The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-03-08

From the Ne0 York Literary Gazette.
THE EXILE OF THE ALLEGHANY;
OR NATIONAL GRATITUDE.
| An american Tale.
have always been an attentive, if not
an intelligent observer of human character,
as displayed in the various situations of
life. Whether it has been study more
fraught with pain than with pleasure, l am
not at this time prepared to say;-but if it
be a pursuit that needs justification, it is
enough that have found it a source of
| moral instruction. | have learned to de-
, spise the fool of unbridled and insolent
prosperity; to hate and contemn the prof
ligate of successful cunning, and to bow re-
spectfully before virtue and honour, which
the world is too busy to seek out or too
vile to appreciate. A mind, naturally rest
less and untrammelled by the ties or con-
nexions which ordinarily make men sta
tionary, has urged me over '' many shore
and many sea-" In the course of my
wanderngs, / have often witnessed scenes
that might we'll claim the interest of those
(are there any such . who can feel for the
suherings which do not form part of their
! own destiny in other words, who are sim
cercly phlanthropists without vanity or
ambition beneath the cloak ofbenevolence.
The subject of the present narrative will
not fatter individual self-sufliciency, nor
pamper national pride: in some it may
excite asperity by recalling unwelcome re-
collections Of violated faith and spotted
honour nevertheless, it shall be fearless
ly told.
In the winter Of 1S-I was travelling in
Pennsylvania. When reached the base
of the Alleghanies, | left my horse in the
charge of a peasant, and assembled on foot.
climbed ridge after ridge, braced by the
pure air, and excited by the increasing ma
jesty of the scenery, until l wholly forgot
the flight ofhours, and my remoteness from
the habitations beneath. When attained
the summit, the day was fast waning, and
the rising wind moaning through the de-
files of the hills. and shaking the bare bran
chcs of the trees, warned me of the coming
storm. Immediately began to descend,
in the vain hope of reaching the foot of the
mountain before night fall. Darkness had
already gathered in the eastern vallies, and
the last ray of light was leaning on the
western ridge, when observed a rude
cabin, sheltered beneath the branches of
lemlock. | approached and raised the
latch of the door, which was not barred,
although on my entrance | perceived the
room to be unoccupied. The desertion,
however, seemed only temporary, for
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
barrcnness and restitution; it seemed the
very temple Of poverty, where she had
gathered all the symbols other Worship
"What miserable outcast," thought T.,
can be the tenant of so comfortless a
habitation =? What could have induced the
most poverty-stricken wretch to abandon
the crowds of life, where the overlowings
of the rich mans table may find their way
to the poor mans board, and to dwell in
this mountain solitude, whittier the foot
steps of charity cannot pursue him lis it
crime, is it pride, or is it misanthropy Z"
Musing on this theme, and fatigued with
The tolls of the day, sank into reverie.
The forest storm was now raging without
in all it's destructive violence, which, adj
ded to the loneliness of the spot, produced
a feverish anxiety of mind that encouraged
wild and fantastic ideas. Shade after shade
fitted across the dream of my Imagination;
and could hear in the howlings of the
gale, the cry of distress and the shout of
rapine. All the vague apprehensions of
an overheated fancy came crowding and
pressing on my heart, and although reason
struggled for the mastery, yet she could not
overcome them. While thus wrapped in
a waking dream, with my eyes bent down
wards, shadow like the form of man
suddenly darkened the floor; sprang has
tily upon my feet, and the action recalled
my scattered senses. A man, coarsely
clad, but of amajestic and venerable bear
ing, stood before me. In one hand he
held hunting gun, and in the other some
forest game, which, little as was, seemed
a heavy burden to his aged frame. "a
stranger in my cabin exclaimed he, IN a
tone of surprise, but not of apprehension.
"a stranger" l replied, "who is in need OF
hospitality" A slight flush, apparently
of pain, rose to his cheek as he replied,
" If seat by my hearth-ire, and repast