Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-01-06


er, so ardent in their expectations of sue
cess, and so Impractical in the receptions
OF OF, the world. But look at my sketch.
This old man told me he was descended,
by the mothers side, from the noted Mr..
Hooker, the Connecticut divine so famed
Tor his courageous piety, that he trembled
not at Esprit of health, or goblin damn
ed" And truly when l saw this old man
walking with firm and VIGOROUS step,
though he bore the weight of seventy
years, and heard him conversing with the
cheertulness Of youth on his future plans
and prospects, though always with refer
ence to the will of God, | thought the
descendant did not shame the progenitor.
l drew him as l first saw him, watering
his horses at one of those bright rils that,
when swelled by recent rains, come leap
ing down the mountain from their hiding
places among the rocks and shrubs.
There is his wife with such an humble
and resigned countenance, mingled with
; that deep affection which seemed like the
rlli, to gather strength in lis dsscs1 b
to her posterity. She has her little grand
; daughter at her knee, by the way, the
loveliest creature ever beheld. He au-
) burn hair clustered in natural curls, all
; over her head, and her blue eyes were so
bright with joy and innocence that
could not look at her without thinking of
) heaven. Oh she will be too fair flow
er to bloom in our solitary wilds Beside
the old lady sits her son-he was a very
handsome man, and his countenance in
dicative of an excellent disposition, but
there was little of that energy about him
; which usually distinguishes the emigrant
from the East. l thought him very anna
Bile, but that he was not in his proper ele-
ment-that to have titled his small farm
, beside the soft flowing Connecticut would
have been more congenial to his mind,
: than to explore the painless forests and
mighty rivers of our Western country.
But he had fine active boy, lad of
eight, perhaps, who looked as if he would
, delight to ramble over the whole EARTH
, His face beamed with rapture, and his
eyes with inquiry at every strange object
, he saw. He resembled his mother, and
could not do justice to her. She was one
of those creatures of spirit and feeling
who would move heaven and EARTH"
were it possible to serve those she loved.
Ambitious she was as Semiramis, and yet
it was an ambition that hardly had refer
, ence to SELF See with what a queenly
: air she is looking around. over the bound
, less valley of the Ohio, then just opening
before her. She was very beautiful
woman, but there was at that moment
something in her countenance much dear
er than beauty. 1t was the coniugal and
maternal expression of triumph and affec-
f ton that seemed to say, Here my nus
band will be distinguished, and my child
rem rich and happy" She was, in truth,
t the presiding and animating spirit of the
, party. found she welded for "pure,
pure love-" as the old song says, and
against the advice and wishes of her
| friends, who had provided one they deem
ed a better match for her. But Cupid
r delights in thwarting human prudence,
: and he had smitten with mutual passion
! the daughter of the rich merchant and
: the son of the poor farmer, and SO they
? married. do not thinkthe young wo-
man regretted her choice, but | believe
she was disappointed in the degree of fe-
licity she had expected to enjoy. How
could it be otherwise, when she had,
doubtless, pictured Paradise of domes-
tick bliss. The old lady told me her
daughter-in-law made an excellent wife,
, but that she was never quite contented
7 with their little farm, and SO to please
, her, they were removing to country
5 where they could obtain more land. In
short, found, to compare small things
with great, that it was that same cause
: which made the proud triumvir lose a
world, namely, the influence of woman,
that had induced this prudent and peace
r full family to quit the hearth and the altar
, of their childhood and old age, and set
, out on pilgrimage to the wilderness Of
, Ohio"
Here the artist was interrupted by the
: landlady, who entered to say that the poor
! woman wished to speak with the minister
: then, if he was at liberty. Her husband
is dying, sir, believe"
Mr.. Erskine arose instantly, and follow
ed the hostess to small chamber in the
t garnet of the spacious hotel.
E "The room is not very convenient for
sick folks" said the hostess, as they as
, cended the third staircase, red glow at
! the same time passing her usually hard
, and monotonous countenance. should
? not have moved them up here, only the
groans of the sick ones disturbed my gen.
teel boarders. And then these people
had nothing they could pay for their
lodgings, and I could not afford to give
them the use of the best chambers" Her
5 features again grew rigid with sense of
her own importance and the unprecedent-
ed humanity she had shown, as she added,
81 have, sir, done great deal more for
them than was able to do
| ST. .L.ou, onon tho door of the close