Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1847-08-05
From the Saturday csuritr.
RnrIREmENT. I.
TALE.
From ii. Bosion Odd F.llo,U,
TALES Or A VETERAN.
sY cRRIsToyAL COLON

~ cHRISToyAL COLON;
History may hold up 10 the view of successive
generations ihs landmarks Of ages by-sonel-
Dat 10 order 70 preserve The peculiar traits snd
chsrscRrsiics Of people or 40 sss, ,oms,hisg
more viii be ne ssssIy than glance n the
mighty svenp that loom up from he din mists
Of the past. Lei. every american! Of The pre-
sent generation therefore treasure up in his me-
moTy those hIeside legends WHICH 10 youth u
has been his fortune to hesr fron; he lips ~
some heary veteran Of the revelation yei In
gsring IN the land q the living. Let him ~
cord upon . more enduring tablet laan that n
memory, hose tales relaleG By individual sciofs
in the gres, snugele that gave freedom to our
glorious land. By saeh means shall vs WHO
have seen the lasi or that noble CLAN Of men, Be
able to present q grateful posteri,y complste
picture ofihs past, . true mirror Of. those thai
we're. For such purpose have LEM an hum.
BILE effort. The following narrative, tskenffom
The lips Of an eyed man, BY the fresids Of .
Water evening, is foil Of thrilling adventures 10
the faresl and fsId-such as belong not 10 the
present age. Relieving il worthy Of pressrrs.
.tion, | had taken no,ss Of zach evenings con.
vsrsatiou, and nov af.er lapse OF years, hare
concluded 10 arrange Them in sems,hing like .
nethodicsI msnnsr, and presen, them Tor the
bensf, Of others. I'd
TALE 4.
4 was born on the hanks Of The Hudson,
. few .miles south Of the city Of Albany.
This section Of the country. nov 50 po.
pslous and fertile. was then nearly cover
cd with the growth Of the pripeysl for
est - few detached clearings, ~ here The
strong srm Of The baekw oodsmsa bad rent
the woodland vale. and permitted the
sunbe ans to fell on the dark rich soil, be
Jag the only tokens whereby you might
distinguish this then Wild domain from
the hunting grounds ofihe ssysSs.
My father, one Of that hardy, stock Of
men whose efforts have caused the wilder
ness Ito blossom Is rose," WIS one Of
the 6rst pioneers. Having beard Of the
beauty and feftility Of the Hudson valley.
he had early shouidersd bis axe, and LET,
the New England settlements 10 fud Q
home IN. what was then regarded, this far
distant country. Web do remember that
rude cabin Of logs looking down upon The
waters oil the beautiful river, With lie shell.
tering grove. Well do remember The
young orchard. the green meadow. the
bright fields Of grain which. though filled
with blackened s,umps. bore testimony 10
the Industry and prosperity Of their osn-
or and we'll do remsmber how. stand.
ing on the porch Of that humtie dwell.
log. when lad, my eyes have eken tin
the whole view Of the extended Serriiosy
Of which my honored parent WI the On.
disputed lord. With lie easlerns bounda
~ laved by the river. and eack Of the
other sides hemmed in By 4 dare wall Of
forest. lay our little clearing.
Like eli The early settlers 10 slnild re.
gioD, my father was called upkn after
planning his hearth stone. ffeqSsntly 10
defend Il. Vigilance. bolts. barS and Il
&c bullets. became associated 10 nj youth
iul mind with the idea Of secusiiy. j
have . dim recollection Of haxSng one
morning. when . mere child. called tie
attention Of ny mother 10 : ruling 10
the cornfeld. on he skirt Of fortSl. All
the same moment nv isther camGsin. and
altsr bsrricadine the door. eooSiy took
down bis rife and examined The ttiming
He then took bis station 81 he s15iil uin.
dow. poised The piece and iied. 4 a yell
like that Of . thousand dsmohs lSidenIy
chilled ny blood. and there su@pe he
tall corn absnd Of painted bsrrioft spfanE