Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-09-18

Her slSnC IL was as gooQ as ever, and she was
unacquainted with the use of spectacles. We
asked her how much money she would want
to support her year, and she replied that ten
dollars would take care of her long time,
more than year. As matter of course, my
companions and | made up little purse for
her benefit, and when we gave it to her it
seemed as if she would embrace us in spite of
our disInclination
Indeed we made her number 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 hap
py wherever we might 60. And can assure
the reader that the tears shed by that old wo-
man of five score years and ten were not the
only ones that sprung into the eyes on that
occasion, albeit we were all unused to weep
ing.
But have not given the reader an idea of
the home of this lonely being in truth, it
battles description. Her nearest neighbor is
some four miles off, and her only compan-
ions in her solitude are a little dog and cat.
Her cabin stands near the waters edge, and
diretly on the hill side; it is without a win
dow, but light in abundance comes in from
! the gaping roof and sides of the black and
mouldering habitation, the chimney too which
is of mud and sticks and in dlipated con-
dition. Her bedstead is made of small pine
sticks, with the bark still on, her couch con-
sisting of hemlock boughs covered with straw
upon which are two ar three wretchedly worn
bed-quilts. In one corner of the room are
two or three shelves, where are displayed her
cooking and eating utensils, the original cost
ofwhich (and they were old and worm could
not have been more than one dollar. An old
stool answered the place of chair, and a
board nailed up the side of the cabin her on
ly table; hanging from the logs at the side
Of the bed are two or three old gowns, which
help to keep out the air and rain she is also
the owner of spinning wheel; and from
the crevices of logs around, above and every
where depend lunches of herbs and faded
flowers which she has gathered in her ram
bles; but there was taste and neatness dis
played in the arrangement of the miserable
furniture of the room which gave it a really
cheerful aspect. We asked the old woman ii
she never apprehended any danger while thus
living so utterly alone, and she replied OF
course not; who would harm poor forsaken
being like me! | amt afraid even of the
bears, for it was only last fall that one came
down here and scratched up my garden but
drove him off with big stick
Up to this point, everything we saw con-
cerning this aged woman was strange, we
were still more astonished to have her rivet
our attention by her wild movements and ad-
dress us to the following effect: Men thank
you for your goodness cannot read, but my
Great Father has told me in my heart all a.
bout it. There is a Heaven, men, and it's a
very happy place; and there is hell, men,
and it's very dreadful place-they both viii
never have an end. Now, men, good bye
you have been good to the old woman, bu
we must part; good bye we shall meet once
more at the judgment, but only for shor
time. Live, men, SO that you may get t.
Heaven. And so we left this strange, strange
being and | am confident that long after he
bones shall have mingled with the dust, on,
trio of travellers, if still living, will remem
ber with wonder and pleasure their interview
with the "Hermit oOoman ofthe AHeghenies.