The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-17
THE UNION.



The suboined intsssstOx sketch OF most angular
woman 10 furnished the National Inlelligsnosr by cor.
esponde who has recently explored the OF the
Potomac nver
Delighted. however. and deeply impressed, as have
been, by the scenery OF this Alpine land, have been far
more Interested In an old woman whom have had the
pleasure OF seeing Her is Elizabeth Golding, or
Godlzon. She resides in log cabin entirely alone di.
ecy al The foot OF The gorge which has tax her
She rs OF German origin, and represents herself
hundred and twelve years OF age She was born accord
ing 10 her own words, within two days ride OF Phil
adelphla, and her father soldier IN the revolution
under Washington, and she herself was IN the mmed-
ate vicinity oil the American camp al The defeat OF Gen
Braddock Of which event she habually recounts a
great number Of interesting and thrilling incidents,
closing each agaph with the remark, that the battle
field we--vsTy wel-with blood. She has been hus-
bandless and chiiess for nearly hall century, and for
many years has lived as now, in the solitude OF The
mountains utterly alone Indeed everything about The
old is peculiar and strange. In stature she il
quite small and her hair (Which is white snowy is
very long When engaged in conversation, her counte-
nance fires up exceedingly and she accompanies each
sentence with The most animated gestures. Her voice,
though still strong is altogether beyond her CONTROL hav
ing unnatural tone and the wrinkles, running entirely
her face and neck, deep might imag ne
them 10 be after having been furrowed by the Tears OF
even one heart for so long time as century. She
clothed in the simplest manner. having upon her head
cap made OF common brown cotton, frock Of blue
homespun cloth, and her feet nothing but WOOL
len socks. During the whole time that we Were in
her cabin she smoking bitter weed in
corn-cob pipe. and, though haggard and worn to a
marvellous degree, she had pleasant SMILE; and
when either OF her guests happened 10 utter some
'Oh, yes-that is wonderful Her only OF subss-
ence for years past had been obtained by making hickory
brooms but this business she had been compelled
to give up, for she could more climb the mountains
obtain the proper materials and though she seemed be
perfectly certain that she would be provided for she ex
pressed the greatest dread OF the county amshouse We
inquired 10 her appetite, and she replied, oh, eat
very little; never eat much--someiimes nothing in
whole day, and never more than once day, and am
Se w hsf
most cannot sleep now-l am so old; and so lay
my bed all night thinking Of my great, good and
Father in the Heavens We asked her how she man
aged TO obtain the necessares of life and she said she
did not know, only that people who travelled the road
sometimes stopped in to give her little coffee flour,
brush fence around which has been built by her own
hands; and this garden just exactly the
that ever bsheld. AS to her sight, il good
ever. and she unacquanted with the use of specia-
cIes We asked her how much money she would want
to support her year, and she replied that ten dollars
would take Of her long time--more than year
little purse for her benefit and when we gave to her
it seemed if she would embrace in spite of u.s. In
deed, made her number of ring PRESENTS and she
expressed her gratitude by weeping and assuring that
her Father in the Heavens would bless and make
happy wherever we might go. And the
reader that the tears shed by that old woman Of five
score years and ten were not the only ones thai sprung
into the eyes on that occasion, albeit unused
weeping,
But have not yet gwen the reader idea OF the
home OF this lonely being in truth, it battles descrp-
ton. Her nearest neighbor is four miles of, and
her only companions in her solitude little dog and
cat Her cabin stands the waters edge, and d-
ecy on the hill side; it is without window but light
in abundance comes IN from the gaping roof and sides
OF the black and Wondering log habitaton the chimney
of which is OF mud and sticks and in dlapdaied con-
dton Her bedstead is made of small pine sticks with
the bark still on her couch consisting OF hemlock
boughs covered with straw, upon which are two or
three wrechedy bedQuilts. In corner OF the
hRI UhpYa dIuna unI har
cooking and eating UTENSILS the original cost Of which
tand they very old and worn) could have been
more than one dollar. An old stool the pur-
pose OF chair, and board nailed 10 the side OF the
cabin is her only table Hanging from the logs the side
OF her bed are two three old gowns which help to
keep out the air and the She also the owner OF
spinning Wheel and from the crevices Of the logs
around above and everywhere, depend lunches Of herbs
and faded flowers which she has gathered in her ram
bes but there was taste and neaness displayed 10 The
arrangement of the miserable furniture Of the room
which gave II a really cheerful aspect. We asked the
old woman If she never spprehended any danger while
thus living utterly alone and she replied, or
not who would harm poor forsaken being like me :
amt afraid even OF the bears; for it only last fall
that one came down here and scratched my garden,
but drove him of with big stick Up to this point
everything we and heard concerning this aged wo
mas WAS strange but when rose to depart we were
still more asonished TO have her rvet attention by
her Wild movements, and address to the following ef
1eet: Men. thank you for your goodness; / cannot
read, but my Great Father has told me- in my heart all
about IT, There is Heaven, men, and it's very happy
place and there is hell, men, and it's very dreadful
place; they both will never have end. Now, men.
good by you have been good TO the old woman, but
we must part; good by; we shall meet once more al
the judgment, but for only short time. Live men, SO
that you may get TO Heaven And left this strange
strange being and confident that long alter her
bones shall have ming led with the dust OF travel
les, If still living. will remember with wonder and pie
ure their interview with the Hermit Woman OF the Al
leghanies."