filled and commodate us with a bed, but they had barn- lighted, and commenced puffing away at no room for our horses; and if my companion common rate; but he had scarcely got his and I choose to join the bridal party-(for pipe well lighted, when one of the huge lasses one of his daughters had been married that walked across to the corner where he sat, evening)-we were welcome to do so; " for," seated herself upon the young man's knee, said he, "I expect they will keep it up till took the pipe from his mouth, and commenced morning." I thanked him for his offer; but putting away herself. "And so," thought I, on inquiring found that there was a house "this is one of the timid, bashful creatures, about five miles distant, where we should be that an hour or two ago was so dreadfully able to stay for the night, and therefore de- alarmed at the idea of taking a light to the clined partaking in the gay scene that I had barn in order to show me where to put my witnessed. horses. Her rude familiarity with this man of her choice was to me quite disgusting; and even her lover himself seemed as if he would have been quite as well pleased with less solid tokens of her affection. At daybreak in the morning we set forward on our journey; and although I have often fared worse as respects "bed and board," yet I scarcely remember to have been less pleased with the manners and customs of the people, than I was with the family of " 'Squire Scott."

I had been longer absent when I returned than my friend had calculated upon; and when he found that we must travel five miles before we should find a stopping place, he was not at all in an amiable humour. "'Squire Scott's" was the place of our destination; and although I had learned that the road was not very direct, yet I had been so careful to get the old settler to explain to me all the "forkings" of the road, that I felt quite competent to steer us to the desired haven. In due time we emerged from the wilderness, and a quarter of a mile then brought us in front of the "'Squire's" cabin. I again set off to examine how matters were likely to turn out for us at "'Squire Scott's." I knocked at the door, when it was opened by a stout, rough-looking damsel, who informed me that the 'squire was from home, but that I might step in and consult her mother on the subject. The mother and another stout daughter were sitting spinning in opposite corners of the room,to whom I addressed myself, insinuating that we had been directed thither, and that I trusted she would find it convenient to per mit us to remain for the night. She consented to do so, with the intimation that we should have to take care of our horses ourselves; but as this was nothing new to me, I did not make any scruple to accept of her conditions. But a difficulty soon occurred; the barn,

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One exceedingly cold morning we left the village of Franklin, on Alleghany river, and after a drive of twelve miles over bad roads, reached a lone and desolate log-house, where we had been informed we might be accommodated with breakfast. On reaching this house I was so forcibly struck with its general appearance of discomfort, that had I not been aware that our stopping there was a matter of absolute necessity, (there being no other house for many miles,) I should certainly have driven on. However, we alighted, and having made the usual inquiry, "can we be accommodated?" were replied to in the usual manner, with an "I guess you can." As it happened, we found the backwoods' man at home; and being myself exceeding. ly benumbed with the cold, I left him to take care of the horses, and repaired to the fire to

