Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-11
The Hermit Woman of the Alleghan,e,.

fhe satJe1ned interesting sketch of most singular ~
man is furnished the National Integencer by
ders who has recently explored source of tn, Potomac
river:
Delighted, however, and deeply impressed as
have been. by the scenery of this Anime lard Iba
been more interested in an old woman whom have
bad the pleasure OF seeing. Her name is Elizabeth
GoldIng, Goldizon. She resides in log cabin on
rey alone, directly at the foot of the gorge which
has taken her name. She is of German origin and
represents herself one hundred and twelve wears
of age. She was born, according to her own words
: within two days ride of Philadelphia and her
father a soldier in the Revolution under Wash
ington, and she herself was in the immediate vcini-
ty Of the American camp at the defeat of General
Braddock, of which event she habitually recounts a
great number of interesting and thrilling incidents
closing each paragraph with the remark that the
battlefield was wet-very wet-wth blood. She
has been busbandess and childless for nearly half
century. and for many years has lived. now. in
the solitude OF the mountains. utterly alone Indeed
everything about the old woman is peculiar and
strange In stature she is quite SMALL and her hair
(Which is white as SNOWY is very long. When enga-
ged in conversation, her countenance fires up ex.
ceedlngy, ard she accompanies each sentence with
the most animated gestures Her voice, though stiln
strong Is altered beyond her control, having an un
natural tone; and the wrinkles running entirely
over her face and neck are deep mi ht ina
CINE them to be after having been fnrrowed by the
tears OF even one heart for so long time CEN
Jury enc was cIOtneu In the Simplest manner. hav-
ing upon her head cap made of common brown
cotton, frock of blue homespun cloth, and on heE
feet nothing but woollen socks
During the whole time that were in her cabin
she was smoking bitter weed in corn cob pipe,
and, though haggard and worn to a marvellous de-
gree, she had pleasant smile and when either of
her guests happened to utter something that was
novel to her, she would exclaim, Oh, yes--that is
wonderful y Her only means of subsistence. for
years past, had been obtained by making hickory
hrOo but huS;r Sbo ba6 hoo
PEELED to give up for she could climb the
mountains to obtain the proper material and though
she seemed to be perfectly certain that she would be
provided for she expressed the greatest dread of the
county aims-house. We enqured to her appetite,
and she replied, Oh, eat very little; never eat
much-sometmes nothing in whole day, and never
more than once day, and am we'll acquainted
with hunger AS to her sleep also questioned
her, and she said, that's what troubles me most |
cannot sleep now am old and so lay on nv
bed all night thinking of my great good and street
Father an the HearenS' We asked her how she man.
aged to obtain the necessaries of life, and she said
she did not know, only that people who travelled the
road sometimes stopped to give her little coffee
flour her main stay being small garden of vegeta-
bles the brush fence around which has been built
by her own hands and this garden just exactly
the neatest that ever beheld. As to her sight it
was as good as ever. and she unacquainted with
the use OF spectacles. We asked her how much mo-
ney she would want to support her a year. and she
replied that ten dollars would take care of her long
tlme-more than year As matter of course, my
companions and myself made up little purse for
her benefit and when gave it to her it seemed
as if she would embrace in spite Of US. Indeed,
we made her number of trihing presents; and she
expressed her gratitude by weeping and assuring US
that her Father in the Heavens would bless
and make US happy wherever might GO And
the reader that the tears she'd by the old
woman of five score years and ten were not the only
ones that sprung into the eyes that occasion, al
belt we were unused to weeping.
But have not yet given the reader idea of
the home OF this lonely being in truth. it battles de-
scrlption Her nearest neighbor is some four miles
off and her only companions in her solitude are d
little dog and cat. Her cabin stands near the wa
ter's edge, and directly the hillside; it is with
out window. but light in abundance comes in from
the gaping roof and sides Of the black and mordcr-
ing habitaton; the chimney is of mud and sticks,
and in dilapidated condition. Her bedstead is
made of small pine sticks with the bark still her
couch consisting of hemlock boughs covered with
straw. upon which are two three wretchedly worn
bed quilts. In corner of the room are two or
three shelves, where displayed 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 chair and a board nailed to the side of the cab
in is her only table Hanging from the logs at the
side Of her bed are two 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
the logs around, above, and everywhere, depend
lunches of herbs and faded flowers which she has
gathered in her rambles but there was taste and
neatness displayed in the arrangement of the mise
rable furniture of the room which give it really
cheerful aspect. We asked the old woman if 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 of the bears for it is only last fall that
one down here and scratched up nv garden,
but drove him off with big stick Up to this
point everything we and heard concerning this
aged woman was strange; but when we rose to de-
part we were still more asonished to have her rvet
our attention by her wild movements and address
US to the following Effect Men, thank YOU for
your goodness; cannot read, but my Great Father
has told me, my heart, all about it. There is a
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: shall meet once more at the
judgment, but for only short time. Live. men. SC
that you may get to heaven" And so we left this
strange being and am confident that long after
her bones shall have mingled with the dust one trio
OF travellers, if still living, will remember with
der and pleasure their interview with the Hermit
Woman of the Alleghanies"
little travelling Frenchman CHANGED to break
fast at a tavern in company with tall bony Jona-
than, whose appetite was in proportion to the mag
nltude OF his form and who ate more at meal than
little Monsieur would in a week. The Frenchman
Wits astonished at his gastrOhomic performance and
after restraining his curiosity for some time asked
with fourishing bow
'Lare, vii yu be polite to tell is dat your
breakfasts your dinner vat you make ~
The Yankee at first made reply but Monsieur,
ed IL