Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-04-21
.Guupera Glarkahutg Negister
A CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE CAPE
OF GOOD HOPE.
M HuoH JOHN URouHART.


small beginnings had gradually risen to
station far beyond that to which look
ed forward when started in life, En-
.boldened by the success which had atten-
ded my former transactions, l plunged
deeply into the railway spcculations which
were then so prevalent, and the result
was that my golden visions vanished with
those of other dreamers, and found my
self the loser of bulk of my fortune.
having, however, luckily saved II small
portion from the general wreck.
1t was heavy blow to me, So conf.
dent had l been of success, that l had
been revolving the project Of marriage
with lady Unsuitable wealth, and there
fore the disclosure of the real state of my
affairs came like thunder-olap. But my
previous struggles with the world ha-
wing hardened my sensibility and shar-
pened my penetration, at once set about
collecting the ruins of my property, and
consulted with my friends as to tho best
means of employing the little capital with
which was to begin in the world afresh,
Their advice was rather contradictory
but at length an idea of my own, origina-
ting, attained an ascendancy in their
judgment. Acting upon it, l purchased
some land in the vicinity of the Cape Co.
lony, and soon after set off to my new
home there. When arrived found my
land situated upon the very borders of
The civilized districts ; indeed it was more
advanced than any of the pieces already
occupied, The natives were rather
friendly, for the war having been conclu-
dsd to their apparent satisfaction, they
seemed inclined to show kindness to the
whites.
My task was pretty hard, but bore
up against new difficulties with an energy
which surprised me. By degrees my
loneliness was alleviated by few new
corners who settled around me, and be-
ton. After the first year had passed, !
became more accommodated to my work.
indeed, I found it much lighter an east
or than when had to break the ice, as l
may say.
On Christmas eve, 1850, a party com.
posed of friendly neighbors, was assem-
bled round my hearth for tho purpose Of
renewing in a foreign land the festivities
with which the season is celebrated in
England, First in rank. according to
my colony notions, sat John White, who
had been in the employment of tho set
tiers, since he was a boy of ten, which
was then thirty years ago, During this
time he had acquired an extensive knowl.
edge of Cape life, and contrived to save
sufficient to purchase piece of land con-
tiguous to mine. Tho next was ten
years settler, Harry Percy. who also I'M
derstood something Of the wild countries;
and the remaining two, Richardson and
Hall. were men of about thirty, and q
few months my junior in the experience
Of this kind of life.
We were seated around the fire talking
over our several adventures and expert
ences, when violent knocking at the
door Interrupted us, and voice exhorted
us to admit the owner for the sake of God
Our party were ON their feet in an in
slant, and we at once opened the door to
the stranger, who rushed in with looks
of terror BY his dress, which WAS torn
and much stained with dirt, we recog-
nized him as one of the native police, and
eagerly Intercepted him as to the cause
Of his alarm.
He explained, that having, with COM
panion, gone i'll search of man who had |
stolen some bullocks, three KaGfirs had
attacked them in the evening within a |
quarter of mile of my house, when his
fellow had been killed, and he himself had
escaped with difficulty. Under these cir
cumstances, he implOred our protection,
which, need not say, was readily gran
ted.
Rumors of an outbreak among the ma
tive tribes had reached us, and therefore
we had thought it prudent to keep our
weapons near us, although apprehcnsiye
of no immediate danger. My friend
White glanced at the row of rifles which
our party had placed by the wall, and OBJ
served" the man says there arc only
three We are five, and could see justice |
DONE"
The native eagerly seconded this suc-
gestion, and the result was, that Selling
our weapons, we quilted the house in
search of the robbers, leaving Hall behind
TO protect my property.
The night was rather threatening
When the moon occasionally Shone forth
with faint glimmer, we could discern
great piles of clouds approaching or al |
ready surrounding her. Only here and
there a star could make itself visible, and
as we went on, even these wholly disap-
peared.
We followed the stranger for at least
half mile, nnxiously looking round for
signs of the presence of his late assail-
ants Not sound, however, broke the
heavy silence of the night, We procee-
ded over piece of rising ground which
lay within my bounds, and when these
latter were passed, continued our course
into a little valley which was situated be-
yond. ~
We hurried along the path which had
osen worn III the centre, while at our
right and left hands rose a sloping en-
bankment, forming rather lofty wall on
either side. These walls were coveroI