The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-11-22

article fiom the Peoria (IlIiuos) Register,
of Sept. l2Ih.
OLp MASSACHUSETTS FoREvER. An EN-
igrani from Massachusetts, of middle age,
and very respectable appearance, stepped
into this office, accompanied by his sou, a
bout 0 years old, on Monday. We learned
from him that he had arrived in our country
about month ago, after one ofthe most
adventurous overland Journeys perhaps ey-
er undertaken. We hope 10 obtain frnm
him n full relation Of his tour, aud in lhe
meantime present toe reader with the fnl-
lowing breif outlinc
His nnme is Isaac Pratt, Of Middleton
ougl, Plymouth County, (Mass.,) and
ship caepenter by occupation. Having
family Of six 10 eight children dependant
solely upon his daily labor and being, with
hundred OF others, trowm ont Of employ
by the prosira,Ion Of business 10 New Eng
land in May, he formed the design Of TAX
ing his two eldest boys and setting of for
this country on foot! With him TO desigA
was to execute, Pncing his wife aud lls
younger children under the care Of rcla-
ton, ho started on the IS!h Of May, with his
SONS, one nged years, the other 6, with no
other ocaiiabLs than knapsnck of clothes
and proyision,nnd carpenters steel square
The frt day he entered Rhode Island,
where he sold his square for" ga quarter
dollar and fourpencc ba'penny," (3lcents)
which procured them something 10 eat, and
lodging. The next day, after reaching 2J
miles by the middle of the afternoon. they
stopped at farm, house, whsre Mr.. r. EN-.
qnIred IT they didn't want sons odd jobs of
cnrpenierng done-sbclyes put up-wlu-
dows tighlcned or loosened--doors hung ot
repaired hen coops msde-or anything ia
his line to pay for staying over night Ger.
tainly, was the reply come IN, and wen set
set you TO work. So well satisfied was the
farmer with his services, that on parting ear
ly next morning, he filled his kuapsack
with provisions to last through the day.
That afternoon he stopped in like manner,
and me, with like reception; and thus he
continued nlI ihu way to Buffalo, on Luke
Erie. Sometimes in rainy weather, he
would remain day with his host, aud on
two or three occasions received a few sh-
IIngs for his work buf the whole amount,
added together, of money that came into
his hands up TO The time Of his arrival at
Chicago, did not amount to five dollars.
On reaching the Erie canal, he eadeuy"red
10 work passage for his boys by driving
himself but finding this would not keep
him in food, he left the canal, and resumed
the pedestrian journey. On arriving at
Buffalo, his offer to work his passage to
Detroit, was readily accepted and np-
on landing at the latter place, each resumed
his tramp with great cheerfulncss. IN pass
ing over the prairies Of Michigan, they one
Az attracted the notice of IA company of
stage passengers, who insisted upon gisiag
the boys lift, aud accordingly took them
on ten miles to the dining house where they
nlso gave their dinner and made for them
n contribution Of 81 I-2 cents. Finding
laborers in great demand in this State, our
accommodating pedestrian worked one day
in the proiries at moving, for which he got
81 50 and on another day, though anxious
To get on" he stopped to lay barn floor.
Yet all his receipts up 10 his entering Chi
cago, as before stated, did not amount Ia
five dollars. AT Chicago he worked week,
by which his purse was 50 far replenished
Ms to enable him To reach here much richer
than he left Massachusetts.
lie arrived in Peoria on the 18th Of JULY.
having walked with his boys upwards of
1000 miles, without once appealing to tho
sy'nputhies Of the benevolent for a shilling,
and accepting Of nothing, save his acquies-
cence in the stage contribution to his boys,
without rendering what was deemed fair
equivalent. r&ks genuine son Of the pill
griIns, he has too muck thrift to sponge,
aud too much undergraduates to ask OF &c
cep, favor. On the day Of his arrival he
was surprised TO see IN our stree's an I'D