Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-12-30
CLEARFIELD PA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 80 1857


were his mothers tears, his fathers remon-
strances-he went ON in his downward road.
His father, thinking to remove one great temp
tation beyond his reach, stopped his usual sup
ply of money, and now, not having the means
to follow his dissipated course, even the low
est and most degraded of his associates ssthoSe
harpes who feed on human flesh, and fattcn
on the hearts blood of their vietim,' forsook
him, and he found himself alone in his degra-
dation. In this condition, his family and es-
pecially his sorrOwing mother, would gladly
have opened their arms to receive the repent
ant prOdiga; but no he must needs sink
deeper in the gulf of wickedness, and lower
himself, if possible, ssbeneath the brutes that
perish.' He had fallen from the respectable
position of the son of General o., to the fash
ionable debauchee-the bar-room loafer-the
common street drunkard and blackguard, and
now his cup of iniquty was nearly full. He
could get no more liquor on trust, and he had
been frequently kicked from those sshells,''
where he was wont 20 spend his fathers sub
stance, as vagrant, and not unfrequently was
he confined in the lookup, for drunken and
diSorderly conduct. He pawned his watch,
clothes, books, and everything that he claim
ed as his own, in order to get his accustomed
stimulant; but at length all these resources
failed, and like the s'Prodgal Son. he was
reduced to utter dcstitution, but unlike that
individual, he did not arise and go TO his faith
er. Hitherto he had been able to procure
food, as well s.drnk - but now starvation
stared him in the face, and he was aroused
from his mania, If I may so call it, by the
cravings of hunger. He had spent the pre-
vious night in the street without his accus-
toned stimulus, and had not tasted food for
forty-cight hours. The same feeling that pre-
vented him from going to his father at this
time, prevented him from begging. That lie
did not become thief. or a robber, was doubt
less owing to the good counsel Of his mother,
the influence of which he had never been able
wholly to shake off. In a state of mind but
little short of madness, he resolved to seek
employment as a hoatman on the river, know
ing that there he would receive plenty of that
poison which had become necessary to his cx-
istcnce, as he thought. He was not long in
finding situation on boat, bound for a town
some forty miles up the river. After satisfy
ing the cravings of nature, he was furnished
with ''whiskey,'' and the boat left her wharf.
Before they had proceeded half the distance to
C, John was found in state of beastly in-
toxication, and unable to perform the duty as
signei him. The captain admoniShed him,
but he replied with insolence, and demanded
more liquor. This the humane captain allowed
him. and then put him ashore in the wilder
ness, miles from any settlement, and utterly
unable to walk and then steaming off, left
him to his fate. Here then is a young man,
raised in wealth and opulcnce, possessing the
advantages of education and talents, sunk to
the lowest depth to which the poor inebriate
can fall, and abandoned by his fellow men, left
TO peri sh among the wild beasts of the forest.
We cannot help exclaimiug, alas poor John u
CHAPTER 1.-THE HUNTERS DAUGHTER.
Some twenty miles from the town of p,
and not far from the river, there rises gently
sloping hill, which, at the date of our story,
covered with stately growth of oak and
walnut. On the south side of this hill, and
near its summit. by the side of chrystal
spring, stood the cabin of an old hunter. A
small garden on one side of the cabin, planted
with such vegetables as were common in coun-
try gadens, with few beds of flowers, which
gave evidence Of female taste, and a small ar
Dor, covered with wild vines, the whole sur
rounded by rude picket fence, were the only
traces of civilization to be seen. Upon enter
ing the cabin we behold stalwart form of fif
ty years, clad in the costume of hunter, with
E'leggins, moccasins,'' &c.-a picture of the
Il, .Ir .l,o S+
home till he has become all of the savage in
appearance save the couutenance, which beam
ed with benevolence and love, as he smokes
his pipe and turns his head occasionally to an
swer question or reply to remark of his
daughter. We cast our eyes around the cabin
and find an air of neatneSS and comfort per-
wade everything, and we mechanically turn our
eyes in search Of the fairy whose care and taste
has made the rude cabin of the hunter pleas
ant home. 4 vision Of beauty, such as we sell
dom see, except in dreams, or in our imagina-
ton, bursts upon our sight. n girl Of sixteen
summers, tall, and graceful in every proper
ton, and movement, she stands the embodl-
ment of lovelinesS a cOuntenance expressive
of the unSophisticated child of nature her
soul beaming through her large hazel eyes,
gave evidence ofa power of intellect, a strength
of will, and purity of heart, seldom met with
in one person. Nimrod, as we shall call the
old hunter, was one of the pioneers OF that
mart of the State, and had alternately perform
ed the part of soldier, scout, and hunter. Rails
cd in the frontier settlements. the rifle was his
constant companion, and he felt no love for
tho arts of civilized life. He had married dur
.Ln Indian had fnrsaken the