Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-08-29


public charity !; kind affsc,ionate
heart, and an amiabillty of temper, the
eqanimity of which nothing could ruff
file or disturb.
The infrmaties Of the widow now
assalled her so rapidly, that she was
under the necessity of informing her
children with many bitter tears, that
she would be unable to save them from
furnishing the approaching winter; and
that when cold weather came, they
would all have to be dependent on the
parish for support. The anguish eau.
sed by this communication speedily
gave way to other feelings. The
proud spirit ofElias was roused-he
could not brook the idea Of becoming
a pauper, and he said" Mother |
can't bear that-I wont go to the poor.
house. | can do something to help you
and sister Catharine, and we'll try to
get through next winter and then I'll
be older, and we may do better yet."
Poor little Catharine looked the very
picture OF despair /; in the hopelessness
of grief, she buried her face in the lap
of her mother, and sobbed as if her
heart would break.
| But Elias had taken his resolution
to "do something" and the only ques-
ton was what he could do to save his
mother and sister from starvation, or
what he thought the greater calamity,
the poor-house.
AT that time Pennsylvania was food
ed with yankee pedlars, who sold tin
ware, wooden clocks, dry goods, and
perhaps wooden nutmegs, and brown
paper sausages. The great turnpike
road leading from Philadelphia to Pitts
burg, passes through London; and in
asmuch as London is situated at the
foot of Tuscarora mountain, the ped
lars were in the habit Of stopping to
water the horses before they begin to
ascend, and sometimes remained there
all night. A pedlar never loses an OPP
portunity to swap a horse, or dispose
to advantage his wares and, there
fore, Elias had numerous opportunities
of observing the acuteness, almost in
tuitive, with which they drove trade
and the moral certainty of their getting
the best of the bargain. Elias also
Judged that it must be profitable bu-
siness, or else so many would not be
engaged in it; he was satisfied Of the
fact; when he saw them return from
the West, laden with feathers, cotton,
etc., and three or four horses alongside
the wagon; much finer animals than
the crazy, spawned beasts with which
they had journeyed west. Besides,
Elias had some vague suspicion that
they carried concealed in some part of
| the vehicle, or on their own persons,
portion Of the United States currency
but whether it consisted of paper or
hard money he had no direct means Of
ascertalning.
| However, Elias must do something I;
and after some hours of reflection, he
determined to turn pedlar. But where
was his wagon or his horse. He had
neither materials, nor cent to offer
them, and his bodily infrmties prohib-
tied him from carrying pack on his
back. But even if this difficulty was
overcome, where were his goods on
which TO make the profits which were
to alleviate the misery of his mother
and sister? Nobody would credit a
boy who looked a beggar, though he
felt man. Elias was in dilemma;
but he fancied he heard those that were
alone dear to him on earth, moaning
for bread, and the poor-house stared
him in the face. Necessity is the
mother of invention and Elias fell
upon plan which appeared to him to
| dissipate all the evils which threatened
TO crush him. He determined to make
himself large wagon, with wooden
wheels, (he was too poor TO buy iron,)
and then, with strap thrown across
his shoulder, he could haul it across
the country and haul il about among
his neighbors. His resolution taken,
he began to work, and being aided by
benevolen. wagon. maker in the Vi
cinity, the little machine, about the
size of market basket, was construc-
ted and equipped Tor trip among the
farmers.
But now an obstacle, the most try.
ing TO Elias sensibili;ies, had occurred,
and he must overcome it, or all his
hopes must vanish forever. He was
we'll aware of the disadvantages under
which he labored. He knew very
well that a man obtains credit in pro-
portion to his supposed ability to pay;
and how could any body suppose a
boy who had not clothes to cover him,
who was looked upon as half an idiot,
deformed and imbecile, and whose mo-
Their was In ahlect poverty. could pay