New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-08-03
a sgaIk to tbe sgbtr NOuntains i

for Tie Trsrn-
Atloclock P. NJ. July /, ls47.l emerged from
the back door Of the house Of relative in Concord
y. H and took my way through the garden into
the road-bound on foot and alone, for the White
Mountains \ Brother Jonsthans pair OF panta-
looms striped and too short by about two inches
avest ancient as the form I was folding a worn
out sack coat of gray tweed--in whose pockets
were stuffed change OF shirts and stockings
vertss black cravat' loosely tied with collar
turned under chip hat and pair OF patched
heavy boots, composed my guise
Going over meay road the distance OF halt a
mile, which deposited thickly the white dust OF
travel on my boot. arrived at the bridge crossing
the Merrimac, and exchanged with the tolLre
ceiver three dollars in bills for dimes and half
dimes. Proceeding, l overlook two persons who
had been to Concord to see the President One
asked ME II ! was going to school at Sanbornton-
the distance 20 which place had inquired asking
him ii It academy. he replied No, Is a
seminary" Addressing the other and alluding TO
the visits OF Monroe and Jackson, and Of Latay
cite. to Concord. he did not know, by some remark
which forget. that the latter was not a United
States President. They served me a good pur
pose-and here is the advantage OF travelling on
foot.
The large. ungraceiul looking mountain TO the
north west is Ragged Mountain. and this 1t
was interesting 10 know. Ii looked like a huddle
of camels' backs | should probably, IN a sober
mood, have guessed that to De itsname. kiarsarge
]. massive heap, and exultingy did my eye, long
impatient Tor the first glimpse % real mountain
scenery. settle on his bold visage. II | may trust
IN the opinion OF my companions, It lies between
the towns Of Salisbury and Andover, and Is twenty
miles distant from our place Of view. Salisbury
is well known 20 be the birthplace OF Daniel
Webster. Horse and Rattlesnake Hills ,euphonlc
namesl lay to our LETT. the latter of which is
heavily wooded hill, rising, as ! was told, from out
the center of Concord.
| | parted with my companions and arrived at
/ about O'Clock, after eight miles walk, at Canter.
! bury where only stopped TO inquire the where
| about Of the Shakers, with whom | had deter
mined to pass the night. | found that had five
miles to 90 to reach their Village, which is yet
within the limits OF Canterbury that accordingly
| | had got TO improve my speed greatly 10 arrive
there before the staid people were all IN their
| beds
| fastened forward, stopping at the first farm
| house for q bowl of bread and milk, for which |
paid hali-dme and thence plunged into white.
| birch thicket 10 cut a cane-the first provided
me with a famous Mettam's Royal Improved,
| heavy as a cimter served me on such occasions,
which bought in Worcester for Yankees quar-
ter only. The shades of night gathered fast,
while l. refreshed by the cooled air and my tavorlte
meal, and excited by my expectations lett trees
and walls behind at a rapid rate. \ crossing here
| aud there perplexed me. and thirst stopped me
once or twice to drink. Nine o'clock brought me
| 10 the Shakers Village which, from the singular
! congruity OF | may be allowed that word oil lts
aspect to the surrounding country, | entered al
most before knew il. No light was there. Gloom
thick and silent, was settled upon 1t. 1t seemed
like entering among charnel-houses and a savo
Of death about il, by this hour as II Time
himself abode there. The houses are, most o
them, painted dull yellow a few are red ant
! two or three, called the Offices are OF brick
| The roofs of all are painted red. No roads pas;
BY them. The ground is one unbroken sward, un
incumbered by single object. Doubling not some
one soul in all the community must be stirring,
penetrated into the village till discovered light
through the window OF a house occupying cen
tra position in the place toward which | made
and nearly trod on the heels Of an old Shaker who
| was approaching the same. Accosting him,
| asked if | could be accommodated with lodgings
there may, said he. " guess not we have
no room for travellers" followed him through
| the open door into the room where the light wa
seen. addressing him still TO the point. He went
TO a desk upon which lay several loose papers, anc
| selecting one walked out-on his way pauslng a
moment before me, and by the aid OF his candle
light and his spectscles, inspecting my counte
| nance. Follow me- he said. and led the way
INTO house which had passed at my left on en-
tering the village, and had decided not TO be one
OF the fraternity. You must talk with him about
IT, said he, pointing me 70 a keen eyed Elder
who sat with palmleai hat on, his char tilted
back and his arm resting on a table scattered oyei
with oficia-lookIng papers. Here followed q
course OF close questioning, requiring my destins
ton, home. name occupation &c. the old man
Joining in which | generally answered freely
saving them all the trouble OF asking that | could
1t was the last place in the world TO expect cere
mony, and, for me II was the last occasion on
which to observe it. | confessed curiosity Il
spend the night with them that stimulated me tC
walk to so late an hour. They remarked that theJ
sometimes kept strangers over night but did moi
make practice OF it. The old man who had con
Quoted me hither said he thought by my voice
when | overlook and addressed him. that was q
person whom be knew and had reasons for not
: keeping / have no right 70 call IN question hi'
old Shakership's veracity but 1t was lucky Tor me
that followed HIM The other Elder supposine
here that was tired offered 10 show me 70 bed
which was disposed 10 accede to, ami 50 broke
up the inquistion H.
These IN the writer's opinion are growing Of