Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-04-08

privileges they inherit, as the purchase of
the self denials and hardsbips of the ear
ly settlers.
S. r. HALL.
This narrative was written for the
private use and qualification of the suf-
ferer, with no intention of its ever ap-
pearing before the public, but certain
reasons connected with his present cir
cumstances have induced him (by the
advice of his friends) to commit it to
the press. 1t is a simple narration OF
real facts, the most of which many living
witnesses can now attest to. The learned
reader will excuse the many imperfec-
tions in this little work: the writer not
being bred to literary knowledge, is SEN
sible of his inability to entertain the Gu
rious but if his plain and simple dress
can reach the sympathy of the feeling
heart, it may be gratifying to some. 1t
may also serve to still the murmurings
Of those who are commencing settle
ments in the neighborhood of plenty,
and teach them to be reconciled to their
better fate, and duly appreciate the
privileges they enjoy, resulting from the
tolls of the suffering few who broke the
way into the wilderness.
In the latter part of February, 1889,
l set out from the town of Norwalk, in
Connecticut, on my journey for Woleoit.
to commence a settlement and make that
my residence family consisting of my
wife and FIVE children, they all being
girls, the eldest nine or ten years old
Ny team was a yoke of oxen and a
horse. After had proceeded on my
Journey to within about one hundred
miles of Wolcott, one of my oxen failed !;
but 1 however kept him yoked with the
other till about noon each day; then
turned him before, and took bis end of
the yoke myself, and proceeded on in that
manner with my load to about fourteen
miles of my journeys end, when could
get the sick OK no further, and was for
ced to leave him with Thomas ". Con-
mel, in johnson bubs he had neither hay
nor grain for him. l then proceeded on
with some help to Esq. McDaniel's in
Hydepark: this brought me to about
eight miles of Wolcoit, and to the end OF
the road. 1t was now about the 20th OF
March the snow not far from four feet
deep no hay to be had for my team,
and no way for them to subsist but by
browse. As my sick OK at MeConneIs
could not be kept on browse, l interced-
ed with man in Cambridge for little
hay to keep him alive, which backed
a bundle at time, FIVE miles, for about
ten days, when the OK died. On the
9th of April I set out from Esq. Nc
Daniels, his being the last house, fol
my intended residence in Wolcott, witt
my wife and two eldest children. W,
had eight miles to travel on snow shoes
by marked trees-no road being cut
my wife had to try this new mode 0
travelling, and she performed the jour
ney remarkably we'll The path has
been so trodden by snow-shoes as t
bear up the children. Esq. Taylor
with his wife and two small children, VII,
moved on with me, had gone on the da,
before. We were the first families il
Wolcott: in Hydepark there had tw
families wintered the year before. T
the east of US it was eighteen miles t
inhabitants, and No road bat marke
trees Il: to the south about twenty, wher
there was infant settlements, but no com
munication with Us and to the nortt
it was almost indefinite, or to the region
Of Canada.
l had now got to the end of my joal
ney, and l may say almost to the end {
my property, for had not a mouthll
of meat or kernel of grain for my fs
mily, nor had 1 cent Of money to bu
with, or property that I could apply I
that purpose. I however had the goo
luck TO catch saple. The skin / cal
ried fifty miles, and exchanged for half
bushel of wheat, and backed it home
We had now lived three weeks withoI
bread though in the time had bougi