Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-30
4 NIGHT UPON THE ALEGANIES
From THE BLoTTER OF p. PICKLE, JR.'
ACCOUNTANT.


ACCOUNTANT.
Lazv,>. enough had the dull canal boat
been dragc, I'd along the valley OF susqHe-
hannah and If Juniata to the 1907 OF tne
Aleranies this re is something lnsuiierabIy
tedious in the sn, Ill like progress OF these
boats vet we have been passing through a
region of such surpa. sing wilderness ana
romancc durino the las, day or two, that 1t
seemed as though, instca OF 'Rioe ili .!I
an hour. we had been dash. ny al'eau WV: ~
railroad velocity. 1t is noto. 'ou' 'l"' IA
variety, beauty and grandeur 't ,t - liz
scenery in the United States whl> ii oAO L.'
that Of the Juniata valley. Nat, VIC na.
lavished upon it her richest and Ch, "ooo .
bountes. 1t was nearly night when w
arrived at Hollidaysburg, and were tran >
ferred from the boat to the railroad car,
and then commenced the ascent of the Al !
eganies. The mighty agent, steam, brought
under complete subsection, and made the
humblest servant of man, dragged us rap
idly towards the summit of The heaven
kissing hills" The sun had sunk behind
the broad plain of woods spread out to the
West, as we reached the end of the several
the top of the vast chain of mountains
which divide the United States. from the
lakes Of the North to the gulf of the South.
II was, of course, too late to ascend the
western side; the periious mode of convey
anCe requiring daylight as well as ext raor
binary caution So we were compel He'd to
take up our quarters for the night 50 me
what nearer to the clouds than we mi ght
reasonably expect to be again. In brief
space very good supper was upon the
table, and in a much briefer space it WIS
disposed Of by as hungry set Of traye l.
lers as ever bargained for a meal.
There were among those who compose
the party four young men who together
had undertaken to seek their fortune in the
Far West" Sanguine and full of hope
they had left the graves of their fathers be-
hind them to carve out for themselves new
home in the wllderness-CaTeess Of every
thing save present enjoyment, until wider
scope should be given 10 their energies,
they seated themselves after supper to en-.
joy game Of cards. For while they
contented Themselves with playing for
amusement, but as the game went on, some
casual taunt, good naturally given and re-
ceived among friends, gave rise to feelings
of emulation, and ere an hour had passed
away, another game--the game Of gam
blers-had been substituted, and they were
tierccIy engaged in a contest of gain. The
scene was like all scenes Of the kind, too
common to require or even admit of des-
criPtion. To keep up the excitement re-
sort was now and then had to the stmu-
lou5 of drinking and the worst and most
unhallowed passion of their nature were
deeply ensed in their labor As the spir-
it mounted into their brains, mixed with
the base emotions excited by play, they be-
came mor0se, irritable, captious or quar-
reisome, as their several dispositions die
ta,ed In that har-drunken party at mid
night, scowling in anger, or laughing in
bitter scorn over the gameing table, scarce
y exhibiting a single generous, manly feel
ing, it would have been difficult to recog-
nize four early attached. warm hearted
| friends.