The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-05-25
WHOLE NO. 1884.
THE WESTERN TRAVELLERS.

MI MI ~ile nor children more shall he behold,
~ ~ i im nor sacred home On every nerve
uauiy winter sezes shuts up sense:
1 M , er ms avs lnmost vitals creeping cold,
lays hlm along the snow stifened cOrse
0Eetched ou' and bleaching in the northern blast
i The following account, Mr. Editor which T
ieceiVeo from correspondent in Cape Girar-
deau, Will no doubt be found interestinr 10 ,nost
OF your readers.
"o men travelling, about the middle of De-
cehoer last, from st. Louis to the north west
erh part OF Missouri, fell in with another trav-
eHer, named Jones, who was iourneying to-
wards MS residence, which was about fifty miles
Inns SIDE OF the destination of the other two
us ar became more raw and chill, as they
proceeded northwird, and the snow fell in con-
SIDERABLE quantities, at intervals When with
IN ABOUT two days ride of their home, the cold
SET IN most intensely, the wind rose in all it's
Jury, and beneath its bowling blast the sturdy
trees OF the forest bent like the slender ozer.
and the limbs. hurled from their trunks, were
scattered on the ground the heecy fakes of
snow were thickly twirled through the murky
atmosphere, and clouds were piled on clouds,
| majestic darkness, till not a speek of blue was
| observable on the face of heaven, and day put
on the appearance of gloomy night Unable TO
proceed on horseback through the meeting
trees that crashed together above their heads,
they dismounted, and on foot pursued their
doubtful way through the darkened forest, UNI
able to discover the path, as the snow had COW
cred 1T and rendered it ndscernable Scarcely
able to endure the intense cold, Jones was dis
posed frequently to lie down and commit him.
self to the care of Providence, but was prevent
ed from doing by the others, as the numbness
and torpor disposition to sleep had not yet TAX
en- possession of them. At length, finding him
unable to speak, and his whole power of body
overcome as it were by sleep, and judging from
their own feelings that the like must soon come
upon them, they determined to leave him, and
endeaVor if possible to make their way 10 some
ha5itation. Night was just setting in, and death
IN Its most appalling form stared them in the
face. Surrounded with all the horrors of dark
ness and solitude, they continued their hopeless
way through brambles and low underwood for
some distance, till their ears caught the well
come tinkling of COW bell. The wind whist
ling, as if it were from the four corners
OF heaven, prevented them ascertaining
from whence it proceeded; however, after
some time, their eyes observed light from
little hut, that together with the sheep cot and
stable attached to it, was the only mark of civ
lllzation for several miles in this dreay solitude
We approached, said the narrator, and knocked
at the door. quick, nimble step was the only
response, and the door mediatey opened. A
female appeared and at first exhibited consid-
cradle surprise, starting back few PAGES, but
Immediately advanced and invited Us in. Our
necessities were eagerly and with the utmost
pleasure attended to by the family, which con-
sisted ofthe wife, two sons, and as many daugh-
tiers. When, by the fire and other means
resorted to by the family, we had recovered
sufficiently the power of speech, we informed
them OF the distressing situation in which we
had left fellow traveller about mile back, as
we supposed. From their conversation, had
r. - II ii,Hr fa'h1r vas expected that day
from st. Charles, whittier he had gone on Dusi-
n ess. We readily perceived from the counte-
nances Of the family, that they entertained a
fearful conjecture who the traveller might be.
We wished to accompany the two young men,
who Immediately prepared to set out for the I'M
fortunate sufferer but they refused in as much as
we were scarcely able to walk, and would nec-
essarily detain Them and could give them very
little assistance towards finding the place, as
from the drifting of the snow in heaps, we
could not be able to distinguish the way we
had come. They called their sheep dogs, and
lighted fambeau each, and taking some blank
cts, in which TO wrap his body, started after
him. After the sons had started, we noticed
the uneasiness of the affectiOnate
wife. At every little interval she would open
The door and look if her sons were coming.
One of US put our hand on the vacant mantle
on which were piled some books and taking
down a small pocket Bible, noticed written on
Jones, TO his affectonate wife, on the anniversary
of their marriage" and showing it to the other,
we both agreed that he undoubtedly was the
sufferer whom we had left behiOd, yet we men,
toned not our impressions to the family. We
were invited TO partake of repast, that had
been accelerated on our account, and as we
were about sitting down, the lady went to the
door, and seeing her sons advance with the
body, recognized the features by the glare of
tba torphes uttered Hhripk md fell IN tho
floor He was brought in and laid on bed be-
fore the fire, and friction and fermentation with
hot liquor, and in fine every thing was tried
to restore him, but to no purpose. The mortal
numbness had seized his body, the chill of
death had frozen his vtals, the heart was
stagnant, and to beat no more. The voice of
lamentation filled the house. The loving wife
and daughters mingled their distressing wall
ngs, and the manly nat Ire of the sons which
supported them while there was any hope of
restoration, and enabled them calmly to use
every means in their power for their fathers
recovery, sunk under their weight of woe,
and they wept aloud.
We endeavored TO calm the agitation and
sorrow of the distressed family, though they
" sorrowed not like those without hope," yet
their grief was violent, and though the hour
was late when they retired to rest, yet the sobs
that ever and anon broke the silence Of night,
lids of the afflicted. We watched the corpse
till morning, which was as calm and beautiful
as the day previous had been tempestuouss and
terrible, and fitly represented the calH and glo-
rous beauties of that eternal world to which
the traveller, wearied with the storms and hur-
ricanes, had gone to dwell for ever In the ave-
ming the corpse was inferred in one corner Of
the gardensthat lay before the house. in all the
soemnity of silent, weeping woe, with the hap
py assurance of its participating in the resur-
rection of the just, when mortal will put on
immortality, and death be swallowed up IN
victory. On the following morning we lett the
disconsolate family, who would have gladly
detained us, as grief finds nlwaysa partial re-
I lief in the sincere coincidence even oil strang'
I ers-Baltimors Minerva.
| Tur LATE LORD STAIR. Lewis XIV was
told that,Lord Stair was one OF the best bred
man in Europe. shall soon put that to the
| 80. ), so;d the King (: and asking Lord Stair