Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-07-19

ed and the sun headed his course; ne saw
it gradually descend in the west; but all
] around him continued as if enveloped in
mystery The huge grey trees spread
their giant boughs over him; the rank
grass extended on all sides;not living be-
ing crossed his path--all was silent and
still, and the scene was like dull and
/ dreaiy dream of the land of oblivion. He
wandered like forgotten ghost that had
passed into land of spirits without yet
meeting one of his kind with whom to hold
converse.
The condition of man lost in the woods
is one of the most perplexing that can be
been in like predicament. Every object
/ he secs he at first thinks he recognizes,
and while his whole mind has bent on
searching for more that may gradually lead
to extrication, he goes on committing great
Ell errors the farther he proceeds. This
was the case with the live-oaker The
sun was. now setting with fiery aspect,
and by degrees it sunk in its full circular
I FORM as If giving warning of a sultry NOR
row Myriads of insects, delighted at its
departure, now filed the air on buzzng
winds. Each piping frog arose from the
muddy pool in which it had concealed it
self the squirrel retired to its hole, the
crow to its roost, and far above. the harsh
croakng voice Of the heron announced
that it was vending its way 10 the miry in
terror Of some distant swamp. Now the
woods began to resound to the shrill cries
Of the owl; and the breeze, as It swept
among the columnar stems Of the forest
trees, came with heavy and chilling dews.
Alas, no moon with her silvery light shone
on the dreary scene, and the Lost One,
wearied and vexed, laid himself down on
the damp ground Prayer is always con-
solitary to man in every difficulty or dam
ger, and the woodman frequently prayed to
his Maker, wished his family happier
night than it was his lot to experience, and
with a feyersh anxiety, waited the return
of day.
You imagine the length of that cold, dull,
moonless night. With the dawn of day
came the usual fogs Of those ATTITUDES.
The poor man started on his feet, and
with a sorrowful heart pursued COURSE
which he thought might lead to some ia
milar object-although indeed he scarcely
knew what he was doing. No longer had
he the trace of track to guide him; and
as the sun rose, he calculated the many
hours of daylight he had before him, and
the farther he went, continued to walk the
faster. But vain were all his hopes that
day was spent in fruitless endeavors to re-
gain the path that led to his home, and
when night again approached, the terror
that had been gradually spreading over his
mind together with the nervous debility
induced by fatigue, anxiety and hunger,
rendered him almost frantic. He told me
that at this moment he beat his breast tore
his hair and had 1t not been for the pety with
which his parents had in early life mbued
. his mind, and which had become habitual,
would have cursed his existence Famish
ed as he now was, he laid himself on the
ground, and fed on the weeds and grass
that grew around him. That night was
spent in the greatest agony and terror. 1
! knew my situation,' he said to me- Il was
fully aware that unless Almighty God came
to my assistance must perish in those UNI
inhabited woods. lknew that had walk
ed more than fifty miles, although had not
met with brook from could qucnch my
thirst, or even allay tie burning fever of
vi my pdIChcu Ups anu Oioou-ohot VIVA
knew that if should not meet with some
stream, / must die, for my axe was my on
" weapon, and although deer and bears
now and then started within few yards or
even feet of me, not one Of them could |
kill; although in the midst Of abundance,
not mouthlul did expect to procure, to
satisfy the cravings of my empty stomach !.
Sir, may God preserve you from ever feel.
ing as I did the whole Of that day.
For several days after no one can mag
inc the condition in which he for
when he related to me this painful adven-
ture, be assured me that he had lost all
recollection Of what had happened. God,
he continued, must have taken pity on me
one day, for as ran wildly through those
dreadful pine barrens, met with tor
toise. gazed upon it with amazement
and delight; and, although knew that,
were | to follow It undisturbed. it would
lead me to some water; my hunger and
thirst would not allow me to refrain from
satisfying both by eating its flesh and drink
ing its blood. With one stroke of my axe
the breast was cut in two, and in a few mo-
ments / despatched all but the shell. Oh,
sir, how much / thanked God whose kind
ness had put the tortoise in my way felt
greatly renewed. | sat down at the foot of
pine, gazed on the heavens, thought Of
my poor wife and children, and again
and again thanked God for my life--for
NOW I fotff lass J;efractad IN ,,,is,d and