The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-27
From The New York Mirror.
THE EXILE OF THE ALLIE
GHANY;
Or. .N1TTONelI CR1TrrIrnI
AN AMERICAN rAIE-By J G. b

Iunerlhus. - TEtpGrT
/ have always been an attentive,
If not an intelligent, observer of hu.
man character, as displayed in the
various situations Of life. Whether
it has been a study more fraught
with pain than with pleasure, am
not prepared to say but il it be a
pursuit that needs justification. it is
enough that | have found it source
OF mordL instruction. have learn
ed to dcspisc the fool of unbridled
and irsolent prosperity to hate and
contemn the profligatc of successful
cunning, and to respectfully bow be-
fore virtue and honor, which the
world is too busy to seek out, or too
vile to appreciate. A mind, natural
~ restless, and nntrammellcd by the
ties or connexions which ordinarily
render men stationary, has urged
me over 3" many shore and many a
sea-" In the course Of my wander
ings, | have often witnessed scenes
that might we'll claim the interest of
those Care there any such y who can
feel for suffcrings which do not form
a part of their own destiny in 9TH
CT words, who are sincerely philan-
thropists without vanity or ambition
beneath the cloak of beneyolenCe--
The subject of the present narrative
will not tlatter individual self-suili-
.cicncy; nor pamper national pride !:
in some it may excite aspcrity by
recalling unwelcome recOllcctions of
violated faith and spotted honour !;
nevertheless, it shall be fearlessl y
told.
In the winter of18-,Iwas travel
ling in Pennsylvania. When reach
cd the base of the AIlcghanies. | left
my horse in the charge of peasant,
and assembled on foot. climbed
ridge after ridge, braCed by the pure
air, and excited by the increasing
majesty of the scenery, until who'll
Iy forgot the flight Of hours and my
remotcncss from the habitntions be-
meath. When attained the sum
nit, the day was fast waning. and
the rising wind moaning through the
dcfIcs of the hills and shaking the
bare branches of the trees, warned
me of coming storm. | immedi-
atcly began to descend, in the vain
hope of reaching the foot Of the
mountain before night fall. Dark
ness had already gathered in the
eastern valleys, and the last ray Of
light was leaning on the western
ridge. when | observed a rude cabin.
sheltered beneath the branches of a
hemlock. approached and raised
the Itch of the door, which was not
barred, although on my entrance |
perceived the room to be unoCCupied.
" temporary. as a few cmbcrs were
dccaying on the hearth. threw
some pieces Of wood on the brands,
and seating myself on rough bench,
began by the dim and imperfect light
TO scan the apartment. All around
me spoke of barrcnncss and destitn-
ton it seemed the very temple OF
poverty, where she had gathered all
the symbols of her worship. i" What
miserable wretch" thought I, "can
be the rude tenant Of SO comfortless a
habitation? What could have impel-
led the most poverty stricken wretch
to abandon the crowds of life, where
the OVERLOOKING of the rich mans Ia
bic may find their way to the pool
mans board, and dwell in this noun
tain solitude, whittier the footsteps
Of charity cannot pursue him l.
it crime. is it pride, OF is 1t nissan
thropy !"
Musing on this theme. and ia.
tigued with the tolls Of the day,
sunk into a reyerie. The forest
storm was now raging without in al
its destructive violence. which, adj
dcd to the loneliness and desoIatinr
Of the spot. produced feycrish cX-
citement OF the mind that encouraged
Wild and fantastic ideas. Shade af-
ter shade fitted across the dream OF
my gination. and | could hear in
the howlings Of the gale, the cry Of
distress and the shout of rapine.-
All the vague apprehensions of an
oyerhratcd fancy came crowdihg
and pressing upon my heart. and al
though reason struggled for the mas.
terry, yet she could not overcome
them. While thus wrapped in q
waking dream, with my eyes ben
/ L L L 1 l. 4 |. c..r.r