Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1828-11-21

lime the other of the humorous The frs, ;s nnrt If
the opening chapter of the work the second is sec-
yea rom the interior OF the second volume and strikes
OH spnltcd picture of old fashioned Virginia .,d-
ding.
DONALD ADhlR.
caAPTEnI.
II then tr,n lovers have been ever crossed,
II stands as an edct in destiny:
hcn let us teach trial patience
n'cau>e 1t Is a customary CROSS
hSoue 70 love, as thoughts, aud dreams and .iciis
"Thrs ana tears poor lancy's followers
.ulis,anr,e,'s Night Drel,,.
" uis summer ci 53, that period pregnant will. in
tcres to the British Empire two personaues, cl,aroed
with dispatches from Fort Necessity to the Governor
OF Virginia, were deliberately winding their wav
through that vast wilderness of mountains and valiies
which separated the little army of WASHINGTON from
the civilized parts of Virginia. The broken md ma
improved passage 10 the Ohio at that distant period
was almost inaccessible and attended at all seasons
with danger and peril Even since internal improve
ments have engaged the attention of the Americans
the inventive hand of art has not been able 90 counter
ACT the irregularities OF nature. The lonely traveller
sui starts he looks from te narrow road TO the
dark precPce below and shoulders when he raises hs
eyes TO the huge mountains before him. If snch feel
lngs affect the minds of modern travellers how disl
greeable and hazardous must have been the Journey
In days OF yore when the lonely path bore nu vespe
OF human footsteps, but alone designated by the
track oi the wolf, and the delicate print of the swift
footed deer ~ 1t heedessly bounded from hill to hill
yet the courage and valor which warmed the hearts OF
those gallant warriors were well calculated To over
come difficulties and their forttude and perseverance,
suclenty competent to endure hardshps and fatigue
The travellers were handsomely equipped, and well
mounted but the irregularities of the road and the
serpenne paths which they pursued rendered the el
petition extremely disagrccable. Sometimes they
found themselves trampng the cruInbling verge of
Preciplce, or climbing the sdelong wndings of almost
perpendicular cliffs such moments thew we're forced
10 aht and carefully lead their impatient stecds over
the dangerous way. Washington could not have cho-
sen from his band two individuals better calculated to
perform the hazardous undertaking, than I4ands,lon
ana duncan. The former was cnterprising and CHI
various; the latter brave, cOnsderate and hardy. They
left Washington at the Great Meadows where he had
recently erected fort and was in daily expectation
OF an attack from the French Commandant, Mons. De
Viiers:
Alter long and unpleasant Journey through n
fnghtiul wilderness, the travellers found themselves
near the foot of the Blue Ridge and threatened with
an Immediate Storm The day had been extremely
sultry, and the heavy clouds which suddenly ovcrsha
lowed the skies foretold the violence of the coming
storm Landsdon ef but little disposed to sustain i, ;
genial showers
Ride on Duncan" said he, turning himselfon his
fine iron grey steed 'only see what tokens we have
Of pelting gust"
You know but little of the climate. and arc
quite unacqualnted with the signs OF the mountain
SKIES replied his companion, VINO logged OH in slow
and lazy trot.
IA traveller in any country might expect hurri-
cane should suppose, when they behold so black an
atmosphere, returned Landsdon.
"The weather on the mountains is subject to sun
dry changes. When least expect it, we are
favored with refreshing showers; and sometimes when
we view the threatening clouds and mark the rising
tempest, they pass over without dIscharging their
contents"
But, observe yon cloud-it appears 10 res; OH tho
brow OF the mountain, in order to recruit It's thunder
oots-rccolcct we have to meet the tempest and the
sooner we gain the foot of the hill the better we shall
be sheltered from it's violence"
ooh! we shall reach place of security before
nght-all," said Duncan with careless air. "nnd
hope you not afraid Of few flashes ofliphnnU"
As he spoke his companion put spurs TO his hoyse
and rode rapidly forward.
The cloud increased and it rolled heavily alone
collected in it's march every lesser spot which foatcd
oil the horizon. Then breaking abruptly from the
verge of the Blue Ridge, another more dreadful and
tenebrious appeared above It's summit until the whole
Heavens were hung in sable dropery. The thunder
mnrmurod Ii low and sullcn sounds and ever and
anon, broke forth in sudden and affrightinp pcalq
Dark red flashes Of lightning darted dcross the Ilea
vens, forming grand but awful contrast with the
surrounding darkness. The wood-pigeons flew in
disnay to their secret homes IN tho cliffs of rocks
and all nature seemed to shrink from the increasing
storn but tho undauntcd traveller who continued TO
ride deliberately watching ntrltly the approach
lng tempest, regardless Of danger and gazing with
admiration OH the picturesque scenery before him.
Ertr0ct from he ID roftenc.
The gentleman expressed his gratitude i'm the
strongest terms, and the gloom dispersed from his
countenance, and was followed By n smile Of the