The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-04-24

'e ''oh tHc Cdrl-iatn leading over Mats
bridge, which had now been standing over
two years. As usual, We stopped to examine
it.and give our opinion as to the workmanship
OF the various parts. You will remember that
the boreas just here flows with great swift
ness and with narrowed current between
two high walls of rock, the SUBMITS of which
are as smooth as If they had been graded bv
a level.
1hls spot had been chosen for the bridoe
because the river here was less broad than
for many miles above or below. but the uuIf
was sun 10" "i'ie tor unsupported beams. and
with much labor, massive wooden pier had
been joined TO the brid d.con which the frame
work rested securely. The pier itself was
constructed OF the most solid materials. and
was ot immense wci"ht. for the current would
have swept away .ht fabric in an instant
1t extended entirely across the bridge. and
was fastened ;" firmly, that separation from
III" upper framework was impossible. The
ir'ne""rk' however, wa> light, simply cou-
pie OF hraims. .plankcd and cheated. Tn. whole
had stood safely through several severe fresh
et>-and no one doubted it would stand tbrou.,b
many more
~ don't see said Maj to me. after We had
gwen all parts OF the structure a tlorourh
scrutiny. why that bridge shouldn't last more.
years than you or |, These l.am>-scc how
firmly they lie on the rocks and look Won.
the per hasn't started an lnch' And leapinr
over the side, he pointed again to the close
and well-adm>ted t;,stcningS of the timlerS.
and TO the stcadinc>s of the pier. un,hakrn
10y the deep swift water. which swept bv on
either side. We must put on an icchrraker
tins winter he continued; it should have
been done before. Come. lets be- OIL
Il mile or two beyond. we suddenly came
upon a new clearing. and half finished lor
house at which couple of sturdy fellows
We're bnsilv working. They hailed rs for
news. and OF course We stopped to have IA
talk with them. We found they had recent
~ moved from the ca>twarl.and had purrha>-
Ell an extensive tract on which the, project
cd great improvements W. remained over
night with them. and whom. hv the biz fire.
they brought ont the iu. to drink success to
our cxpcdi,ion | could not blame Nat or nv
self for joining them. since | thought it cnuh
do Us no possible harm. Next morning the,
lrsl>tc! that Nat should take tull bottle. with
HIM. and a could not we'll repeat his wits
s'ratagcm, ! was iain to let him DO a> h..
pleased
We were unusually successful in our pur
>mt. and at the same time met with a grr,f
deal t.. bad weather, in which we wrr, oilir-
ed to lay by in our cabins But as We had
never before found Zane uplcutituI. We .,r.ll-
uall!y pushed Oh farther anl farther. till We.
hIi left what W" now call Mount Marcy. ON,
"t >i-ht, and had penetrated into the very
center "l the HlIuritr district We ttil in
"l;h numerous parties of Indians who SUP
piled Us bountitullv with liquor. which they
had brought from the settlements on tb, II
Lawrence. Nat drank deeply. as if to MAKE
up for his long abs -incncc.and was not back
ward in setting him an example; 81 that WIN,
with our success, and bad weather, and troIrs
with the Indan>it was fully six weeks before
we agaln set our ewes on the log house of the
new settlers near the BorcaS
Right glad were We To- see the house. for
our march during the previous three or four
DAYS had been one of little pleasure. There
had trcn. week before. fall of snow. the
like of which We rarely see. and it had not
lam lon".hctorr the wind vccrcd round TO the
south and warm, drizzlv rain set in, pro-
ducin" thaw 81 rapid that the forest became
little else than vast marsh. This unnatu
rally warm weather was in its turn >nrrrcd-
ed bv day of intense cold. at the close of
which We found ourselves emerging pain!illly
from the woods behind the scttlcr>'cabin. al
most tani>hc'l with hunger and chilled TO the
very bone by the freezing wind. which we
felt with teniold senSitivcncsS hv reason of the
mild days Immediately preceding In
deed, So biting was the frost. that our clothes.
thoroughly soaked by the rain, were frozen,
and hung Stiiilv around our limbs The trees
dripping with melted snow. became mailed in
solid ice. and the harl and CLASSY surface of
the snow under our feet rendered walking
un>rcakahly difficult.
You might think that our first impulse
would have been to throw ourselves down by
the cabin fire, rid ourselves of our burdens
and clothes, and having satisfied our hunger.
roll ourselves between blankets as soon As
possible. This would have been natural and
wise, but from our tolsome march and long
absence, both Nat and myself were perfectly
wild with impaticncc to arrive at home Nv
companion loudly urged the friendly settlers.
who attempted to dissuade us from setting ont.
that there would be bright moon. that the
distance was mere nothing; and waxing I'M
petuous over the whiskey, Of which he par
took in frightfuly large quantities. vowed
nothing should stop him. | was very far from
keeping him back. for my eagerne>s to see
home again was as keen as his The pail of
spirit, hot and strong flowed freely. The
backwoolsmcn declared that if We refused
TO stay, we should not refuse to do justice to
thcir GOOD chcer. and fit ourselves for nur