Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-08-23
MISCELLANY.
From The NeU York Mirror.
Elias Fisher, the DOs-Pcd7ar.

bf AN OFFICER OF THE U. S. ARMY.
Some ten or twenty years ago, there lived
near Loudon, in Franklin county, PennsyI-
vania, poor decrepit widow, who had son
and daughter. They were miserabIy des
'itu'e; AMI the mother by the most humble
emPloyments, which sho performed in pain
and sorrow, procured a scanty subsistence
Tor her children. lot unfrequently she vas
compelled 10 apply for aid, 10 save them from
The pangs OF hunger, and cover their infant
limbs from the peltings of the pitiless blast
while they gathered from the lanes and woods
bark and branches of trees which had been
rejected by woodsmen, with which 10 warm
the shivcring limbs of their aged parent.
The girl was about ten years old s. de-
formed by nature, so as TO render her inca
pable OF performing laborious service The
pflVations consequent upon her wrelched
condition had impressed on her infant face a
melancholy and detection approaching idio>
cy. But sui she looked up to her mother
Tor support and protection, with that deem
love and resignation which perhars. emhra.
ces with more Intensity the object of our a, :
'achment IN proportion as fortune or fate di,
ihinishes The number, and "ghastly poverty'
forces upon US the unweicome truth that we
have no real friends apart from our blood re- =
iaiions. Nor did poor Catharine indulge in
idle, unavaiiing complaints, when hunger
made her faint, andthe icy winds pierced her
unprotected frame. Still she placed her re-
lance spon her mother that wretched dow.
Ell, wi!hered being, who lived merely be>
cause she hoped her children would be less
miserable than if she was dead.
Elias was about twelve years old, and so
much detormed that he walked like one af-
iiIcled with the ST. Vitus's dance From
tbP plbDty N no let Al, In
at right angle, while the hand hung help
lessly from The wrist The other arm was
deformed but less SO than the left and he could
use them both TO limited extent The
muscles OF his left cheek were drawn over
the jaw bone as if contracted by the palsy.
The Tell eye shared in the deformity. One
shoulder was an inch or two higher than the
other. HIS speech, also, was affected to such
degree as TO render him partially unintelli-
gible TO strangers. Nevertheless, Elias pos
sessed mind of unusual acuteness for a boy
In his class of life; high native spirit of in
dependence, which induced his mother TO
suffer many actual evils rather than accept
OF public charity; a kind, hffeetionate heart,
and an amiability OF temper, the equanimi>
ty of which nothing could ruffle or disturb.
The infirmilies Of The widow now assail>
Ell her so rapidly, that she was under the ne
cesslty of informing her children, with many
bitter tears, that she would be unable TO save
them from furnishing the approaching win
fer; and that when cold weather came, they
would all have TO be dependent on the parish
for support. The anguish caused by this
communication speedily gave way to other
feelings. The proud spirit of Elias was
roused-he could not brook the idea Of be-
coming pauper, and he said-stM other, I
can't bear thai won't go 10 the poorhouse
| can do something to help you and sister
Caiharine, and we'lI try to get through next
winter, and then 1ll be older, and we may
do better yet" Poor little Catharine look
ed the very picture of despair in the hope
iessness 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 edo
something" and The only question was what
he could do TO save his mother and sister
from starvation, or what he thought greater
calamity, the poorbouse.
AT that time Pennsylvania was flooded
with Yankee pedlars, who sold tin ware,
wooden clocks, dry goods, and perhaps woods
en- nu'megs and brown paper sausages. The
great turnpike road Leading from Philadel>
pbia 10 Pittsburg, passes through Loudon
end, inasmuch as Loudon is situated at the
foot OF the Tuscarora mountain, the pedlars
were in the habit of stopping to water their
horses before they began to ascend, and
sometimes remained there all night. A ped.
lar never loses sn opportunity 10 swap a
horse, or dispose 10 advantage Of his wares
and, therefore, Elias had numerous opportu>
mites Of observing the acuteness, almos, in
tutive, 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 business, or else so ma
ny would not be engaged in il; and he was
satisfied OF the fact, when he saw them re-
Turn from the west laden with feathers, cot
ion, etc, and three or four led horses along.
side the wagon much finer animals Than