The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-09-07
MISCELLANEOUS
From the Knickerbocker.
Mr.. Manning's Ramble.
AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE,

1 hiO aim nv " "Ah1A1 N"~
limit OF a mile. They seemed to stretch be
hind each other in successive ridges, nearly
of equal height. l was struck with the bare
and desolate appearance of the leafess pines
springing up gaunt and naked, now like the
masts of vessels, and sometimes where The
foliage ofthe beech or oak was near, like the
slaves of a hundred floating green banners,
Fardown in the valley The swift stream wound
through green glades marked by the dark
er shadows OF the pines almost 10 IFS banks.
Huge boulders Of granite lay along the noun
tain path and when, iatigued and hungry.
| reached the valley Of the creek, the melan-
choly howl ofa wolf, high up among the
rocks, reminded me Of hunger Of a different
description,
sat down upon a stone by the side ofthe
road 10 rest myself, when | was surprised by
the sudden appearance OF a mai and a boy
from the bushes opposite, The man seemed
inclined 10 be very civil, / permitted him 10
examine my rifle and accoutrements. But
though smooth-spoken, he had a downcast,
sinister expression OF counienance, which
did not like. | asked him a number oil ques-
tions. He told me that Teeples' house was
about three miles up the creek, and that
had better hurry along before the old man
shut down the gales. As we separated he
showed ne a bill upon the bank ofNew York
wishing TO know lift was genuine, Hap
pening 10 know the bills of that bank, | told
him al 4 glance thai it was counterfeit, when
Immediately putt up and walked of. When
| had travelled about a mile | heard quick
steps behind me, and turning, saw the boy
coming NJ, almost out of 5reath.
Don't go 10 Teeples'F said be.
Why not?
oh! the old man is savage when he is in
liquor, you'll get into irouble.'
Where shall go then. my boyP
But he had disappeared as suddenly as he
came. l walked on, and when within sight
Of the desolate inn was again overlaken by
a man in the dress Of a surveyor, He was
very tall and thin. He seemed about forty
five years OF age, ana was very active. for |
soon found it difficult 10 keep pace with his
long strides. He wore a cloth cap closely
flung his head and leathern apron. fastened
at The back and reaching below his knees,
whore il was slasbed. Around his middle
was wound his chain, and in his hand he
carried his tripod and level.
Il say, lriend,' said lie, as he came up.
looking very sharply at me, where are you
bound, p
To Teeples' inn,' / replied.
'Ah! then we shall be lello~w-travellers,
A pretty bad neighborhood this is for d dark
night. | suppose this Teeples ha'n't got his
beat in old Potter. They do tell queer sto-
ries about him, | stopped at his house about
three years ago he wasn't al home, but
Old Homely.' his wife, treated me very
decently; so I've got nothing 10 complain
of
oh, yes. | came from Massachusetts
about ten years ago on my way to New-Or
leans, for was thought 10 be dying with
consumption but | got such good offers here
that took 10 surveying and hunting, and
found the rowing life agreed so well with me
that ! gave up going South: and now there
isn't a man in Tiog' that has set more stakes
or run more lines than myself, and about al
the deeds.irom the Binghams to the settler
refer TO the maps and surveys Of Mathew
Flint. Esquire
'Who are the B~inghams?
oh! | forgot you were a stranger here
Well the history is this: Mr., Bingham o
Philadelphia, about The lime ofthe revolution
became the creditor of government TO a large
amount, and finally took payment in wild
lands, chiefly in Tiog' County, in Pennsyl
wanna. BY the advice Of their agent, hi'
heirs, among whom was one OF the Barings
of London, | believe Lord Ashburton, per
mitied settlers 10 take possession on condl
ton of paying taxes and interest on the
purchase-money, which principal they are
not very strenuous in demanding. The time
will come. calculate, when these titles viii
| make trouble; but | ought not 10 complain
tor TO tell the truth, | sometimes collect the
payments myself, and get a pretty handsome
commission for it too
You must have had fine opportunities fol
l sport, Mr.. Flint
Yes he answered, but | SION got tired o
|, |, that. l never leave the chain now unless
, am afraid OF getting my head combed by {
= painter o. wildcats you r~ecollect the ma'sl
on the other side Of the hill! Well, abou
eight O'Clock one sunset | was cut along ih'
head there; | had a cur-dog with me tina
e had picked up many a fox, and knew how 4
i run side by sid with a deer. Isaw something
moving among the underwood | took ii TO b;
a racoon. The dog ran him upa tree thu
fellow ran like the devil, tell you, climbed
. up alter hin. and picked of a limb about TIT
thickness OF my two thumbs. hit him will
l Itthree times over the head, and was JUS
giving him a fourth, when he sprang to thu
e ground. | gave chase anG followed hin
: again up an oak sapling. He saw me, an
r made ready to spring al me, Says j, Ok
fellow, it's you or l and was letting drive a
him again. when l saw his whole figure
. short tail, head nearly as big as my twt
heis, eyes as fiery as Satan-no raccoon,
tell you; a genuine wildcat; and no doub
ner kittens began TO new by that time.
e ,houghti IL was none of my business, and lie
ner 90, and was very glad 10 get off SO easy
But thank COP, there's TeepIes castle; :;
$ little later and we couldn't get across thu
! foot BRIDGE
: The house really looked like a fortress
II stood in an excavation on the side of tn,
eastern bank of the stream which was her,
very lofty it was built of boards so BROW
with age and storms that it could scarcely b,
distinguished from the dusky pines whicI
, covered the face Of the rock and towereI
from the shelf which projected above the rool
There were only two windows 10 be seen
. one over the narrow door, the other at it
I side but there was no light visible, nor an.
evidence that the building was inhabited