Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-30
Hermit Woman Of the AIIcgha-
rnSnS

was suddenly opened before me.
Hermit Woman Of the AIIcgha-
nies.
The subjoined interesting sketch of a
most singular woman, is furnished the Ma
tional intelligencer by correspondent who
has recently explored the source of the
Potomac river;
delighted, however. and deeply i'm
pressed, as have been, by the scenery of
this Alpine land, | have been far more in
terested in an old woman whom have had
the pleasure Of seeing. Her name is Eliz.
abeth Golding, or Goldizon. She resides
in a log cabin entirely alone, directly at the
foot Of the gorge which has taken her
name. She is Of German origin, and rep
rescnts herself as one hundred and twelve
years ofage. She was born, according to
her own words, within a two days ride of
Philadelphia and her father was soldier
IN the revolution under Washington, and
she herself was in the immediate vicinity of
the American camp at the defeat Of Gen.
Braddock, of which event she habitually
recounts a great number of interesting and
thrilling incidents, closing each paragraph
with the remark, that the battle field was
wet-very wet--wiih blood. She has
been husbandless and childless for nearly
halfa century, and for many years has
lived, as now, in the solitude OF the noun
tains, utterly alone. Indeed everything
about the old woman is peculiar and
strange. In statute she is quito small and
her hair (Which is white as SNOWY is very
long. When engagedin conversation, her
countenance fires up exceedingly. and she
accompanies each sentence with the most
animated gestures. Her voice, though
still strong, is altogether beyond her con
troll, having an unnatural tone, and the
wrinkles, running entirely over her face and
neck, are as deep as we might imagine
them TO beafter having been iurrowed by
the tears of even one heart for so long a
time as a century. She was clothed in the
simplest manner, having upon her head a
cap made ofcommon brown cotton, frock
of blue homc-spun cloth, and on her feet
nothing but woolcn socks. During the
whole time that we were IN her cabin she
was smoking some bitter weed in a corn
cob pipe, and though haggard and worn to
a marvellous degree, she had pleasant
smile; and when either Of her guests hap
pened to utter something that was novel TO
her she would exclaim, "Oh, ycs-that is
wonderful Her only means of subsis-
tence for years past had been obtained by
making hickory brooms; but even this bu-
sincss she has been compelled TO give up,
for she could no more climb the mountains
to obtainthe material;and though she seem
cd to be perfectly certain that she would
be provided for, she expressed the greatest
dread Of the county almshouse. We in
quircd as to her appetite, and she replied,
oh, eat very little; / never cat much
sometimes nothing in whole day, and new
or more dian once day, and am well ac-
quainted with hunger As to her sleep
we also questioned her, and she said, that S
what troubles me most; | cannot slcepnow
i am SO old; aud so lay on my bed all
night thinking ofmy great, good, and sreet
Father IN tie HcarcRs' We asked her
how she managed to obtain the ncccssaries
Of life, and she said she did not know, only
that people who travelled the road some
times stopped in to give her little coffee
or -four her man stay being small garden
ofvegetables, the brush fence around which
has been built by her own hands; and this
garden was just exactly the neatest one that
| ever behcld. As to her sight, it was as
good as ever, and she was unacquainted
with the use of spectacles. We asked her
how much money she would want to sup
port her year. and she replied that ten dol
lars would take care Of her long time
more than a year. As matter of course,
my companions and made up little purse
for her benefit; and when we gave it to her,
il seemed as If she would embrace us in
spite of us. Indeed, we made her num-
Der of trifing presents; and she expressed
her gratitude by weeping, and assuring US
that her Father in the Heavens would
bless us and make us happy wherever we
might go. And | can assure the reader
that the tears shed by that old woman OF
FIVE score years and ten, were not the only
ones that sprung into the eyes on thatoc
sion albeit we are unused to weeping.
"But have not yet given the reader an
idea Of the home Of this lonely being; in
truth it battles description. Her nearest
neghbor is some four miles off, and her
only companions in her solitude are little
dog and a cat. Her cabin stands near the
waters edge, and directly on the hill side;
it is without window, but light in abun-
dance comes in from the gaping roof and
sides of the black and niouldering log hab-
itation, the chimney ofwhich is ofmud and
sticks, and in "A dilapidated condition. Her
beds,ead is made Of small pine sticks, with
the bark still on; her couch consisting OF
hemlock boughs covered with straw, upon
which were two or three wretchedly-w
bedquilts. In one corner of the room
are two or three shelves, where are dis
played her cooking and eating utensils, the
original cost of which land they were very
old and worm could not have been more
than one dollar. An old stool answers the
purpose Of a chair, and board nailed TO
the side Of the cabin is her only table
Hanging from the logs at the side OF her
bed arc two or three old gowns, which
help to keep out the air and the rain. She
Is also the owner Of a spinning wheel; and
from the crcvices OF the logs around, a.
bove, and everywhere depend lunches Of
herbs and faded flowers, which she has
gathered in her rambles; bnt there was a
taste and neatness displayedinthc arrange
ment ofthe miserable furniture ofthe room
which gave it really cheerful aspect
We asked the old woman if she never ap
pretended any danger while thus living 50
utterly alone, and she replied, OF course
not; who would harm poor iorsaken be-
ing like mel / amt afraid even of the
bears for it is only last fall that one came
down here andscratched up my garden,
but | drore him off with big stick Up
to this point everything we saw and heard
concerning this aged woman was strange,
but when we rose to depart we were still
more astonished to have her rivet our atten-