Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-10-12

LEeHGN1Es.-[ Charles Lanman. author
of the "Priyate Life of Daniel Web
ster," &C., is about to publish new
work entitled "ReeolIections of Aneri-
can Scenery and Aduentares" The fol-
lowing is an extract made from the proof
sheets. 3,euas i.-szza1s-4
Mourn OF sESAcA CREEK, v1Rers1A,
a,.,c gs.v May, 1851.
Delighted and deeply impressed as
1 have been by the scenery of this Al
pine land, / have been far more inter-
ested by an. old woman, whom have
had the pleasure of seeing. Her name
| is Elizabeth Goldieg, or Goldizon, and
she resides in a log cabin, entirely
alone, directly at the foot of the gorge
which has taken her name. She is OF
German origin, and represents herself
as one hundred and tsOelus gears Of age.
She was born, according to her own
words. within two days ride of Phila-
delphia in Pennsylvania, and her father
was a soldier in the revolution under
Washington, and she herself was in the
immediate vicinity of the American
camp at the defeat of Gen. Braddock,
of which event she habitually recounts
great number of interesting and
thrilling incidents, closing each para
graph with the remark that the battle
field was wet, very wet, with blood
She has been husbandless and childless
for nearly half century, and for many
years has lived, as now, in the solitude
of the mountains, utterly alone. In
deed, everything about the old woman
is peculiar and strange. She is small
in stature, and her hair, (which is white
as snow is very long; when engaged
in conversation fires up, and she accom-
panies each sentence with the most ami
mated gestures; her voice, though still
strong, is altogether beyond her control,
having an unnatural tone; and the wrin-
kles running entirely over her face and
neck are as deep as we might imagine
them to be after having been furrowed
by the tears of even one heart for so
long time as century. She was
clothed in the simplest manner, having
upon her head a cap of common brown
cotton, frock of blue homespun cloth,
and upon her feet nothing but woollen
socks. During the whole time that we
were in her cabin she was smoking
some bitter weed in common corn cob
pipe, and though haggard and worn
to marvellous degree she had pleas
ant smile; and when either of her
guests happened to utter something that
was novel to her ear, she would exclsim,
"Oh yes, that is wonderful Her only
means of subsistence for years past has
been obtained by making hickory
brooms; but even this business she has
been compelled to give up, for she
could no longer climb the mountains to
obtain the proper material; and though
she seemed to be perfectly certain that
she would be provided for, she express
ed the greatest dread of the county
almhouse. We inquired as to her ap-
petite, and she replied, "Oh, eats
very little; never eat much, some
times nothing in whole day, and never
more than once day, and / am well
acquainted with hunger" As to her
sleep we also questioned her, and she
said, "That's what troubles me most; l
cannot sleep now am so old, and so 1
lie on my bed all night thinking of my
great, good and street Father IN the Hea-
Vens" We asked how she managed to
obtain the necessaries of life, and she
said she did not know, only that people
who travelled on the road sometimes
stepped in to give little coffee or flour,
her main stay being small garden of
vegetables, the brush fence around
which had been built by her own hands;
and this garden was the neatest one that
l ever beheld. As to her sight, it was
as good as ever, and she was unac-
quainted with the use of spectacles -
We asked her how much money she
would want to support her year, and
she replied ten dollars would take care
of her long time more than year
As matter of course, my companion
and / made up a little purse for her
benefit; and when we gave it to her it
seemed as if she would embrace us in
spite of us. Indeed, we made her a
number of trifing presents, and she
expressed her gratitude by weeping,
and assuring us that her Father in the
Heavens would bless us and make us
happy wherever we might go, and 1
can assure the readers that the tears
shed by that old woman of fire score
gears and ten were not the only ones
that sprung into the eyes on that occa-
sion, albeit we were unused to weep
ing.
But have not yet given the reader
an idea of the home of this lonely being;
in truth, it battles description. Her
nearest neighbor is some four miles of,
and her only companions in her solitude
are little dog and cat. Her cabin
stands near the waters edge, and d.
rectly on the hillside; it is without a
window, but light in abundance comes
in from the gaping roof and sides of
the black and mouldering log habita-
ton, the chimney which is of mud
and sticks, and in dilapldated condi-
ton. Her bedstead is made of small
pine sticks, with the bark still on; her