Litchfield enquirer., 1829-04-23

SCHSW yC0ts
 In despite, however, of these fearful diff faculties, these two heroic females bent nm their hearts to the undertaking, and on inc 18th of February commenced on foot their toilsome journey. Each carried an infant at the breast, with bundle of clo,hino-- the eldest girl, Sarah, carried otl her S houl- ders her sister of IS months, and the other 3 girls and two boys, aged from three 10 esght years, trudged along as we'll as their little feet could carry them. From the 18th February until the 12th of March, when they arrived in this place, Johnstown,) } .he weather has beenparticnlarly incIement- many days were severely cold, there were two deep falls of snow, and constant high winds, aud for the two last days they had come under cold rain. AThcir course has been entirely on retired roads, which be- ing little travelled were but imperlectly beaten. Their slender stock of money had been long since expended, and, they were forced to rely upon such scanty char lty as their appearance elicited for they -"e0er asked Gny) and their number made even that less sufficient. But mid snow and storm, in hungerand cold, they still pressed on. They slept where they could, and ted when it was offered, and the pro- lection of that Prouidence which tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, and their own strong hearts, had brought them thus far Little Sarah, who carried her sister, suffer- ed much with the soreness from that cause. of her shoulders, and two others had their faces frost-bitten; but all, though worn and wearied with the tolls of their journey, were we'll in health, and their spirits were high in the increasing hope of soon meet ing the husbands and fathers whom they sought.-They had several times been car- ried forward few miles by humane per- sons, and thus got over perhaps thirty-iive of the two hundred and forty miles which they had passed.
 Strange as it may seem, and dark as is the fact, for the many towns through which they passed, this was the first place where any efficient assistance was afforded them.
 During the few days of their stay here, they were comfortably housed and fed.
 Their deficiencies of clothing were suppli- cd, stock of wholesome provisions pre- pared, a sleigh was sent with them 10 Alba ny, where they were sure, if from tho let ters alone which they carried, of further assistance, and sum of money was given them besides, which would bear them on their way. The simple gratitude and hon. est pride of their :. kindly" Scotch hearts were equally apparent :--" Thank you, thank yo,i---niay Heaven iiseli bless you !'' would thay say, .butsdon't if you please we would rather not take moro than just J0r shc expenses ; leave if for the poor crea- lures who need it more !'' It was pleas ant sight when. with their thankful hearts beaming in their happy faces, they set off over the icy road in sleigh with the chil- dren comfortably wrapped up, to join soon the fathers of their love.
 My story, sir, is done--but wish to ask you-is there one man in thousand q do not speak of sOomen--of them there may be many) who even with one child could have performed that journey as they did would he not an hundred times have fainted in exhaustion and despair The heart of wo- man only, swellinginto heroism in the time of her trial, could have endured it.
 l believe have omitted to tell you the name of the subjects of my story-it is Dykes. Johns,own, March 16, 1929.
 From the Albany Ado. cf March 27.
 On the arrival of this interesting family in our city, the letters furnished them in Johnstown were delivered |: special mee- ting of the St. Andrews Society called, and sum as large as prudence would per- init. was immediately appropriated to their use. and among the members present sum was collected, which with the contributions of few charitable individuals, unconnec- ted with the society, was found equal to the object. A vehicle was hired, comfortable provisions for q six days journey were pur- chased. and under the care of "a steady dri-. yer these heroic women, witla theirs siatef- esting families, started for their home on tho morning of the 18th Of March.
 Onthe evening of the same day,the elder of the brothers arrived here for the pnr- pose of conducting the families home. It would appear that when they had accom- 'plished the first fifty miles of their toilsome journey, they hailed at tavern, from whence they wrote their husbands, stating the circumstances which had induced them to leave their comfortless residence-of their hopelessness of being able to accom- plish the task they had undertaken, and the slender prospect they entertained of procn- ring any mode of conveyance. On the re- ceipt of this letter he instantly started, in his anxiety to proceed or his journey, ea