warm myself. After I had informed the wo-judge, they guessed, would accommodate us; man of the house that we should breakfast the distance they calculated at about thirteen with her, she asked me whether we would miles. We had already travelled over forty wish to have tea or coffee. It was quite a miles of very poor road that day; and to matter of indifference I knew with my com- reach the judge's seemed almost beyond the panion, as well as with myself; but I told strength of our ponies. But as there appearher we would take tea. After some consi-ed no choice in the matter, we set out without derable bustling about, and having searched further delay. As night came on, the cold, through the sundry contents of a wooden which had been severe all day, increased to chest, she came up to me and told me, with a degree I have scarcely ever experienced; two or three sighs, and twice the number of so that my hands were almost entirely begroans, that she "guessed the tea must be all numbed. The road, too, was very intricate, out." I told her to make herself quite easy narrow, and full of stumps of trees; so that it on that score, for my friend and I would be required more than ordinary care to pilot our just as well suited with coffee. I thought this vehicle safely among them. We had been piece of intelligence did not seem to give her getting along in this way as well as we were the pleasure or satisfaction it was intended to able for an hour or two, when we came to convey; however, she again commenced where the road divided into two, one branch rummaging in the old chest, sighing and inclining to the right hand and the other togroaning at a greater rate than before; until, wards the left. We had endeavored to proat last, she gave up the search in despair, vide against this "forking" of the road, by and coming forward, she informed us in no inquiring very particularly, as we came along, mild or measured terms, that "she verily be- of every person we saw, whether or not there lieved the tarnation rats had run off with her were any "forks" in the way leading towards coffee!" To make the poor woman feel as Judge B-d's; but the general direction little as possible this misfortune, I told her was, "to keep right a-head." In the present that if she could give us a little milk to break- case, however, right a-head was impossible; fast, it would do equally well. Milk she had so it became a matter of chance whether we none, she declared; but if we had no objec- should go right or wrong. My friend, who tion to sweetwood tea, she could make us some had travelled through that section of country of that. We allowed her to do so; but when some years before, set about examining the it was produced I found it not at all to my situation of the stars, as they sparkled and taste, and there being neither milk nor sugar glittered in the dark-blue firmament; and to improve it, I found myself under the ne- then gave it as his opinion that our destination cessity of declining a second cup. As usual, lay to the left. As for myself, I could give we had fried venison; but her rye cakes, no opinion, never having been in that part of baked for the occasion in the frying-pan, the country; so without much loss of time were of a very inferior quality, so that, the we set off to the left. For some time we went whole business taken into consideration, we on, as we considered, very favorably; but byhad but seldom fared worse. Our poor horses, and-by our course became changed by the too, were treated but indifferently; for on my road having a continual inclination towards going to look after them, I found them stand- the left; so much so, indeed, that the heavening on the sheltered side of the house, where ly bodies that were directly over-head a short they had been fed with a few ears of Indian time before were now on our right. By this corn for hay and oats there were none. time we felt convinced that we had taken the The man, by way of apology, informed me wrong road; but it was so steep and narrow that he had only come there and built his we had no resource but to jog on After dehouse the year before; but if he was not dis-scending an exceedingly long hill, we disappointed, he expected to put up a shed for covered a light at a cottage, which stood in horses during next summer. These were but an opening at the bottom of the valley. Givpoor accommodations for us; but they were ing the reins to my companion, I repaired the best that part of the country then afford- to the place from whence the light proceeded, and there was nothing to be got by grum-ed, and learned from its inmates that we must bling.

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retrace our way back to where we had left the other "fork," which, if we pursued it for five or six miles, would lead us to the Judge's.

During the day we had no great improvement; but a little past noon we were so fortu- "But are there any more 'forks?'" innate as to procure a little hay for our half- quired I; for now I began to experience the starved ponies. At every solitary house we disagreeableness of coming to these "forks," came to I made inquiry regarding the coun- where all seem alike, particularly when the try a-head of us, and where we should be ground is covered deep in snow. But I was likely to find a resting-place for the night. told we had nothing to do but keep "right aFor a long time I could learn nothing with head," and we could not miss reaching the regard to the route we had to travel, except judge's. When the snow is deeply tracked that the country was very little settled, and (which was the case then,) it is exceedingly that there were no taverns. We therefore difficult to turn your sleigh and horses; for wended our weary way in perfect uncertainty, the runners of the sleigh bury themselves, until nearly nightfall; when, on calling at a deeply, if the snow is not very hard frozen. cabin in the woods, the inmates informed us I, therefore, in attempting to turn, upset the that if we could reach Judge B-d's the sleigh, and out rolled my friend, like the

