Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-06-13
THE PEASANTS COT.
A Thrilling story.

la A Thrilling Story. -F-.' f
On my last voyage TO Bristol, the own
ers OF the ship took passage with me-
The whole cargo belonged to them, and
they not only wished to do some business
in England, but they also had a desire TO
travel some. Besides the three owners.
had four passengers in the cabin. The
passage from New York to England on
that occasion was the most severe and
stormy | ever made. have experienced
heavier storms, but never such continued
hard weather. The old ship was on a
strain the whole time, and though | run
her into the Avon without losing life or
an important spar. yet she had received
much damage, her timbers strained. and
Tor the last week, the pumps had to be
kept going all the time, owners. passen
gers, officers and all doing their share of
work AT The brakes. .#.
AS soon as we could get the cargo out,
the ship was hauled into dock for repalrs.
and we found, upon examination, that it
would be a week before she would be ft
Tor sea, and il she had aiLIhe repairs she
absolutely needed. it would lake her near
er two weeks. A contract was made tor
the job aud one Of the owners az reed to
stay by and superintend the work. This
left me at liberty. and | began 10 look
around for some place to visit. | had
heard much of Salisbury Plain. The ia
nous S:one-hedge was there. and So were
three other relics OF Roman and British
antiquities. Accordingly to Salisbury
Plain resolved 10 go. When l went on
board the ship 10 make arrangements
with the owner, who had remained there.
| found one passenger just leaving. His
name was Nathan Leenlan. He was n
young man, not more than thirty years OF
age, and l supposed him. from his tea-
lures and idiom. to be an Englishman.-
told HIM l was going to Salisbury, and
he informed me That he was gong the
same way.
Leeman had been intending 10 take the
stage to Devices, and thence to take some
of the cross coaches bat had resolved
to take horse and travel where. and
how. and when 1 pleased. and he liked
the plan so we'll that he went immediate
ly and bought him good horse and sad
die.
1t was about the middle OF the fore
noon when we set out, and | found that
Leeman intended TO visit the curiosiLies
with me, and then keep on towards Lon
don, by the way Of Andover and Cher
tesey. he having semi his baggage on
ahead to Salisbury by the great mail
route, which ran many miles out Of the
way. found my companion excellent
company. and on the way he told the
some passages from his own lite. He was
born in England, but this was the first
time he had been in the kingdom since
he was II years Of age. and | was led to
infer that at that time he ran away from
his parents. During the last six years
residence in the United States he had been
engaged in Western land speculations.
and he was now independently rich.
We took dinner at Bradford, n large
manufacturing town, six miles southeast
of Bath. and as soon as our horses were
rested we set out again. Towards the
middle of the afternoon the sky began to
grow overcast, and we had promise OF
storm. BY FIVE O'Clock the great black
clouds were piled up in heavy masses.
and it began To thunder. At Warminis>
ter we had taken the direct road road
for Amesbury. distance of fourteen
miles, and when this storm had closed up
on us we were about half way between
the two places. | was in no particular
hurry, aud as 1 had no desire to get wet,
proposed that we should stop at
the first place we came to. In a
few moments more we come TO point
where a small road turned off to the right
and where a guide board said it was five
miles to Deptord inn.
l proposed that we. should turn into
to this by-way and made for DepLtord inn
as last as possible aud my companion
readily consented. We had gone a mile
when the great drops of rain began to
fall bat as good fortune would have it,
we esPled small cottage, not more than
iurlough ahead, through clump ofpop-
ulars. We made for this place. and
reached 1t before we got wet. There was
good sized barn on the premises. and a
long sheep'shed connected it with the
mouse. Beneath this shed we rode. and
Jnst As we alighted. An old man came out.
we told him that we had been caught in
storm. aud asked him if he could acco
modate us over night. He told us that
we could have the best his humble place
could afford. and that If we would put up
Win that We should be welcome.
AS soon as the horses were taken care
Of. we followed the old man into the
house. He was d grey headed man. Ger.
tainly on the down hill side of the hill OF
three score. and his form was bent by
hard work. His countensnce vas naturally =
Kind and benevolent. but there were
other marks upon his brow than those ol
old age: The moment saw him l kne "
he had seen much suffering. 1t was 4
neat room to which We wsra led. alivinp
room. but yet frsa from dirt and nlr,ttar !