The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-06-25
S2 PER ANNUM

| ~ "e ah E'Si'shmaQ, ! told HIM ! was
gong to Salisbury, and he informed me
he was going the same way.
leeman had been intending to take
the stage 10 Devices, and thence take
some OF the cross coaches but had re.
solved to take horse and travel where,
and how, and when pleased, and he
liked iho plan so we'll tha, he went hume
diaiely and bought him good horse ard
saddle.
1t was about the middle of the fore.
noon when we set out, and found that
Letman intended TO visi, the curiosi,ies
with me, and then keer on towards Lon
don, by the way Of Andovcr and Chert.
sey, he having sent his baggage on ahead
10 Salisbury by The great mail route,
which ran many miles out of the way.
found my companion excellent compa-
ny, and on the way he told me some pas
sages from his own life. He was born in
England, but this was the first time he
had been in the Kingdom since he was
fourteen years Of age, and | was led to
inter sha! Il! that .Nae he ran away from
his parents. During the last six years
OF his residence in the United States he
had been engaged in Western lapd spec
nlations, and he was now INDEPENDENTLY
rich.
We took dinner At Bradford, q large
manufacturing town, six miles sou,heas..
oi tSath, and as soon as our horses were
rested, we set ont again. Towards the
m'Idie OF the afternoon the sky began 10
grow overcast, and we lad pIomise Of a
storm. BY FIVE oS!ock the great black
clouds were piled up ~ heavy masses, and
it began to thunder. At Warminster we
had taken the dIact road for Albany, a
distance OF fourteen. miles, and when this
storp bad closed upon us we were about
half way between the two places. was
in no particular hurry, apd as | had no
desire to get wet. | proposed that We
should stop at the first place we came to.
In few moments more We came to n
point where sIlall cross road turned of
TO the right, and where guideboard said
1t was five miles to Deb.ford Inn.
] proposed. that wo-. should tusn ialo
this by-way apd make for Deblford Inu
rs last aa possible, and my companion
realty consented. We had gone mile
when the great drops Of rain began, tc
fall but as good fortune would have il,
we sPied small. cottage, not more than
furlong ahead, through clump of pop
lars. We made for this place, and reach
ed 1t before we Eot wet TheEe was n
good sized barn on the premises. and a
long sheep.shed connected it with the
house. Beneath this shed we drove, and
just as We aghted, ap old map came out
We told lin, that We had got eaugh. is
storm, and asked him il he could nc
commodate MS over night. He told us
that we should have the best lis humble
place could a4oFd. and that if we would
put up, With that we should be welcome
IA soon as thu horses were taken care
Of, We followed the old man into the
house. lie was a grew headed man, Ger
tainIy on the down-hill side Of three score
and his form was bent by hard work.
lis coun;enance was naturally kind ant
benevolent, but there were other mark.
upon his brow than those OF old age
Ths roiHent / saw him | know he haC
seen much Of suffering. 1t was nea
room TO which we were led, living room
but yet free from dirt and litter An old
woman vas just building fire for the
supper, aud as We entered she arose from
her work.
"Sone travellers, wife, caught in the
shower" said tile old man.
: Surely, gentlemen, you're WELDON G,
: tho woman said, in tone so mild and
free that know she spoke only the feel.
) 'ngs OF her soul. It's poor fare we can
} give, but the heart Of the gives must cen
make up for tbat"
, thanked the good, people, and told
!. them that / wouIdi pay them we'll fox all
! they did for us.
"Speak not Of pay" said the old wo.
man, taking the to, kettle from tho bob.
and haoging it on the crane.
Stop wife" uttered the old man trem-
ulously. Let not your heart run away
with ye. If the good gentlemen have TO
spare ont o, their abundance, il becomes
not such sufferers as We to Eefuae tho boun.
ty."
] saw the woman place her apron TO
her eyes, but she made no reply. The
door close by the fire place, stood partly y
open. aDd i saw in the room beyond, a
bed, and was sure there was some one
in it. | asked the old man if he had
sickness.
yes" he said, with a shake. oil
head. any poor boy has been sick a
long while. He's the only child have
the only helper on the little farmland
he's been sick now all the spring and sum.
mer. I've taken care Of the sheep but
couldn't plant. Il's hard, but we. don't
despair Ny good wife--Gpd bless her
shares the tria! with me. and. think she
takes the biggest share.m
"Nos no, John, don't say So" uttered,
the wife. "No woman can do the work
that you do"
"I don't mean to tell too much, Mar.
garet only you know you've kept me
MP"
| ~ call from the sick room took the
: wife away, and the old man then began