New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-11-17
From the Ladies Companion for Nov.
A VISIT TO SIMON RENTON,


A VISIT To SIMON RENTON,
THE LAST or THE PioSEERs.
by THE AUTHOR OF CLINTON BRADSHAW.
AN active hermit even in age, the child
OF Nature, or the Man of Ross, run wld;'-Byroa-
Failing. the other day accidentally, upon Byron.
beautiful lines in Don Juan, on
General Boon, Back woodsman of Kentucky"
I thought, as dwell upon their freshness-frest
"a the forests and the character which is his theme
81 visit which paid some years ago,to Boon
co,emporary and similar, Simon Renton, who died
shortly Northumberland determined TO fill out q
slight sketch then made of him. One bright morn
ing in October, think "a, aftera hearty breakfast
on venison, with tho becoming appliances OF cram
berry iellv, and all the Ell ceter0S OF a IuXurou-
meal such as you often get in the western country
and which kind hostess OF West Liberty
(Ohio, had, according to the promise OF the pre-
yious evening, prepared for Us by day-dawn, my
friend and myself started from that village on our
wav to Bellefontaine resolved to call and pay our
Respectable respects OF strangers and travellers
m Simon Rcn,oa, who we were informed dwelt
some thirty miles from our wheleabouts.
II was a glorious Indian Summer morning. The
DIV had lust broke as we started, and the thick
haze which characerizes this season oil the year.
enyeloped the whole landscape, but without con-
ce,l;ng made it Just indisiinctve enough ipr the
;magination 10 group and marshal hill, prairie tree
and stream, in manner agreeable to our feelings.
The haze rested on The face Of Nature like a veil
over q sleeping beauty, disclosing enough OF her
features 10 charm, without dazzling US with a flash
nc her eve. which makes Us shrink while we adj
miro.
vast prairie extended on our right, through
which loitereda lazy streaia sii 1t fingered 10Th
10 leave the fertile soil which embosomed 1t. a
silyery mist hung over il, making 1t appear like
great lake Here and there arising from the I'M
Inense BODY of the prairie, were what we called
islands-that is, great cumps OF trees, covering
sometimes, many acres, appearing Just IKE so
many islands in I'm ouistreiched ocean. one
observed was peculiarly striking; it was n natural
mound arising out of the prairie, and was covered
with dense wood while around it the plain ex.
tended far and WIFE, and was as level as a floor.
As the day dawned the scene became more and
NOR, enchanting. The sun biazed up through the
far forest trees that skrted the prairie like bea-
con.6ro. Those of the trees which were earliest
,aucbed bv The frost, and had lost their foliage.
seemed like 80 many warriors stretching forth
,hc;r arms il mortal combat while the fallen ones
which Law in their huge length upon the ground
might easily be fancied so many braves who were
realizing the poets description ot contest
81 Few shall part where many meet
Then my fancy caught another impression
thought. as looked upon the tranquil scene-the
.yd- prarie-,he sheep browning on the gen
,le stream-lhc mist curling up-the towering
trees-,be d slant hifis--the blue smoke ascending
here and there from Il rustic dweling-all looking
tranoulity- thought that Peace had set her altar.
and all Nature was worshiping tue 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 gid
ing the picture, harnonized whit.
On our left hill assembled abruptly up, covered
with tall trees, which, in some places, were re-
,narkably clear of underwood and in others, chob
ed up witt! it. The underground, from lis great
luxuriance where it did appear. seemed emulous
of the height OF its neighbors At the foot OF the
hill and winding rousd it. lay our road sometimes
it would ascend its side 10th very summit, and
then abruptly descend TO the very foot. This gave
us a full view of the surrounding scenery. II was
beautiful. to me, like that Of another world, COM
ing. Ms | did, from the contagious breath OF the
CITY. where disease and death were ut war wide as
the atmosphere for had Just left Cincinnati where
the chslera wa. raging. The hustle OF business
the hum of men, the discordant neises, the dusty
streets, the sameness and dngy red of the houses,
the smoky and impure atmosphere, the frequent
heaIse, the hurrying physician, the many in black
were all remembered in the contrast with tins
bngh, scene of Nature. lcaught myself almost
nncon ciousy repeating the lines otthe poet:
On, how cans, thou renounce the boundess store
OF charms, which Nature 10 her yotary yields
The warbhng woodland, the resoundibg shere,
The pomp OF groves, the garuiiarc Of fields
All that the genial ray of morning gilds
And all that echoes 10 the song Of even;
AL that the poantaL's shciteriRg bosom shields,
AQiA all mn rH1h aOfH
Oh how cansi thou renouncenn hope TO be forgiven
| felt at once why | had been an invalid | had
been breathing an air pregnant with all sorts OF
sickness was II any wonder was sick had
swallowed whole drug shop-for what purpose
To be drugged TO death
Every thing in this world takes the hue OF our
feelings. a few weeks previously. had been To
a wedding in Lebanon, where had enjoyed myself
sloriously We kept it up Till Tween the late
and early, and all weRt of aPprePrately-
Aud merry as a marriage bell
The next morning brcakiasted with the bewitch-
ing bride and her generous lover, and then away
from the bridal scene hazy rain, ever horrible
roads, tossed about in truudlebed OF carry-ail'
with no companion but my crutch, and whole
host of bachelor reflections. The scene was sad
every where. l passed an old rooster by the
road side He stood alone, dripping wet, with not
single hen near him-chick nor child-like s.
grand Turk who has been upset in an aquatic eX-
cursion, and has quarreled with his whole Sc
rsslio. A dog skulked by me with his tail between
hi. legs looking, for all the world, as If he had
been si,eep-killing. How desolare the sirdled
,cses looked. AS the winds whistled through
their leaaes. brcnches, they seemed the very en-
blems of aspiring mSnhOod, deprived of all his
honors when he thought iiis.em grssnesli YET sti
standing with the worlds blight upon him. The