The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-04-06
Original Gale.
Written expressly for the Bedford Gazeile.l
Will II Ill MS GAP:
A LEGEND OF OLD FORT BEDFORD,
ny A PLoWMAN.

EY A PLOWMAN.
Where, or what, is Wilhelm's Gap? Who
knows The ignorance of Its locality. the
scene OF faithful love, even in our midst,
goes to show how easily a second or third gem
grafton, or strangers TO the F'manor," forget the
places made memorable BY the dangers, the dit
hcultles and the trials OF those early pi0-
neers whose axes opened and whose trustv rifles
made habitabIr, the luxuriant fields, which,
now, support dense population. Yes, sum-
mer flowers bloom and fade, grass grows green,
and autumn leaves iaIl lhickly, upon the lu'lt
mounds, where the chrp OF the squirrel is st,ll
heard, and the hollow tapping OF the wood
pecker, the lToarse croak of the raven, or the
incessant cav, cav, cav, of the crow ; and
busy feet press the ground, unmudfHi that hu-
man bones lie noudering there or, that the
graves OF buried hopes are in every hillock.--
Then the land was the abode of the Red-man
aud Of the beasts Of the CHASE, who held JOINT
possession these, the smoke and hum OF an
advanced civilization, have Supplanted.
During one of the long winter evenings,
when The horses were fed and bedded the cat
tle-racks stuffed fall o. hay the sheep housed !;
the pigs penned up and wood enough in the
chimney corner TO feed the cracking fire for
the night, seated myself beside lis cheerful
blaze, 10 examine some old deeds and old pat
ents, which had fallen into my hands. / have
an antiquarian !urn, and delight in old things,
texcept old maids and old bachelors,) IsuPpost
because l am old myself, and once had an old
coat which had grown white in service, and an
old horse, whose teeth were worn down 10
the slumps from the length OF time they had
been in action l had, too, in my possession,
once uron Time, long, long ago, half cent,
grown green from age, OF which verI;able
crone declared oracularly, that If | always
carried il about me, would never be without
money and, truer than most modern prophe-
cies was it; for, as long as I carried it in the
bottom OF my pocket, was never without that
half cent at least, though il would not lay the
egg which was to be hatChpd into more hall
pennies. Again in after years, [ collected
eight old copper coins, which were carefully
kept in a soda powder boz, until my grand
children, discovering the hidden treasures
coaxed them from me 10 buy ginger nuts On
these ancient possessions, which have long sine"
"gone the way of all flesh, I set great store,
and if The facts do not establish my claim TO
the title, antiquarian, have only TO say, "lhe
proofs are all in, and heTe rest my case."-
Well, one ofthese old patents reads as follows ::
A'Said land was surveyed to E. Nj
IN pursuance OF a warrant, dated Feb. 26th,
1887, and includes Wtthsins's Gap, in Bedford
county"
Wideim's Gap, in Bedford county where is
it for hereby "hangs a tale -
There is mountain ridge, rising up from
the JunIata, adjoining the borough of Bedford,
and extending Northward to Donniog's creek,
near which it, tthe ridge aioresaiG) draws isrll
backwards TO the East, and stretching ont its
great arms, receives into its bosom. and shelters
there, piece Of beautiful, heavily timbered
level land, having an open and extensive pros
pect to the Westward.
Within the Gap thus formed, lived Wilhelm
Van Bergen and his fair daughter Mldeline.-
Wilhelm, like many others, coming 10 the new
land, stopped at the good city of the Qnakers,
where the mother Of Madeline, having finished
her earthly journeyIngs, left her orphan daugh-
Ter 10 the care. of her father. Attpr the loss of
bis wife, Wilhelm, in order to mend his world
ly estate, joined company of pioneers, who
wete pushing westward to seek their fortunes.
Around Fort Bedford, they pitched their tents.
Here he remained for time, and until his
daughter was grown almost to woman's estate ;
when be determined TO settle at distance in
The country SO as to remove her from The associ-
alions within the fort, from The example which
The hat lax moral discipline of a frontier
post, would render dangerous TO her inexperl-
sass. For, without mothers watchful guar.