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half-burnt end of some huge pine log. He his charming daughter had been busily enreceived no injury, (few people do from a roll gaged in preparing supper for us; and a in the snow from a sleigh,) but he lost one of more excellent supper I had not met with his large sheep-skin moccasins (made with during our long journey. The judge inform. the wool inside,) and one of his large Yan-ed us that he was an Irishman by birth, his kee mittens, and otherwise was covered with father having emigrated to America when he the cold frozen snow, and rendered as misera- was a boy. He said he had married some ble and cross as possible. After some little five-and-twenty years ago, at which period search his glove and moccasin were found, he had been induced to settle where we now the sleigh was soon put to rights, my friend found him, but the country then was all a again stuck bolt upright in his accustomed wilderness. He had two sons and one corner, and we retraced our steps up to the daughter. The sons had both married very long and toilsome ascent. We had but pro- young, and were now settled at a short disceeded a short way along the "fork" that we tance from him. When he first settled in ought to have pursued, and were endeavoring the woods, he said that his whole amount of to forget the misfortune of having gone wrong, property was about two hundred dollars, when, to our amazement, we came to a new (under fifty pounds,) and that for many fork," and we were as completely puzzled years they had shared the privations and as before. We had gone wrong before by hardships common to new settlements. That, keeping to the left, so now we agreed to keep blest with robust health, and assisted by his to the right; but before we had proceeded a two boys as they grew up, he had been able mile we observed that the path we were in to clear off a considerable part of the forest, kept inclining so much to the right that we and by the time they married and left him, were going almost directly back again. We his farm yielded more than sufficient to suptherefore agreed to retrace our path, and ply the few wants of the family. Two or pursue the other "fork," which must un- three years ago the governor of the state had doubtedly be the right one; and by doing so, seen fit to raise him to the rank of associatewe arrived at a small but rather comfortable- judge of the district in which he resided, for looking dwelling, which we presumed was which he received one hundred dollars per Judge B-d's, and accordingly halted op- annum. The year previous to our visiting posite to the door. I roused my companion, him he had been in his native country for a who was to make certain inquiries regarding couple of months, to receive a legacy of our staying for the night; and being myself about two thousand pounds, which had been almost frozen, I desired him to return as soon left him by an old uncle who had died posas possible with the result of his negotiation. sessed of considerable wealth. This, said he, There I remained, long after my whole was quite unexpected, and indeed I might say stock of patience had been expended, await- quite unnecessary, now that they have no ing his return. At length he came slowly wants but what their farm will supply. towards me, with a very long face, saying, "But," said he, looking affectionately at his that he did not think we could remain there daughter, "there is one-our only daughter, for the night. "For I learn," said he, "that Janette, on whose future welfare I have often the judge is unwell, and his old woman is laid thought with all the anxiety of an almost up with a broken leg." "But" continued he, idolatrous parent. She is, though it be her "you had better go in, and try what influence father who says it, deserving of all that I may you may have upon the parties." be able to do for her. However, my intention is to send her for two or more years to the best seminary we can find in all the cities, for she possesses a mind and a soul that it would be worse than barbarous to bury in the woods. And although the separation for a time may be painful to us all, yet, if it but secure to her ultimate happiness, her parents will rest satisfied."

I was glad enough to leave the sleigh, for I was determined to warin myself at all events, though I should keep him in the cold as long as he had (unnecessarily, I thought,) kept me. On entering the family apartment I found a most lovely-looking creature, a girl of sixteen or seventeen, repairing the fire, and on my inquiring for the judge, she told me that her father was in the adjoining room, and would We left the kind judge and his daughter be with me almost immediately. He shortly, the following morning, and never, from that therefore, made his appearance, and apolo-day, have I been able to learn anything of gised for having kept us waiting so long; but him or his beautiful Janette. Although the having been a little unwell in the afteruoon, judge appeared a rational and sensible man, he had retired to bed much earlier than usual. I have often thought of, and doubted the wisWhen I made known to him the distance we dom of, his plan, in trying to make a fine had travelled, and how we had been told that lady of his lovely Janette. he would probably allow us to remain for the night, he begged to assure me that whatever Being possessed of a light Dearborne wag. his humble means afforded was heartily at gon, and a pair of ponies to run in it; and our command. He then insisted upon our having myself little business on hand to enremaining by the fire while he unharnessed gage me, I was induced to make an offer (to our horses and administered to their necessi- accommodate a friend) to convey an elderly ties; and most assuredly the poor animals lady from the backwoods to within a day's stood in much need of food and rest. Dur- journey of her native city. The fact is, ing the time the judge had been in the stable, city-bied ladies have nothing to do in the

