New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-10-28

solved upon than accomplished ne s.oe". aa'.i
soon swelled the choked stream; a. ever
,ank mld.leg deep in the mire, and OH! " 'ns
flashes of liEhtniag-that came Amos 'n0e1'aH1
could direct my course. ne noH' was iaIc' l
,,,or-,;,ed at all hazards to Plod on. Daylight
-. fail TO show me 8 better path, and | should
80, further from the end of my journey.
~;,eJ for another half hour; | could
soa;s.ture. was twelve miles from any dwelling
! - man. The tempest did not abste; the wind
! 6ercelv rocked the trees over my head and be-
san seriously TO repent my Undertaking. | halt
looked upon myself : fool; judge if NY impress
;ions not in Some measure deePeSed. y hsn
found myself fairly in a rnorass, and covered with
mud to the shoulders Trees thickly i'm
bedded in the Shiny soil, and the twang OF some
thousands OF frogs that came TO my ears, seemed
10 mock my perpexity. The log on which step
ped had yielded l. Nj footing, and disappeared IN
the soft green mass beneath. By sheer good luck
| had not yet dragged my horse after me. ex-
,ricated myself as speedily possible from my
perilous situation, scrambng out BY the assistance
Of ovcrhanging boughs, and proceeded 10 put IN
execution a desperate resolve.
Remoun;ing I urged my horse, with voice and
spur into the sreek, to swim or waliow along It's
bed. till could obtain secure footing its op
posite bank The good steed, however had
rived at the conclusion that il hopeless think
Of going further He refused 10 move another
step, standing already up his launches IN the
water: and | was casting in my mind what more
10 ent means of solicitation should employ, when
to nv utter surprise caught the sound ota human
voice took II for echo; but the voice came
again from the other side OF the stream. " MS
way, stranger, this way saw ! FAINT CLEAN OF
light it srcmed miles distant but many Sc
conds had elapsed, pne-knot blazed out close at
L.. IL
creek. crossed it, and came up with the person
who had haooed 10 me. - his way" the voice
repeated follow me- you had better lead your
horse" We assembled steep path through the
,hickest Of the woods The light h4red on the
tall figure of the man who carried il bu, | could
uot see the haoi,ation to which ne leading me.
At last he stopped before lodge, rather an ar
,;lical cave, constructed in the side OF the hill.
The roof was supported By stakes, and clHmssly
covered with earth. The interior, however, which
had leisure TO survey while the stranger took my
horse, had more of comfort than expected.
bright fire of pine facets threw light upon the nsr-
row walls One side was furnished with shelves,
on which books were piled in mu,h disorder.
dingy muslin curtain across the .arthest corner
was partly drawn, and revealed cupboard well
stored with old bottles and diapidated croskery
The oaken table was covered with books and pa
"
chest few wooden chairs, and bench the
re-placc, completed the list OF furniture. had
hardly glanced round the den when is up
peared assisted me To dives, myself Of my drip
/ ping overcon and welcomed me with apparent
cordiality to the shelter OF his abode. He prom
ised if would stay for the rest of the wight. to
direct my way early "a ! might wish on
the morrow. | need say how willingly ac
cepted his profiered hospitality. He forthwith >et
about preparations for our evening meal. The
dingy cupboard was resoricd to, and yielded FROM
tsgrccesses better cheer than appearances prom
iscd A loaf OF bread and the remains OF a sad
die of venison ilanked by bottle Of prime
brandy, and eartien jug OF water. | soon
gained spirit to laugh over the disasters had met
with in the Shades -pap able memorials of which
visible my and soiIed dress. My host
was extremely preposscsslng in appearance, though
he looked like one in health. He conversed
freely, bu, responded not to the .ioyia! tone J
sume&. thought him grave and stern and when,
half an hour after supper, he rose, and opening
small door opposite the fireplace, showed me a
closet where little straw and a coupe OF buffalo
skins were prepared for my bed, and closed the
door after wishing me good night. confess | had
slight missivings. Through the chnks of
the door ] saw him stretch himself on the hearth,
after heaping the fire with more logs; and having
placing my pistols undsr my head | resigned my
self to sleep. Once lost in forgetluness, slept
,oundly Notwithstanding the rushing Of the wind
through the numerous crevices in my small apart
ment. A sunbeam streaming through one in the
roof awokc me next morning. On going to the
division of the cave, found my host had al
ready gone abroad and took advantage of his alb
>encc 10 inspect the books with which his shelves
were filled. 1t looked strangely to see books in
the mids, of such u solitude What was my sun
plise to find there large collection of the cas-
sc., and of the older British poets and prose au-
thorsl My feelings changed towards the recuse
had discovered him from his conversation 10 be
a man who had seen the world saw in him now
The devoted scholar who had renounccd The world
that he might enjoy uninterrupted the pursuit. OF
learning. With enhanced respect bade him good
morning when lac entered and thanked him for my
nights refreshment. | was prepared TO accept an
invitation 10 share his solitude few days longer;
but such invitation not extended, had
nothing better To do than take my leave, having (
previously arranged thar | would ride 10 ! village
some dozen miles of, TO breakfast
How lovely the morning after the storm
The distant mountain SUBMITS were gorgeous in
The sunshine. slight breeze stirred the foliage,
and breathed OF freshness and fragrance. The
blue sky was seen in patches through the eaty
opy over our heads, for there was no clearing
about the cave Of the reclu>e. The swoln stream
flowed a, the foot Of the hill Its murmur was
mingled with the rustling OF leaves the screaming
of birds and all the other sounds of life morning
calls forth, in the deep forest. little to the
right, further up the hill, small clearing, in
the midst of which stood rude and evidently de-
serted hut.
"You have chosen wild, hut cheerful spot !
for your abode in the woods, said l. 10 nv pale /
aid melancholy host, who accompanied some
distance. DO you not find difficulty sometimes in
procuring the comforts of life p