Litchfield enquirer., 1829-04-23
From the Johnsto'on W. Y. Republican. AN AFFECTING STORY.

A case came under my observation last week, which for its display pf patient for- titude, untlring perseverance,, and deep and cruel suffering, as well as the melan- choly interest which it excited, has few or no parallels.
 Two brothers, whose wives also were sisters, resided near Glasgo ow in Scotland: and on the fruits of their industry, in their lucrative and respectable occupation (they were calico pfinters) supported their tami- lies in comfort and ease. The distress, however, which for years has pervaded the manufacturing districts of c. Britian ex- tended at last to them. Denied all hope of better times, they resolved in despair to abandon an occupation which no longer re- paid their toll, and in June last they en- parked with their families, for Canada, with the purpose of purchasing and culti- vating land. ..4ssa They settled in the town of Ramsay. 200 miles above Montreal, and there soon found in the task of building their log hut, and clearing their heavily timbered new land, that they were entirely unfitted for, and unequal to the duties and labors of their new vocation. Provisions were dear and scarce, the climate was severe, hard winter was before them, and, looking on their wives and children, who had thus far endured their privations patiently, if not cheerfully-they resolved, with the advice of their few neighbors, to cross into "the States," and seek there employment in some of the new manufactories. They started on the 18th of November, expec- ting to send in short time for their fami- lies, which they were leaving but slenderly provided. It was not, however, until the 10th of February that letter reached it's anxious expectants, stating that they had at length found employment at Fall River, in Massachusetts, and would send for their families so soon as they had earned the means.
 But for this their families could not wait
 they were sinking ander the pressure of evils, among which the " hope delayed' counted but as trihing. The sum of mo- ney which the husbands had been able to leave them was but small, and the scarcity of provisions prevailing in the incipient settlement was shared by them to extremi- ty--to absolute hunger. The crevices and seams of their log hut were but partially closed, and admitted the snow at every blast of the winter wind. Amid hunger and cold and the cries of their children. their thoughts often turned to their own pleasant home by the waters of Leven.- The few and distant neighbors gave them no assistance, for they did not know their wants-" we hadn't ony means O repayin delegations, ," said one of them to me, s and sac we did na like to ask them !''-and these two women who in their own coun- try 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 fire around which their children shivered.
 This they could not endure longer, and in good time the letter had arrived. They knew then ,chcre their husbands were, and they resolved to go to them. They had no choice but to endure as they had endured, or-to attempt the journey On foot. The first seemed impossible and besides, these children and their mothers LoUed the fa- thers and husbands from whom they were separated. The prospect for the latter, also might we'll appal the stoutest heart-the distance wGs nearly 500 miles-winter was in its depth-of money they had but -four dollars, and there in the woods their cl0th- ing would sell for nothing, (their furniture had been chiefly left at Montreal) )-and 10 crown the whole, they had eight children,