Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1829-06-10

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the eve There IS an air of civilization
here, that wins the heart--eycn here
where no human residence IS seen, where
90 foot inrudes, and where not an axe mas
ever trespassed. on ,he beautiful domain.
So different is this feeling from any thing
inspired by mountain, or Woodland scene
w, that. the instant the traveller emerse9
from the forest into the prairie, he no long. /
or feels SOLITARY. The consciousness th''
he IS travelling alone, ard ina Wilderness
escapes him; and he INDUCES the same
pleasing sensations. which are enjoyed Dy |
one. who. having been lost among 'he
labrynths of a savage mountain suddenly
descends into rich and highly cu'''a,cO
iclds-The gay landscape charms I'1I'
He is surrounded by the refreshing s"ee'
ness, and graceful beauty OF The fuTa'
scene. and recognizes al every step some
well remembered spot, enlarged ana Oo"c
thed and. as It were. retoucheo oy udlu'C
hand--Thc clusters of trees SO tanciluDy
ARRANGED, seem TO have been oisp0seu Oy
the hand of taste. and so complete IS the.
delusion. that It is difficult TO dlspel the De
lief. that each avenue leads to village
and each grove conceals q splendid man
sion.
Widely different was the prospect eX-
hibited in the more northern pFaire5'-
V.sflo extent. the distant forest was bare
b. ds,overable Ia the shapeiess outline oil
bI1s family impressed on he horizon
Here and Their, a solitary tree torn by the
wind. stood acne like dismantled mast
in tbs ocean. As I followed my guide
through this desolate region, my sensa-
to1s were similar 20 those of the voyager'
when his baruue IS launched INTO the ocean.
Alone. nm awide waste, with my faithful
pilot only. was dependent on hun Tor sup
bort. guidance and protection. With little
iot.versif the path, and less 10 please the
eve. "a ser 10 OF dre8uness crePt over me
q des9ar1n and whitening OF tue spirit. as
when the heart let painfully alone hads
nothing To- love, nothing 70 admire. notn-
inE from which 20 reap instruction or IL
musement But these are feeling which,
like the sea sickness ofthe young mariner,
are soon dsoelled. I began 90 ind a
pleasure in gazng over this immense, I'M
broken waste; in watching the horizon M
the vague hope of meeting traveller, and
in following the deer with my eyes as they
galoged oiT-thcir forms growing smaller
As they receded, until they faded gradual
Iv from the sight Sometimes l described
q dark spot at an immense distance, and
pointed It out to my companion with a JOY,
like that Of the seaman, who discovers
distant sail 10 the speck which floats on
the ocean. When such an object happen
cd 90 be IN the direction Of our path /
watched It as 1 rose and enlarged upon the
vision-suoposirg It one moment to be q
man-and 40 another q buf'lo; uuul, at
ter 10 had seemed M approach for hours, !
fonnd it tobe a tree.
Nor was ] entirely destitute Of compa
nv for my Pouowattomie guide proved TO
be both intelligent aud good humored, and
although his stock of English was but
slender. his conversational powers were
-by no means contemplate His tOp0-
graphical knowledge was extensive aud
accurate. so that he was able not Only to
choose the best route, but to paint out to
me an the localities. When we halted, he
kiudled fire, spread my pallet aud form
cd a shelter TO protect me from the wealth
er. When we came to a stream too deep
10 ford. he framed a raft TO cross me over
with baggage, while he mountedmy horse
and plunged into the water Throughout
the Journey, his assiduites were as kind
and uuremuhng, as all his arrangements
were sagaci0uS and considerate. A high
or motive. than the mere pecuuiary reward
which he expected for his services, gov
erned his actions; a genuine integrity of
purpose. a native pohtenoss and dignity
Of heart, raised HIM above the ordinary
savage, and rendered him not only re-
spectacle but an interesting man.
After travelling nearly five days without
beboldng a human habitauOn, we arrived
at the verge of a settlement on the Wa
bash We passed along a rich bottom,
covered with large trees, whose thick
shade afforded a styong contrast 10 the
scenes we had left behind US, and then
ascending a gentle rise, stood on a high
bluff bank Of the Wabash A more Sc
cluded and beautiful SPOT has seldom been
seen. A small river, with a clear stream,
yipoling over a rocky bed, meandered
round the point on which We stood, and
then turning abruptly to the left, was lost
among the trees. The opposite shore was
low, thickly weeded and beautifully rich
in the variety of mellew hues painted by
the autumn sun. The spot we occupied