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backwoods, or rather they have no business performance, he managed to make a very reto go there; for if they allow themselves to spectable lynch-pin. Having handed our be transported thither in some capricious mo-mechanic a ten-cent piece, and having rement of love or madness, I can (speaking sumed our different berths, we set forward, from experience) assure them, that they will intending to seek refreshment for ourselves find plenty to do. The lady in question had and horses at a place some dozen miles abeen on a visit to a married daughter, who, head. But we had scarcely proceeded the half in spite of many sage lessons of advice, mar- of that distance when we observed that one ried the man that her heart approved, and of the ponies was minus a shoe. This seemed "buried herself in the woods,' Parental a worse business than the other; for who obduracy, however, soon gave way, and Mrs. ever heard of a wooden shoe for a horse? H, at the expense of much bodily fatigue I now drove with extreme caution to the and discomfort, made occasional visits to her nearest dwelling, where I inquired where we far-distant daughter. It was on one of these should be likely to find a blacksmith; and occasions that I volunteered to see her safe on was informed some three miles further on. the other side of the Blue Mountain, where We were therefore compelled to go forward we should intersect a line of stage coaches at the risk of crippling the shoeless pony, which would convey her to her native city. until we reached the place of promised aid. On the second day of our journey we set Vulcan, however, was not in his smithy; beout from the farm-house, where we had met ing but seldom called upon professionally, he with but indifferent accommodations for the was more of a hunter and chopper than a night, and having made sundry calculations blacksmith. We learned from his wife that when and where we were to halt that day, and he was chopping in a distant part of the fixed upon our quarters for that night, we set woods, where I might find him, if I chose to out at a pretty early hour. I had omitted to go, the distance being only a mile. Having mention that I had offered to give a seat in had the proper direction through the woods my vehicle to a gentleman with whom both pointed out, I set off in search of the choppermy lady passenger and myself were partially blacksmith; and although I considered it acquainted, so that while I, as charioteer, more likely that I should lose myself than find occupied the front seat, my two passengers him, I was determined to make the experiwere deposited behind me. We had pro- ment; and after a long scramble over fallen ceeded but a short distance, and were de- trees, and through bushes and briers, my ears scending a smooth but steep hill, when off were delighted with the sound of his distant flew one of our hind wheels into the adjoin- axe, and I presently arrived at the place ing woods, and down dropped the end of the where he was at work. After a little peraxle-tree upon the road; but forward went suasion he agreed to return with me, and if my ponies to nearly the bottom of the hill he had as much coal as would make a fire, before I was able to stop them. We had no he guessed he should be able to "fix the busiupset-no such thing; the wheels being low, ness." He did light his fire, and after being and the springs of the true backwoods fa- detained for nearly a couple of hours, during shion, we escaped with Mrs. H having suf- which time, however, we had some bread and fered a moderate degree of alarm. Of course milk, which we were pleased to call breakfast, we all alighted and having desired my fellow- we again pursued our journey. After this, traveller to remain by the horses, back I we made as much haste as was prudent, in went in search of my absent wheel. Having order to reach the place we wished to remain fallen in with it, I trundled it to where its at for the night, for there being but one companions were awaiting it: but we found house in a distance of upwards of twenty that we should require a lynch-pin, or in all miles, a choice of places was out of the quesprobability our truant wheel would again tion. But with all our anxieties combined, part company. Although it requires but a and a due quantum of feeling admonition besmall piece of timber to make a wooden stowed upon my ponies, the sun went down lynch-pin, (and an iron one at present was behind the dark western wilderness, while out of the question,) we found that we should we were distant several long miles from Caphardly be able to manufacture one with our tain Howe's new tavern. Mrs. H. had too whole stock of edge-tools, which consisted of much good sense to be unnecesarily alarmed three small and slender penknives. What at being benighted in the wilderness, or to be was to be done? After a short consultation quarrelling with untoward circumstances that my friend agreed to return, as fast as his could not be avoided; so without any grumshort legs could carry him, to the dwelling bling or fretting, we jogged on in the best we had last passed, which distance might be way we could, and at last a dim light glimsomething more than half a mile, and to bor- mered through the trees in the distance, row an axe, and, if it were convenient a which assured us that we were approaching Yankee man along with it. He succeeded in the "New Tavern." New, in truth, it turned finding both; but as brother Jonathan does out to be, for it was yet but a mere shell, things coolly, they returned at a regular with not a single finished apartment in it, snail's pace. The man, however, did not and with but one that was at all habitable. On lack forethought, (few Yankees do!) and he our arrival, the captain and one of his boys came provided with a small piece of well-made their appearance; this, thought I, auseasoned hickory-wood, of which, with many gurs well, and we were then conducted by intervals for splitting, and scrutinizing his our host into the only habitable room in the

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Stanzas on hearing Broadhurst sing John Anderson.

