Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-01-22

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than my share. Some events ar
so indellibly fixed on nay mind, tha
never lose consciousness of then
others again are so fearful that | Cal
never recall them without ghuddel
Belonging to this latter category
the following, which happened to u
after | had been in Paris about tw'
1 years.
] applied for leave OF absence ant
obtained it without difficulty. wa,
SO pleased with my success that
determined to set out on the follow
ing morning. / was disappointed
however, and could not get off til
the middle of the day. | had to
take the train to Rouen, the diligence
from thence to Mendon, and the
rest Of the journey | determined to
prosecute on foot.
About seven o'clock in the even
ing / arrived at Mendon without any
accident, anG had then six miles to
walk. After making particular en-
quiries as TO my road, | set out full
Of life and glee, already benefited
by my divorce from my books. 1t
was beautiful October evening, just
cool enough TO render walking a
pleasant exercise. 1t was dusk when
| started, and | had not walked a
mile before it became quite dark
But | had informed myself so we'll
as to the right road that | thought
| could not mistake it. 1t soon,
however became apparent to me that
a great change had taken place in
the scenery around me. Iustead of
the road being clear and open as it
was when | first set out, large trees
lOomed up on each side of me, and
the road became very bad-very
different from the smooth graveled
surface l had first passed over. But
| still pressed on not suspecting that
| had missed. my way. began to
get tired. ] must have walked at
least two hours before any doubt en-
tered my head. BY this time the
broad road had deeenerated into a
narrow path, knew then that
there must be something wrong, for
the peasants of whom | had enquir-
ed had informed me that the road
Was good and wide all the way to st,
EuStache. paused for moment,
ana did not know whether
to retrace NY steps or press forward.
1t had now become pitch dark, and |
determined to go on, well assured that
| could never find my way back. |
had not proceeded many steps before
became convinced that ! was wan
dering about in forest. The under
brush began now to seriously impede
my progress, and found great diff
ficulty in keeping on my feet. My
position was anything but agreeable
.:n the midst of a forest Oh a dark
night in a strange country. | can
not tell bow | passed the three en-
suing honrs, they appeared three
centuries to me. | suppose I must
have walked the same. path over and
over again. ! was at last completely
overcome by physical fatigue, and
sank exhausted on the trunk of a
tree,
1rested my head upon my hands
and determined to pass the night
there, being now certain that il was
a perfectly futile endeavoring to
find my way till morning. While in
this position ! thought saw light
glimmering through the trees. |
looked earnestly and became convinc-
ed it was really light. | immedi-
ately determined to make for it, ho'
ping to find shelter for the night
/ advanced in that direction, and soon
reached hut bnilt entirely of wood.
1t was a miserable looking abode,
and had it not been for my tired
condition, ] should certainly have
hesitated seeking its shelter. But
anything was better than spending
the night in the forest, SO lresolute-
ly knocked at the door.
My summons was for some time
unheeded, and it was not until | had
knocked again and again that the
door opened, and a gruf voice asked
what ] wanted?