Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-12-30
THE TRAVELLER.
A TALE or TRUTH.

/ llu Va N DIOl
amply served their limited wants; and
"little alp it was--for, sheltered by
"snug little cot from wintry storms and
summers heat, fead by healthful indus
try, they passed along the vale of life in
simple, solid, "sweet contento Here,
with an honest, greatful pride, did the
| old man behold his country rapidly ris-
ing in matt onal piety and physical splen-
dourto peerless rank among the king
doms of the earth; and here he could
have spent the few remaining days left
for him, had not the death of his wife,
and the future welfare of his son, open
ed n new and wide field for exertion
| He knew that his much loved son was
| soon to be left in this mercenary world
without an earthly guardian or support,
and he felt the imperious call of duty to
see him settled in life, if possible, ere he
should be gathered to his fathers.
One plan alone seemed probable to
succeed. which was to avail himself of a
hitherto neglected military land-title.
This title covered large tract, some
where in the eastern part of Kentucky,
but, from the alteration in names, he was
unable to tell its precise situation. He,
however, resolved to search for it, at all
hazards, and accordingly sold his trifing
estate, settled his debts. and set forward
on foot, with all the frmness of one in
ured to toll and hardships from infancy
For one moment we will paint to our
selves the lovely landscape, with its skirt
ed forests--its gurgling rill-its lowing
cow and bleating sheep-yonder hill,
and,a its foot the cirrumscribed cottage,
the home of the old patriot, and near it
che grave OF his wife then behold the Ia
Their, son, and faithful dog, bidding the
whole a silent, lasting farewell,
The father was leaving the field of
bis glory and the remains ofthe PARTNER:
in these two were associated the recol-
lectinns Of his dearest sublunary Joys
the virtues and objections of his depart
ed wife, and the radiations from the sun
of American liberty.
Whatever excitement shook him in
ternaIly, his features wore the aspect of
firm, high resolve.
Not so the son; in that grove and by
that babbling riIl, he and his dog had gam
boiled away many a veinal holiday. In
that dear native hut, oft mad he beguiled
long winters evening by listening to
his fathers legends Of the old war, or
conned over and ovel bis prayers from
the mouth of his sainted mother: he was
now to leave them for ever. His inge-
nuous u! withered al the thought. F. on
this circle all his joys and sorrows sprung
beyond il all was vacuity The foun-
tain ofyouthful hope and buoyancy was
closed. and tears flowed in their native
eXuberance as he turned and left the cot
tage of Saltwater Plains.
They bent their way to the nearest
branch of the Allegheny, on which they
embarked in an open boat, pennyess,
and with small store of eatables. One
stormy evening, in the month of Noyem-
Der they tied their canoe to tree, end
made their way to the nearest dwelling,
which proved to be the hablation OF an
untee!ing planter. He turned the deaf
ear to the claims of patriotic age, and
shut his door upon our shelterless wan
derersl Ingradtude opercame the vet |
eran who scorned the frosts offs, & but
for bis son, he would have sunk under
the weight Of misfortunes.
They passed the night in one of the |
planters barns, hungry. wet. and cold, |
on bed Of st1ael At the dawn of the |
day, our travellers set forward to the |
next village, and obtained breakfast. |
They found themselves in Kentucky, |
on one of these extensive alluyIan bot |
toms, peculiar to he great western III
vers Of North America,
On taking his title TO lawyer, the old |
gentleman found, to bis astonshment.
that it was wealthy plantation, and what
must have been his feelings, on finding
it to be occupied by the very same bru-
tlsh nahob VINO, the preceding evening,
drove him and his suffering child |
from his door!
The wretch in his turn was forced to
beg, for he had not enough left to pay |
the rent which had been amassng forl
tleenty gears: yet with more effect, for
be vas allowed to spend the remainder
OF his miserable days on remote por-
ton Of the plantation. His life had been
a series Of cruelty and knayery, and this |
last GROWING act was followed by the |
temporal beginning Of an eternal retibu
ton.