Sept.

house. In length it might be nearly thirty | ner, which you can occupy, and then your feet, and in breadth about sixteen. The door friends can return and take possession of that was at one corner, and midway along that adjoining one, so that you will be quite snug side was the fireplace, which at present was and safe. The rest of the beds will be occuempty but opposite to it was a large, ugly, pied by the family. Mrs. Howe and I sleep and rusty stove, heated to a very uncomforta- there," said he, pointing to the corner, “and ble and unnecessary degree; around which the two big girls sleep in the next one-the were twelve or fifteen ruffianly-looking fel- boys and the younger children will bundle lows, smoking and drinking corn whiskey. together in that other one-if there be room Beyond them, on the same side, were two-but if not, one or two of them may creep in beds, almost touching each other. On the beside the two gentlemen that will have gone opposite side of the room were three beds, to bed royal." My lady-friend had not been one in each corner, and the third somewhere used to accommodations like the present; for between the other two. The one immedi- on her few visits to the backwoods she had ately opposite the door was occupied by a travelled by another-but more circuitous female whom I soon discovered to be our route, where the places of stopping were not landlady. On opposite sides of the stove quite so destitute of comfort and convenience. were two common, dirty, deal-board tables, She therefore was not immediately reconciled and some half-dozen untenanted wooden to the plan proposed by the captain; which chairs were scattered about. The walls (if plan, in his opinion, was giving himself and the sides of such wooden buildings may pro- family a deal of unrecessary trouble. But Iperly be so called,) were neither plastered as there could be no other means adoptednor wainscotted, having nothing but the out- at least none likely to be more comfortable ward rough boards nailed to the studs and-or rather, less uncomfortable, I signified to braces. I shall never forget the look of the landlord that we would partake of whatmingled horror and disgust that took posses- ever the place afforded, and carry the resion of Mrs. H, as she followed the cap mainder of the plan into execution. Whetain to the threshold of this place of sundry ther "the lady" was satisfied or not, the bold abominations. I therefore instantly inter- captain hinted he did not much care-for his fered-called the landlord out of the room, accommodations he considered were and informed him that "the lady" could not good as the country afforded." Long bepossibly be stowed among such an assem- fore day I heard madam dressing behind her blage as occupied the place at present. He temporary sereen; so giving my companion declared that there was no other room but the a hint, we resumed those portions of our haone we had seen; that his wife was sick in bilaments we had laid aside for a few hours. bed, but that if the lady would stay a little in On our way into the purer atmosphere we the shed outside, he would clear the room of were hailed by the landlord, to whom we the rougher part of the company, by giving made known our intention of pursuing our them as much whiskey as they wished, and journey as soon as our "waggon" could be sending them to the hay-shed where they got ready. Mrs. H. presently joined us in were to sleep. The only two of the party the cool delightful fresh morning air; and a who would be permitted to lodge there, were few minutes more found us pursuing our Major B and Judge W- who, of journey through the forest, between dark course, said the captain, "are both respecta- walls of immense pine trees, which closed us ble gentlemen; and so nearly drunk at pre-in on either side. sent, that they will not long be able to sit on

their chairs, when, as a matter of course, I shall have them removed to their bed."

This

piece of, what he conceived to be, highly satisfactory information, did not quite restore

SING JOHN ANDERSON.

BY MES. CRAWFORD.

"as

BROADHURST! I ken thy modesty would spare
This votive tribute to thy powers of song;
And thou hast had of praise too large a share,
To heed the meanest of the minstrel

throng:

to perfect comfort the feelings of my gentle, STANZAS ON HEARING BROADHURST but sensitive, lady passenger. "But am I, after all, to sleep in that room?" inquired she. "How is it possible that I could occupy one of those uncurtained beds, surrounded by all sorts of persons and nuisances?" This speech gave great offence to the landlord; who, however, went on to explain how it was to be managed; for, in fact, I had myself previously instructed him on this point, finding that we had no remedy. "I will tell you, madam," said he, "how we calculate to manage. These raftsmen you saw will all go to the hay-shed, and you shall then be accommodated with supper; and by the time you have finished your meal, the major and the judge will be taken to their bed, as helpless as two babes. Then these gentlemen and I can step out into the road while my girls fix some sheets around that there bed in the cor

Yet must I tell, though but to tuneful winds,

The magic sweetness of that silver tone, That with harmonious clue the labyrinth finds

Of human feeling. Yes, to thee alone The soul does homage. I have heard the song

Of our first Phoebus* in the battle strain,

* Braham.

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