Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-05-12

Amid hunger ndfold and the cries Of
',0ll cnliaren, ttek thoughts often turn
e. 70 tneir own Pleasant home by the Wa
'e'S u Leven. The few and distant
neighbours gave HEM no assistance sor
.ney did not knbw their wants" we
''au ~ ony meansP repaying obligations, y
sang one OF themfo me" and sac we did
~ ilKe 70 ask hem and these two
women, VINO IN lher own country had
perhaps never seen an axe, were obliged
s'aiulhg % the kPees in sonw, to cut
oowl with TIER aASn hands the trees from
winch they obtained fuel for the FIRE
around which their children shiyered.
ms they could not endure longer, and
in good time the letter arrived. They
knew then whch their husbands were,
and resolved to b to them A sleigh
was engaged an|l their little preparations
soon made. But the snow threatened to
break up, the nkn dared not venture up-
on the long jouSsey, and refused to 90 !!
This was sess toke the cup Of their
afillctlon had long been full, and this last
drop might well have caused its waters of
bitterness to oyerhow-for no pangs cut
so sorely as those Of disappointed hope.
They had now no choice but to endure as
they had endured, or-to attempt the
journey on fort. The first seemed i'm
possible; and besides these children and
their mothrrs lOvsd the fathers and hus-
bands from whom they we're separated.
The prospect for the latter also might we'll
appal the stoues, heart--the distance near.
ty fUe hundred mileS-winter was at its
depth-of morey they had but four DOL
lars, and there in the woods their cloth
ing would sell for nothing their furni-
ture had been chiefly left at Montreall-
and to crown the whole, they had s chill
dren, Of whom the eldest had not reached
her 10th year.
In despite however, Of these fearful
difficulties, these two heroick females
bent upon their hearts to the undertaking..
and on the 18th day of Feb. commenced
on foot their toilsome Journey. Each
carried an infant at the breast, with bun
die Of clothing-the eldest girl, Sarah,
carried on her shoulders her sister of Is
months and the other three girls and two
boys, aged from 3 to 8 years, trudged
along as well IS their little feet could car
! ny them. From the 18th of Feb. until the
18th of March, when they arrived at this
place, the weather had been peculiarly in-
clement-many days were severely cold,
there were two deep falls of snow, and
constant high winds, and for the last two
days they had come under cold rain.
Their course has been entirely on re-
tired roads, which being little travelled
were but imper6ctlysbeaten. Their slen-
der stock Of money had been long since
expended, and they were forced to rely
upon such slender charity as their appear
ance elected (for they neuer asked anal
and their number made even that less eff
cient. But amid snow and storm, in hun
ger and cold, they still pressed on.
There was no day in which they did not
make some progess-they slept where
they could, and fed when it was offered,
and the protection of that Providence
which tempers the wind to the shorn lamb
and their own strong hearts had brought
them thus far. Little, Sarah who CARR.
ed her sister, suffered much with the
soreness from that cause, of her Shout
ders, and two others had their faces frost
bitten, but although 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 IS of 240 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 afford.
ed to them. During the few days of Their
stay here, they were comfortably housed
and fed. Their deficiencies of clothing
were supplied. q stock of wholesome pro-
visions was prepared, a sleigh was SEM
with them to Albany, where they were
sure, if from the letters alone which they
Icarried, Of further assistance, and sun
Of money was given them besides which
would bear them on their way. The sim.
pie gratitude and honest pride Of theil
/" kindly Scotch hearts were equally ap
parent -" Thank you, thank you-may
Heaven itself bless you would they say
but don't if you please--we would rath
er not take more than just for the erpen
ses leave it for the poor creatures who
need it more PIT was pleasant sight
when, with their thankful hearts beamins
in their happy faces, they set off over the
icy road in sleigh with the children
comfortably wrapped up, to join soon the
fathers of their love.
My story, Sir, is done-but l wish tc
ask you--is there one man in thousand
Il do not speak of woman-of them there
are many who even with one child could
have performed that journey as they did
Would he not an hundred times have