The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-07-12

~ '+iiNi fAhA NliaiA " H''lt rAaA Aiin Alrhlt-
ado, who was but few yards from hm,mighi
peIn6ysnture, spare his Ito,
The salulaton that struck on his ears 10
harsh, cultural voice, conveyed no consola-
ton to his mind, aud only served 10 increase
his alarm.
Halo, stranger what are you about ihere1
Where are you ridingr
The reply was given IN language Of weak
ness and submission, and something was adj
ded, with indisunct utteranoe, about giving
op horse and equipments, If hia life might be.
spared.
Learning, on further inquiry, that his
routa Nas across the liver 70 a settlement
some Gfteen or twenty miles distant, the sup
posed robbcr replied, IN a voice by no means
mild and attractive.
You can't get there tonight; besides the
old ford is washed away and You cannot find
the new one follow me- can Er you p
The term FIX had an ominous import but
the exact degree Of outrage implied in this
new form Of speech, was not very clear 10 the
missionary, But there was no alternative
He was alone and wholly unproteclcd ho
was small in stature, OF a slender make, had
no weapons but spiritual ones and successful
resistance was hopeless. IIe know not the
path 20 the river and weru he to attempt
dight, the death dealing rife might stop him.
So ho larned, aV directed iDgo rtG trdi, aud
followed the guide,
/ A. they slowly rode in Indian file through
the tall grass, s,withpoints Of timber and brush
wood, for the space Of two miles, the msso-
AIRY drew fancy picture on his imagination
Of n cave and gang Of robbers, who would
fix him, or determine his fate. lie breath
: ed more freely when nc found only sinaie
cabin, rough looking stable for horses, aud
a cornhcld Of a Gcw acres, with no sign Of Ac-
completes.
Light, stranger, and take your saddlchOgs
/ I'll tx your horse
I Taking his saddlchaRs on his arm as di-
rectcd, he entered the cabin through low
doorway. Here was woman and three chill
dron, but their dress aud personal appear
ancc might, or might not Indicate danger Ia
the traveller, On her head was a covering
for coarse cotton, Gated IN the language Of i
4 past generation a sun bonnet 1t nearly hid
her face from human observation
Rclching forward stool, the only seluts-
/ ton given was--'TaSo a seat by the fire stran-
igor'
Rocollecting what Lcdyard and other trav-
olcrs have said Of the humanity and hospital
ity Of the female sex the missionary nnsed on
probabilities Of escaping with lie feeling n
degree Of reconciliation to the loss OF his horse,
his saddle-bags, and the contents his purse.
which last contained but few dollars for
travelling expenses In his saddc-bacs were
diverse articles of apparel which he could not
spare, Ind there was the pocket bible, the
/ gift'ofa decreased mother a hymn book, and
a small package of neatly written sermons,
which had cost him several months labor and
as he fancied were admirably adapted to dis
pcr'c the clouds Of ignorance thar broodcd o.
yer the inhabitants Of Illinois.
In the mean time the sottlor, hunter or rob
hcr, in whatever vocation he might appear
had rcplenishcd the fire with somo logs-oE
dry hickory, while the busy housewife was
preparing the homey meal. It consisted of
fried ycnison steak, corn dodgers aud high
ly favored coffee, with the oppurtenances Of
fresh cream and excellent butter
The missionary, who had eaten nothing
since early dawn, and was cogitating wheth.
er feminine humanity would not afford him a
norset in the corner where he sat, was star.
tied by the invitation-'Sit by, stranger and
take bite If surprise and gratitude wore
the first emotions, amazemeut followed when
the apparent robber impIored the blessing
of God in sonorous voice, closing with an
expressive AMEN
Bewidered and confused, the missionary
iorgot-to cat until reminded by his now appa.
rently hospitable landlord and the kind-heart
cd wife, that he did not eat-'Perhaps he wa.
not used to such farc'-wouId he take sar
of milk. He did not seem to regain hisappetite
until the oiIicious housewife brought on her
platter of honey, gathered from the hollow
sycamore, and made divers apologies that her
larder contained uothinghe could eat
After supper the landlord commenced re-
ligious conversation with the inquiry-'Arc
you a processing man, stranger2' The quos-
ton was propounded in novel form, and
did not convey to the mind of the missionary
exactly the idea intended,
You looked nightly steered when found
you in the prairie. reckon you was sort o
| lost
Still the replies woro vague and confused,
and it was not until the owner of the cabin,
in loud and animated tone struck up the IA
vorite hymn Of the followers Of Wesley
A charge to keep have
God to glorify,
Anever dying soul 10 save,
And fit It for the sky.
in which his wife joined, that the missionary
WAS neleYed from his perturbation, and could
converse calmly. The hymn Was followed
by a characteristic prayer,in which the stran-
ger was afieotionAtely remembered at the
throne of marcy, to which the wife responded
with sovArai audih ,prnana Ey,r q ,,,,,