Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-08-30

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WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERESA WAY.
The following narrative has not appeared in
our columns, we believe, although it was
originally published some time ago. We
copy it because it is both interesting and in
structive, showing how readily apparent diff
fculties vanish before q steadfast will and
earnest perseverance; or, in the expressive
language Of the late lamonted Mr.. Patch,h how
I" some things can be done as well as others"
l.N Y. Com. .1dv.
An emigrant from Massachusetts,, Of mid.
die age, and very respectable appearance,
stepped into our Office, accompanied by hls
son, about nine years old, Oh Monday. We
earn from him that he had arrived in our
country about month ago, after one of the
most adventurous overland journeys ever un-
dertaken. We hope to obtain from him a
full account Of his tour, and, in the mean
time, present our readers with the following
brief outline:
| Ills name is Isaac II. Pratt, Of Middleton
ough, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, and
ship carpenter by occupation. Having u
family of six or eight children, dependent
solely upon his labor, and being, with hun
prostration Of business in New England, in
May, he formed the design of taking his two
eldest boys and setting off for this country
on foot. With him to design was to execute.
Placing his wife and youngest children with
a relation, he started Oh the 18th of May,
with his sons, one aged nine and tho other
six, without q cent OF money in his pocket,
and no other availobles than a knapsack of
clothes and provisions, and carpenters steel
square.
/ The first day he entered Rhode Island,
where he sold his square for quarter dollar
and four pence halfpenny, (3l cepts) which
procured them something TO eat and lodging.
The next day, after reaching % miles by the
middle Of the afternoon. they stopped at q
farm house, where Mr.. Pratt inquired if"they
didn't want some odd jobs of carpentering
done-shelves put up-windows tightened OF
loosened-doors hung or rcpaired-hcn coops
made-roofs mended-any thing in his line
to pay for staying over night" "Certainly,'
was the reply" come in, and we'll set you
to work." So well satisfied was the farmer
with his services, that, on parting early next
morning, he filled his knapsack with provis-
ions to last through the day. The afternoon
he stopped in like manner, and met with the
like reception, and thus he continued all the
way to Buffalo, on Lake Eric. Sometimes
in rainy weather, he would remain a day
with his host, and, on one or two occasions,
received few shillngs for his work; but
the whole amount added together, Of the mo-
ney that came into his hands, up to the time
Of his arrival ut Chicago, did not amount to
five dollars. On reaching the Erie canal, he
endeavored to " ork passage for his boys by
driving the horses himsclf: but finding that
this would not keep him in food, he LETT the
canal and resumed the pedestrian journey
On arriving at Buffalo, his offer to work for
his passage to Detroit was readily accepted ;
and, upon landing at the latter place, each
resumed his tramp with great cheertulness.
H In passing over the prairies Of Michigan,
they one day attracted the notice OF COM
pany Of stage passengers, who insisted upon
|, giving the boys a lift, and accordingly took
them on ten miles, 20 the dining house, where
they also gave them their dinner, and made
| up for them contribution Of sixty-two and a
halfcen,s. Finding laborers in great demand
in this state, our accommodating pedestrian
worked one day in the prairies at moving,
for which he got one dollar and sixty cents
and on another day, though anxious to "get
on" he stopped to lay a barn floor. Yet all
his receipts, up to his entering Chicago, as
before stated, did not amount to five dollars.
At Chicago he worked a week, by which
his purse was SO far rcplenished rs to enable
him to reach here much richer than when he
lett Massachusetts,.
lie arrived at Peoria on the 18th of July,
having walked with his boys upward Of 1000
miles, without once appealing to the sympa-
thies of the benevolent for a shilling, and ac-
cepting nothing save his acquiescence in the
stage contribution to his boys, without rem
dering what was deemed a fair equivalent
/ Peoria Register