The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-22

did not know their wants. we hadn't onv
means o. repayin obligations" said one of
them to me, and sac we didna like to ask
them !" and these two women, who in their
own country had perhaps never seen an axe,
were obliged, standing to the knees in
snow, to cut down with their own hands
the trees from which they obtained fuel for
the hre around which their children shivered.
This they could not endure longer, and
in good time had the letter arrived. They
knew then where their husbands were, and
they resolved to go to them. A sleigh was
engaged, and their little preparations soon
made. But the snow threatening to break
up, the man dared not venture upon the
long journey, and refused to go! This was
a cruel stroke; the cup of their affection
had long been full, and this last drop might
well have caused its waters of bitterness to
overfiow-for no pangs cut SO sorely as
those of disappointed hope. They had now
no choice but to endure as they had endur-
ed, or to attempt the journey on foot. The
first seemed impossible and besides these
children and their mothers loved the fathers
and husbands from whom they were separ-
ated. The prospect for the latter, also,
might well appal the stoutest heart-the
}
at Its depth-of money they had but four
dollars, and there in the woods their cloth
ing, would sell for nothing, their furniture
had been chiefly left at Montreal, land, to
crown the whole they had eight children,
OF whom the eldest had not reached her
tenth year.
In despite, however, of these fearful diff
culties, these two heroic females bent LID
their hearts to the undertaking, and on the
| 18th of February commenced on foot their
toilsome journey. Each carried an infant
at the breast, with a bundle of clothing
the eldest girl, Sarah, carried on her shout
ders her sister of eighteen months, and the
other three girls and two boys, aged from
three to eigM years, trudged along as we'll
as their little feet could carry them. From
the 18th of Feb, until the 18th of March,
when they arrived in this place, the wealth
er had been peculiarly inclement-many
| days were severely cold, there were two
deep falls of snow, and constant high winds,
and for the two last days they had come
| under cold rain. Their course had been
entirely on retired roads, which being lit
tie travelled, were but imperfectly beaten.
Their slender stock of money had been long
since expended, and they were forced to re-
ly upon such scanty charity as their appear
ance elected (for they neper asked nnyl and
their number made even that less efficient.
But mid snow and storm, in hunger and
cold, they still pressed on. There was no
day in which they did not make some pro-
gress-they slept where they could, and
fed where it was offered, and the protec-
ton Of that Providence, 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
well in health, and their spirits were high
in the increasing hope of soon meeting the
husbands and fathers whom they sought.
They had several times been carried for
ward few miles by humane persons, and
thus got over perhaps thirty-five miles 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 fist place where
any efficient assistance was afforded to
them. During the few days of their stay
here, they were comfortably housed and
fed. Their deficiencies of clothing were
supplied, a stock of wholesome provisions
was prepared, a sleigh was sent with them
to Albany where they were sure, from the
! letters alone which they caflied, of further
assistance, and a 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
you-may heaven itself bless you " would
they say, "but don't, if you please-we
would rather not take more than just for the
expenses leave it for the Poor creatures
who need it more! !" 1t was pleasant sight
when, with their thankful hearts beaming
in their happy faces, they set off over the
icy road in II sleigh with the children COM
fortably 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 Il do
not speak of tOomen /; of them there may be
many who, with even one child, could have
performed that journey as they did ? Would
he not an hundred times have tainted in ex-
haustion and despair The heart of woman
only, swelling into heroism, in the time of
her trial, could have endured it.
believe that have omitted to tell you
the name of the subjects of my story-it is
Dykes. And Jeanne Deans the celebrated
heroine of SCOTS tale, the Heart of Mid
Lothian who walked from Edinburgh to
London, at midsummer, with money in her
pouch for all her expenses, TO beg from the
King the pardon of her condemned sister,
was made heroine upon less than half the
courage, the perseverance, and the toilsome
suffering which appertain to my Mrs. Dykes.
To the foregoing, the Albany Gazette
adds :-"On the arrival of this interesting
family in Albany, the letters furnished them
in Johnstown were delivered; a special
meeting of the st. Andrews Society was
called and although numerous applications,