Columbia gazette., 1854-06-03
M1scELLANY....
A WESTERN aPI0NRER.r I

sgeas Z eEf i 10 -T8iaounps neod sra
L was about twenty years ago, on a
bright November morning, that q large
covered wago,, drawn BY four horses,
came to halt in front Of the Office of
the Receiver of Money for the Public
Lands in the village of Monroe, terri
tory of Michigan. The wagon in qnes-
ton contained implements of husbandry,
a family consisting Of an old man and
wife, three sons and two daughters; and
their outside possessions we're comprised
in a small but miscellaneous herd of
COWS, oxen, sheep and hogs. The head
of this family was q New York farmer
in indigcnt circumstances, who had con-
ccived the idea of making himself a
home in what was then the Wilderness of
Michigan. All the money he had in
the world was one hundred dollars, and
with this he purchased at the land office
a tract Of eighty acres Of uncultiyated
land, which he had never seen but upon
which he was about to locate with his
family. The honest and independent
department of this emigrant enlisted the
feelings Of the Receiver, and he accord
dinghy extended an invitation to him
and his party to spend the night under
his roof. The invitation was accepted,
and after a s'lucid interval'' of comfor-
table repose, and cheered by warm
breakfast, the emigrating party respect
fully took their leave of their entertain
er, and started upon their dreary pill
grimage. s
The distance they had to travel was
some hundred and eighty miles As
the roads were new and rough, they
plodded along day after day at slow
rate, and with much difficulty, took their
meals in the open air, and spent their
nights under tent, with a few heavy
quilts to protect them from the damp
ness of the ground. While upon this
journey they we're overtaken by cold
weather, and, in fording one Of the ma
ny streams which crossed their route,
the venerable emigrant had one of his
legs frost-bitten, which resulted, after
much delay and trouble, in sending for
a physician, in its amputation. His life
was spared, however, and in due time,
in spite Of the calamity which had be-
fallen them, the emigrants were encamp-
ed upon their Gland of promise" sn.
| Having thus reached the end of their
journey, the first thing to be done was
to erect a suitable dwelling wherein to
spend the winter; and the father Of the
family having been rendered almost
helpless by his misfortune, the labor Of
building it devolved exclusively upon
his SONS, the youngest of whom was a
mere boy. Animated by a most noble
spirit, they fell to work without any de-
lay, and in the course of ten days had
accomplished their first task and were
the masters Of comfortable log-cabin.
1t stood on the sandy knoll Of an coax
opening,' and in the immediate vicini-
ty Of a sparkling rivulet. The only ev-
licences Of civilization which surrounded
them were the stumps and chips, and
decaying branches, which covered the
site of their labors; but the emigrants
had home, and though rude and ap-
parently comfortless one, they we're sat
isfed if not happy.
The winter days passed rapidly away
and while the disabled emigrant did lit.
tile else than keep himself warm by hi
i huge woodfre, bis sons were telling The
trees on every side and doing their ut
Emost to enclose their domain. And q
night when gathered at evening meal
L or in circle around their hearth. an,
the newly cut wood was hissing unde
the influence Of the bright fame, the,
would talk over the pleasures Of othe
days, experienced IN adistant portion q
the land, and cherish the hope that th
fnture had even more happiness IN store