Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-08-28
From The TaiiSman.
THE GREAT WEST.

Not one hundred years ago, how short an era
before the age of railroads and steam engines, the
brave adventurer, whose strong will and energy
babe him 90 forth to the wilds of the west in
search of excitement and better fortune, as he
stood upon the dividing ridge of the Alleghanies,
looked back upon civilization and the seats of in
dustry he was about quitting, as he thought, for
ever, to catch one farewell glance at the distant
vllagespire, thehome of his youth, and the scenes
so full of the sweet "reminiscences of boyhood,
ere he took his dark and tangled way amid the
deep wild-woods, whose boughs waved all silent
ly, as if their repose had been unbroken for a
thousand years.
He travelled slowly; for at every step his pro-
gress was impeded by fallen tree and tangled bush;
still he progressed and with indomiable courage
pushed on, waking the forest echoes with song
and careless laughter, ming with the resound-
ing blows and sharp ringing fall of the axe upon
the resisting wood.
Looking carefully to the right and left, he oc-
casionally caught sight of half naked and dusky
forms, which stole like sceptres amid the gloom
of the wildwood, and hung on his footsteps
watching an opportunity to take the stranger un-
awares, and punish his temerity by fixing his scalp
before the opening of the wild chiefs hut. Lit
tie cared he, however, for the sharp twang of the
bowsring, the whistling arrow, the frghtful paint
of the savage, or his still more wild and unearth-
ly veil, more full of terror than the howl of the
gaunt wolf, and the scream of the panther.
At length he sat down upon the banks of
broad, deep, and rolling current. Never had his
eyes rested upon such a scene. Never had he
beheld so mighty river. He paid the involun-
tary tribute of his wonder and admiration at the
handwork of so vast, so varied, so magnificent
creation. He was filled with new and strange
emotions, as he stood upon the theatre of new
world, the magnitude, the beauties, the resources
of which, were all unknown to the peace and
quiet loving citizens he had left upon the plains
beyond the dark, majestic mountains, which rose
in high and rugged masses behind him.
The soil was rich and exuberant; here grew
everything in the most unbounded profusion.-
Nature had lavished all her charms on these her
favorite bowers. Beautiful signing birds hung
gracefully amid the boughs of trees, whose rich
foliage threw back the kisses of the bright sun
shine. From amid the copsewood peered the
bright eyes of the timid deer, with their beauti-
fully arched necks, raised nquiringy at the white
stranger. Here was to be found enough to satis-
the restless and bold intruder; so he cleared an
opening, and of the fallen trunks of the trees,
the summers departure he planted corn; enco-
sed his new fields as we'll as his limited strength
would allow. Little else was needed but to keep
off the wild animals, and their wilder compan-
ion the red man.
He was brave; so were the wife of his bosom
and his children; together they resisted the mur-
derous midnight assault. They feared nothing,
for they relied upon God and prayerfully and
earnestly went to workto occupy land "fowing
with milk and honey" Other adventurers fol-
lowedthe marks of his cart-wheels, and came and
built their lodges beside him; these he received
joyfully, for there was enough, more than enough
for all.
The scene was rapidly changing. The deep
forests gave way before the sturdy blows of the
axe and the devouring fire. Waving fields of
corn, and wheat, and green pastures succeeded;
but the grandeur of the old solemn woods, was
not altogether gone; for if partly despoiled to
give place to the signs of industry and mans un-
firing energy, they still frowned along the sides
Of the hills, and the borders of the dark streams,
whose waters danced merrily onto the channel of
the "great father of waters"
But what were the thoughts, the feelings, of the
early a.dventurers, as they lookeduponthe change
their hands and courage had wrought in the wilds,
50 tar away from the cities which were fast rising
to wealth and greatness, beauty and power, along
the Atlantic coast? Did they dream of the NIGH
ty results which ere fifty years had passed away,
would spring out of the solitude, which it had
cost them so much pain and labor 10 penetrate
and occupyl We shall see.
Ten fifteen, twenty years flew away; the set
tiers had all the while been clearing away the for
est; erecting houses and cultivating their fields
which repaid their toll hundred fold; one day
at work in the field, the next in arms against the
implacable and treacherous red man. Who can
tell the number of skirmishes, which had taken
place between the whites and their merciess foesl
There were deadly ambushes and midnight as
saults; the laborer in the field was seized una