The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-08-25
No. 4s.

urally restless. and untrammelled by the ties
Of connexions which ordinarily render men
stationary, has urged me over "many
shcre and many sea-" In the course OF
my wanderings, | have often visited scenes
that might we'll claim the attention OF those
Care there any such , who can feel tor sui
feriugs which do not form part OF their
own destiny; in other words, sincerely phi
lantrhopists without vanity or ambition be-
meath the cloak of benevolenCe. The sub
ject of the present narrative will not Halter
self sufiiciency, nor pamper national pride;
in some it may excite asperity, by recalling
unwelcomc recollectons of violated faith and
spotted honor; nevertheless it shall be fear
lessly told.
In the winter of 19-, / was travelling in
Pennsylvania. When reached the base OF
the Alleganies. left my horse in the charge
Of pcasent, and assembled on foot. l climb
ed ridge after ridge, braced by the pure air,
and excited by the increasing majesty OF the
scenery around until / wholly forgot the
! flight of hours and my remoteness from the
! habitations beneath.--When l attained the
summit, the day was fast waning, and the
rising wind moaning between the dehles of
the hills and shaking the trees, warned me
Of a coming storm. Immediately began to
descend, in the vain hope of reaching the
foot of the mountain before night-tall.--
Darkness had already gathered in the east
ern valleys, and the last ray of light was
leaning on the western ridge when observ-
ed q rude cabin, sheltered beneath the
branches of a hemlock. | approached and
raised the latch of the door, which wa not
barred, although on my entrance perceived
the room to be unoccupicd. The desertlon
however, seemed only temporary, as a few
embcrs were decaying on the hearth.
threw some pieces of wood on the brands,
and seating myself on rough bench, be-
gan, by the dim and imperfect light, to scan
the apartment All around me spoke OF
barrenness and destitution; it seemed the
very temple of poverty, where she had
, gathered all the symbols of her worship
" What miserable outcast," thought |, can
: be the tenant OF so comfortless habitation!
I What could have impelled the most pov-.
crty-stricken wretch to abandon the crowds
, Of life, where the overAowings of the rich
. mans table may find their way to the poor
mans board, and to dwell in this mountain,
6 whittier the footsteps Of charity cannot
, pursue hime Is it crime, is it pride, or is it
msantrophy!
Musing on this theme, and fatigued with
the tolls of the day, sunk into reverie.
:. The forest storm was now raging without.
s in all its destructive violence, which added
to the loneliness and desolation of the spot,
|, produced fevcrisl excitement of mind
!. that encouraged wild and fantastic ideas.-
i Shade alter shade fitted acrossthe dream of
: my imagination, and l could hear in the
S howings ofthe gale, the cry OF distress and
o the shout Of rapine. All the vague appre-
d tensions Of an ovcthcated fancy came crowd
: ing ;ad pressing on my heart, and although
ii reason struggled for the mastery yet she
d could rot overcome them. While thus
n wrapped in waking dream, with my eyes
# bent downwartls, shadow lik the form Of
d a man suddenly darkened the floor: sprang
e hastily upon my feet and the action recalled
in nv scattered senses. A man, coarsely clad,
! but Of a majestic and venerable bearing, stood
a before me. In one hand he held hunting
ID gun, and in the other some forest game,
=. which, little as it was, seemed heavy bur-
" den to his aged frame. "A stranger in my
n cabm," he exclaimed in tone of surprise,
but not Of apprehension. "a stranger .
said l. "who is in need of hospitality" A
slight flush, apparently of pain, rose to his
! cheek as he replied, " If a seat by my hearth
@. fire, and a repast of mountain game, deserve
= the name of hospitality, you shall freely
n share them they are all it is in my power
I; to Offer With these words be laid aside
ID his burthen, and divestng himself of his
f outward garments, kinded light and sat
,e down by the fire. Thad now an opportuni-
,c ty of studying his appearance more narrow
6 His form was tall and graceful though
~ bent with years; his forehead high and
ID bold, and temples partially covered will,
n locks that riyalled winter in whteness.-
l. His clear grey eye had military quickness
) in its motion, and seemed as if it should be-
n long to one who had watched the movements
10 of armed bands rather than the flight of the
is forest bird or the bounds of the forest deer
C. His face had that educated expression which
to invariably characterizes the civilized man
y. and that we'll bred aspect which can only be
d obtained by habtual intercourse with polish.
=. ed society. Struck by the incongruity be-
d tween such man and such habitaton
in determined to- learn, il possible, the
le cause of his situation and the history of his
~ life.
to With this design, alter our frugal repast
p was ended, and conversation had inspired
N mutual confidence, ,enturcd to touch the
=, -, string. The character of his mind as it be-
nd came developed, and the style of his re-
y marks had awakened an intense interest
-. which | had neither the power nor the de-
>ign to conceal / was confident that | was
in the presence of no ordinary man.--" How
:. happens it," l said, "that you have
chosen this solitude, so bare and SO COM
fortress, for the asylum of your agce Nc.
an thinks that splendid mansions and courtly so