Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-02
From the Boston Olive Branch.
THE PEDLAR AND HIS DO

some years ago trafeueo lnrouSh
portion Of Michigan. went on foot or
rode as best suited my purpose. 1 carried
rich silks and jewelry to sell to those dis
posed to buy. Ny only companion du-
ring my journey was large dog of the
Newfoundland breed. Lion MAS fit to be
king of his species. He was good natursd
and quiet, and there was something almost
human in his eyes. He attended to his
own business and never quarreled with
"surs Of low degree" He would bear
an insult from worthless puppies, with =
philosophy worthy of emulation. And
never knew him, save on few occasions,
resent the undue liberties OF puppies of
larger growth. When his rial, however,
was thoroughly aroused. he made such
offenders terrible warning to all evil do
ers."
When travelled, he trottsd along by
my side, and when I stopped to trade. he
seated himself near me and watched all
my movements with buIiness-like e1-
preston. 1t annoyed him a little, solne-
timea, 10 see my customers drag the goods
from my pack, and handle them with such
freedom, which he expressed by low
groHl, 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 a strong dislike to those
who were disposed to find fault with eye-
rything and my prices in particular. l
believe he knew the value of everything l
carried, and the value attached to them.
Be this as it may, he seemed satisfied
when I was, and wagged his tail when l
made good trade. He was an excellent
watch dog, and there was 40 danger of
anything confdsd to his care being taken
away. l found him very useful and COM
panionable in my travels.
Conveyances were 90 scarce and unser-
tain, that was often obliged to go on
foot from one settlement to another. These
journeys were any thing but pleasant, and
as the country was new and the state of
society anything but good, robberies were
frequently perpetrated upon these lonely
roads, and there were those, no doubt, to
whom the rich stuffs carried would be y
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. al
ways 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 or
der, and at night they lay beneath my pill
low. felt quite safe with these, and Lii
on, who was the companion of my nights
as well as days. He always laid down be-
tween my bed and the door, with his face
toward the latter. No one could enter
without attracting the attention of Lion.
Ono day in the summer of 1880,
found mysslfin q small settlement on the
border of small lake, anxious to get for
ward to the next, which WAS about eigh-
teen miles distant. No conveyance could
be obtained without waiting till the next
day, which / Was not inclined to do, SO
sat out on foot. It 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 thickest
forest in that part OF the country. The
night, too, crept in apace, and promised
to be darker than common. But Lion
trotted along by my side {: l Was smart
walker, and was confident was getting
over the ground fast; so didn't mind it
much.
The darkness was on me before I waI
aware of it. 1t seemed to me that l had
already walked eighteen miles, butt could
see no settlement. This surprised me q
little, for / was used to travelling and knew
well my ability to calculate distances.-
But kept up = good heart and went on
until l was quite certain had mistaken
my way, or been misinformed in regard
to distance. concluded it would be
best to keep the road was in until rea'
ched some habitation.
In short time was glad l had made
the resolution. for saw light glimmer'
ing from cabin. I approached it as soor
as possible. 1t was rather above the
medium size. / thought could be accom-
modatcd there very well. 1t had the ap'
pearance OF being very comfortable within
knocked for admission. The door ma
opened by man.
Now / am not person 70 believe II
presentimsnts, misgiTingE and all that sor
of thing, but certainly saw something II
that mans countsnanee that did not like
the moment l set my eyes on him. In ,
gruff voice he asked me my business.
told him believed had lost my way
and was under the necessity of askinf
accommodations After hesitating mo
ment, he asked me to enter. A tall female
was seated in corner near large roel
fire place. She seemed busy in watching
q piese Of meat kissing over the FIRE. /
struck me had never seen more spa
thetie eountenance than hers. She hard
ly noticed lny entry She might be fort