The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-23
atseellameous.
From the Ladies Companion
A VISIT TO SIMON KENYON,
THE LAST OF TIE PIONEERS.
BY = W. THOMAS, THE AUTHOR OF "cLHToN
BRADSHAW"

BY :. W. THOMAS, THE AUTHOR OF "cLIHToN
BRADSHAW"
Gan active hermit, even in age, the child
or Nature, or the Man Of Ross run wild"
Byron.
FALLING, the other day, accidentally, upon
Byron's beautiful lines in Don Juan, on
General Boon. Bsckwoodman of Kentucky"
thought, as dwelt upon their freshness-fresh
as the forests and the character which is his
theme-of visit which paid some years ago,
TO Boon's contemporary and similar, Simon Ken
ton, who died shortly afterwards deter
mined to fill out slight sketch then made of
him. One bright morning in October, think
"a, after hearty breakfast on venison, with the
becoming appliances Of cranberry jelly, and all
the efceferds Of a luxurious meal, such as you
often get in the western country, aud which our
kind hostess Of West Liberty, (Ohio,) had, ac-
cordng to the promises of the previous evening,
prepared for us by day dawn, my friend and
myself started from that village on our way 10
Bellefontaine, resolved TO call and pay our re-
spects--the respects OF strangers and travellers
Ito Simon Kenton, who, we are informed,
dwelt some thirty miles from our whereabouts
II was glorious Indian summer morning.
The day had just broke as we started, and the
thick haze, which characterizes this season Of
the year, enveloped the whole landscape, but
without concealing, made it just indistinct
enough for the imagination TO group and mar
shall hill, prairie, tree and stream, in manner
agreeable to our feelings. The haze rested on
the face Of Nature like veil over sleeping
beauty, disclosing enough of her features TO
charm, without dazzling US with the fash Of
her eye, which makes US shrink while we ad-
mire.
A vast prairie extended on our right, through
which lotured lazy stream, as if it fingered,
10th to leave the fertile soil which embosomed il.
A silvery mist hung over il, making it appear
like a great lake. Here and there arising from
the immense body of the prairie, were what
called islands-that is, great clumps of trees, CO.
vering, sometimes, many acres, appearing just
like SO many islands in an outstretched ocean.
One observed was peculiarly striking it was
not natural mound arising out of the prairie,
and was covered with dense wood, while
around it the plain extended far and wide, and
was as level as floor.
As the day dawned the scene became more
and more enchanting. The sun blazed up
through the far forest trees that skTted the prairie
like beacon fire. Those of the trees which
were earliest touched by the frost. and had lost
their foliage, seemed like SO many warriors
stretching forth their arms in mortal combat
while the fallen ones, which lay in their huge
length upon the ground, might easily be fancied
so many braves who were realizing the poets
description Of a contest:
:" Few shall part where many meet"
Then my fancy caught another impression; |
thought, as looked upon the tranquil scene
the wide prairie--the sheep browning on 1.-THE
gentle stream-the mist curling up-the tower
ing trees-the distant hills--the blue smoke as
cending here and there from rustic dwelling
all looking tranquillity-I thought that Peace
had set her altar, and all Nature was worshipping
the being whose blessings were upon all. The
rich tint of those trees which still retained their
foliage, added TO the beauty and oneness of the
scene; and in gliding the picture, harmonized
whit.
On our left, hill assembled abruptly up, cover
ed with tall trees, which, in some places were
clear of underwood, and in others,
choked up with it. The underground, from its
great uxuriance, where il did appear, seemed
emulous Of the height of its neighbors. AT the
foot of the hill, and winding round it, lay our
road sometimes it would ascend the hills side
to the very summit, and then abruptly descend
TO the very foot. This gave us full view Of
the surrounding scenery. 1t was beautiful
To me, like that OF another world coming as
did, from the contagious breath of the city,
where disease and death were spread, wide as
the atmosphere, fer had just left Cincinnati.
where the cholera was raging. The hustle of
busness-the hum OF men the discordant
dusty streets-the sameness and
dingy red of the houses-th, smoky and impure
atmosphere-the frequent hearse-the hurrying
many in black, were all remeln-
bered in contrast with this bright scene of Ma
ture. caught myself almost unconsciously re-
peating the lines of the poet
g Oh, how canst thou renounce the boundless store
OF charms, which Nature to her votary Yields
The wa,bling woodland the resoundng shore,
The pomp of groves the garnure of fields
An that the genial ray of morning gilJs,
And all that echoes to the song of even
All thut the mountains sheterng bosom shields,
And all the dread magn6cence of Heaven;
Oh, how canst thou renounce, and hope to be for
given 2"
/ felt at once why | had been an invalid. had
been breathing an air pregnant with all sorts Of
sickness was it any wonder | was sick2 Il
had swallowed whole drug shop-for what
purpose To be drugged to death?
Every thing in this world takes the hue Of our
to wedding in Lebanon, where | had enjoyed
myself glorously. We keIt it up till 's'tween
the late and early" and all went off appropriate
ly-
As merry as a marriage bell"
The next morning breakiased with the be-
wtching bride and her generous lover, and then
away from the bridal scene in hazy rain, over
horrible roads, tossed about in trundle bed Of a
carry all, with no companion but my crutch, and
a whole host of bachelor reflections The scene
was sad every where. passed an old rooster
by the road side. He stood alone, dripping wet
with not single hen near him-chick nor child
like grand Turk who had been upset in an
aquatic excursion, and has quarrelled with his
whole seraglio. A dog skuked by me, with his
tail between his legs, looking, for all the world,
as if he had been sheep-killing. How desolate
the grdled trees looked As the winds whisiled
through their leatiess branches they seemed the
very emblems of aspiring manhood, deprived Of
all his honors when he thought them greenest;