American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-06-09
REVERSE OF FORTUNE.
aS SKETCH OF WESTERN LIFE

a SKETCH OF WESTERN LIFE.
PAET:.
II was mild autumnal evening in lSl3.--
The sun had just gone down, and his lingering
beams like dailying lovers5still kissed the blush
ing foliage of the forest in what was then called
the Far West. Jack Frost, that inimitable
painter, had already deckeG each tree and shrub
with Thousand hues, from the rich, deep, gol-
den tint, to the modest Quaker drab. All ma
ture, indeed, seemed to have put on the coat of
many colors, as if determined to have at least
one grand display, before cid winter should
throw over its face the white veil of unwilling
secusion
The venerabIe forest of thousand years
seemed to forget its age, as its tree tops smiled
in the departing light of the sun, while the
nesting birds frem It's embowered recesses ca
rolled forth their simple vespers. The blue
smoke, too, curling from the rude chimney Of
a solitary log cabin, which stood in the centre
of a small clearing, in the midst of the wood,
seemed to rise ioyfully into the clear atmos-
phere, as fit were the evening sacrifice of the
tenement's humble inmates.
These were, hardy New England pioneer,
his wife, two sons, and an infant daughter
The SONS, William and James, were old enough
to assist their father at clearing, breaking, and
cropping. The members of this humble family
were amongst the first settlers in that part OF
the West, and of course endured many hard
ships, while they were deprived of the luxuries
of an Eastern residence; yet they were cheer
full and contented; and had it not been for the
difficulty of paying fo- the land they had pur-
chased, their happiness would have been COM
plete.
The difficulties which fiowned upon them
from the future and the spirit with which they
met them, will appear from what follows.
Upon the evening III question, they were par
taking of their frugal supper, when knock
from without interrupted their meal and con.
versation. Lee, the head of the family, an
swering the summons at the door, was saluted
by well-dressed stranger, on horseback, who
requested accommodation for himself and his
tired animal until morning. He was immedi.
ately welcomed by the sturdy pioneer and Civ
ing his horse in charge of,one of the boys soon
found himself comfortably seated by the fireside
of his host. A plain but substantial supper was
quickly prepared, after partaking of which, the
stranger, won by the unaffected cordielity ofhis
entertainer, forgot all reserve and in the course
of the conversation which ensued, communica.
ted his name and history.
The guest, Henry Flowrence, was native
and merchant Of one of our Eastern Cities
He was wealthy, and fond Of adventure, and
having vested few hundred dollars in western
lands, he resolved to crafty his desire Of see
ing the vast forests, the rolling prairies, and
the noble lakes and rivers of the West Up.
on visit of adventure as well as profit, there.
fore, he had accidentally become the guest OF
the settler.
"You must endure many p.vations in this
wild, unsettled country" said Florence, in the
course of the evenings conversation,
eyes; but the East amt the place for poe:
men; now me and mine are as good as any bo'
DIV, and like to be where can live like other
folks. The West'sa CROWN country, and I've
a notion can grow with it, and when | die
leave something handsome for my children"
"How long have you been here?"
"Three years, last March,"
GLOW have you prospered during that time;'
ooh! first rate, so far; but the drought has al.
most ruined the crops this year, and Pm hard
pressed to raise the money to make my last
payment on my land. The sinners are mighty
scarce in these parts, and Pm afeared some
times, III have to give up the land, and al
I've earned these last two years are paid to-
wards it. But never mind, we must have trou
bles, or else we wouldn't know what we co,ld
do, if we tried"
These last words were spoken with tone o!
resolution, though his voice trembled slightly
as he bent down to kiss the little Ellen in his
lap, The child looked up in his face, smiled