Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-07-21
Gaupera Clurksburg Rsgistpr
From the Boston Olive Branch.
THE PEDDLER AND HIS DOC.

'oue as pest suiteu my purpose, car |
ried rich silks and jewelry to sell to those
to buy, My only companion du-
ring my journey was large dog of the |
Newfoundland breed, Lion was fit to be
kind of his species, He was good natur-
ed and quiet, and there was something
almost human in his eyes, He attended
to his own business and never quarreled
with tours of low degree" He would
bear an insult from worthless puppies,
with a philosophy worthy of emulation
And i never knew him, save on few oc-
6asions, resent the undue liberties of pup
pies of larger growth. When his rial,
however, was thoroughly aroused, he
made such offenders u terrible warning to
all evil doers."
When travelled he trotted along by
my side, and when stopped to trade, he
seated himself near and watched all my
movements with a business like express
sion. 1t annoyed him little, sometimes,
to see my customers drag the goods from
my pack, and handle them with such free
dom, while he followed every piece with
his eyes, to see that they were not appro-
priated without proper compensation, and
with my full consent.
He really took strong dislike to those
who were disposed 10 find fault with eve
rything and my prices in particular. 1
believe he knew tho value l attached to
them. Bo this as it may, he seemed sat
isfied when was, and wagged his tail
when made a good trade, He was an
excellent watch dog, and there was no
danger of anything confded to his care
being taken away. found him very
useful and companionable in my travels,
Conveyances were so scarce and un-
certain, that was often obliged to go on
foot from one settlement to another
These journeys were anything but pleas
ant, and as the country was new and the
state OF society anything but good robbie
ries were frequently perpetrated upon
these lonely roads, and there were those,
no doubt, to whom the rich stuffs car
ried would be sufficient temptation to
commit a murder, The idea frequently
occurred to me in travelling through the
wild woods of the West. But old Lion
was always by my side, ready to die in
my defence, and proud to share in my
wanderings. always went armed. An
excellent brace of pistols, steel barrelled,
and loaded with ball, were never from my
pocket, save long enough to see that they
were in order, and at night they lay be-
meath my pillow. felt quiet safe with
those, and Lion, who was the compan-
ion of my nights as well as days. He al
ways laid down between my bed and the
door, with his face toward the latter, No
one could enter without attracting the at
tention of Lion.
One day in the Summer of 1880, 1
found myself in small settlement on the
border of small lake, anxious to get for
ward 10 the next, which was about eigh-
teen miles distant. No conveyance could
be obtained without waiting till the next
day, which l was not inclined to do, so
sat out on foot, 1t was near night and
walked forward briskly, was not long
in discovering that my expedition would
be by no means an agreeable one.
The road-if road it could be called
was very bad, and through the thckest
forest in that part of the country. The
night, too, crcpt in apace, and promised
to be darker than common. But Lion
trotted along by my side / was smart
walker, and was confident l Was getting
over the ground fast so didn't mind t
much.
The darkness was on me before l was
aware of it, 1t seemed to mo that l had
already walked eighteen miles, but
could see no settlement. This surprised
me little, for was used to travelling
and knew we'll my ability to calculate dis
tances. But kept up good heart and
went ON until was quite certain l
mad mistaken my way, or been misin-
tormed.in regard to distance. conclud-
cd it would be best to keep the road was
IN until l reached some habitation.
In short time | was glad l had made
the resolution, for l saw light glimmer-
Ing from cabin, approached It rs soon
as possible. 1t was rather above the me-
dunn size. 1 thought could be accom-
modated there very we'll, 1t had the ap-
Pearance of being very comfortable with
ln' knocked for admission. The door
was opened by man.
Now am not person to believe in
presentiments, misgivings and all that
sort OF thing, but certainly saw some
thing in that mans countenancc that I
did not like the moment set my eyes on
him. In a gruf voice he asked me nv
business. told him believed l had lost
my way, and was under the necessity of
asking accommodations. After hesita-
tlnga moment, he asked me to enter. A
tall female was seated in corner near a
large rock fire place. She seemed busy
IN watching a piece of meat kissing over
the hre. 1t struck me l had never seen
amore apathetic countenance than hers.
She hardly noticed my entry. She might
be forty years old. Her face was remark
ably long and wrinkled to degree to
excite curiosity, Her nose was sbarn and
skinny, as was indeed her whole face
Her head gear was wholly indescribeblo
and beneath it gray hairs were visible
Her entire dress was unlike anything
had ever seen. I could hardly keep nv