Litchfield enquirer., 1840-07-02
THE ORPHAN WOOD CHOPPER.

qua mother ot whom died of an epidemic then prevalent, leaving three children, two sons and a daughter, in q lOlorn and desti. tute situation. By this melancholy event, the management and support of the family chiefly rested on the cider brother, then about IS years of agc Brought up to indus try hy his poor and pious parents, he did not for moment despair but that the Almighty, who mad Ccpfived them of their earthly pro- tector, would watch over them in their drSi- tute situation, and provide for them with proper industry on their part. At that time the chopping Of wood at the furnaces offered the most constant employment, and lc could nave the company and assistance ofhis little brother and sister, to whom he was much at- tached. Having left the small it;g cubin which had been for many years occupied by their parents, and which was endeared 10 them by the recollection of many past events, they betook themselves, with their little all, to the coaing ground of a neigh boring tarmer, and became the tenants of q chcerless tenement, compared with the one they had left During the day, the elder ] chopped wood, and the younger assisting, as far us his strength would permit, while the sister attended to the domestic concerns of ! their hut. In the evenings. and on days when the weather would not admit of out door employment, the elder brother, who had received u tolerable education in the lifetime of his parents, taught his brother and sisterz-and his exertions were not spent in vain, as the sequel will show.
 With economy and proper management, at the expiration of few years, they had accumulated a small fund in money, and up on consultation, they determined to invest il in piece of Western land. At that time the attention of emigrants was directed prin. clpally to lndiana, as offering the greatest Inducements. Thither then, the elder broth CT was to go, for the purpose of locating q home.
 Having taken an affectionate leave of those he most dearly loved on earth, he de- parted 10 the Monongahela river where he obtained passage on flat boat bound for Cincinnati, and in due time arrived at that place in safety. He was then directed 10 seek the Wabash country for the most fertile lands in the State. Early the next morning he set out for Vincennes, where the principal Land Office for that region was then located. Little experienced in journcying on foot, and buoyed up with the pleasing idea of getting home for himself and those he had left some hundred miles behind, but whose well fare and happiness, identified with his own, | kept place in his recollection-ho pushed on at Il rate too great for even an accom- | plished pedestrian to withstand. His ankles became swollen and his feet much blstered. Aware of his scanty means, and n great de- sire to accomplish his ends, he felt unwilling to lose time, and continuing, aggravated the impeachment, until he was scarce able even to hobble along.
 Thus situated, he became depressed il spirits, and almost ready to sink under dcs- pondcncy, when he was overtaken on the road by a plain, farmer-loohing gentleman on horseback. The horseman, upon coming up, thus accoSted him in benevolent and ! kind manHer:-' Young man, you appear lame and not well calculated to make much progress on n journey.' To which the young man replied, informing him of the cause of his lameness-,hat he was bound for the land office at Vincennes, for the pur- pose ofentering piece of land as home for himself, and sister, whom he left orphans in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, but he almost despaired of reaching it in his present situa- tion. The gentleman on horseback quickly replied, We have the same destination, am also bound for Vincennes-it is yet twen- ty miles-here mount my horse and ride him thther. lam much more able 10 walk than you, in your disab situaton.' The young man, after urgent solicitation, placed himself in the saddle, and the plain gentleman took i: a foot the rest of the distance to Vincennes, where they arrived about nightfall.
 In the morning, the stranger again accost- ed the young man. You told me yesterday on our journey, that your object was to enter piece of land. have some knowledge ot this country, its location and advantages-it you will accept my aid, will go with you 10 the land office and select piece for you. It will save you a great deal of trouble and some eXpcnse.'
 The offer was cheerfully accepted, and they proceeded to the office and made the entry. But imagine the chagrin and disap- pointnhent of the young man, when he came 10 pay the money to the receiver,to learn that the amount was deficient five dollars, owing to counterfeit to that amount. "A friend | in need is n friend indeed The stranger perceiving the dilemma of the young man, snid-'B Be of good cheer-you informed me that you are an orphan-that you have come several hundred miles in search of Q home for yourself and brother and sister. You shall not be disappointed-it gives me pleas urc to assist the destitute. Here are ten dol lars, which will enable you to clear out your land and pay your way until you can obtain employment, and as have many acquant- ances hero, l shall seek out n place for you | He did so. and obtained one and inc young man continued in it, until he had accumu'a- | ted some money, which he remiltcd to his brother and sister, and enabled them to join him. The piece of land proved 10 be u valu- able one-now finely improved and occupi- ed by the elder brother and his inmily-re- spccied and esteemed by their neighbors.-- The sister was happily married. and enjoyed the comforts of life, on n farm in tho same neighborhood. The younger brother pos sessing the confidence of his fellow. citizens, has been elected, and is performing the du- tics "i a highly responsible office