, 1863-02-05
The Roons.

illusirious hunter, had heard Finley, trader, 90
memorable as the pioneer, describe tract Of land
west Of Virginia as the richest in North America
or in the world. In May, 1863, leaving bis wife
and offspring, having Finley as his pilot, and four
Others as bis companions, the young man, Of about
three-and-t ,eniy wandered forth through the will
derness Of America, in quest Of the country Of
Kentucky" known to the savages as "tbe Dark
and Bloody ground" "the Middle ground" BE-
tween the subjects Of the Five Nations and the
Cherokees. Ailer q long and fatiguing journey
through mountain ranges, the party found them
selves, in June, on the Red Bank, q tributary to
the Kentucky, and from the top Of on eminence sur
veyed with delight the beautiful plain that stretched
to the northwest. Here they built their shelter.
and began 10 recOnnoiter and to hunt. All the
kinds Of wild beasts that were natural to America
the stately elk, the timid deer the antlered stag
the wildcat, the bear, the panther, and the wolf
crouched among the canes, or rOamed over the rich
grasses which, even beneath the thickest shades,
sprang luxurantly out OF the generous soil. The
bufalOes cropped earlessy the herbage, or brOwsed
on the leaves Of the reed and were more numerous
than cattle in settlement Of Carolina herdSmen.
Sometimes there were hundreds in drove, and
round the salt licks their number was amazing.
The summer In which for the first time a party
Of white men enjoyed the briancy Of nature near
and in the valLsy Of the Elkhorn. passed away 10
the occupations Of exploring parties and the chase
But one BY one BOon's companions dropped of,
till he was left alone with John Stewart. They
jointly found unceasing delight In the wonders Of
the forest till one evening" near the Kent ,cky river,
they were taken prisoners by band Of Indians,
wanderers like themselves. They escaped and were
joined by BoOn's brother 90 that when Stewart
was soon after killed BY savages, the irst victim
among the hecatomb Of white men slain By them
In their desperate battling for the lovely hunting
6ot,, H., NJ hrnahnR IN GhaHn Ovifh
him the dangers and attractions Of the wilderness,
they building and occupying the hrst cottage In
Kentucky.
In the spring Of ITO. that brother returned to
the settlements for horses and supplies Of ammuni-
ton, leaving the renowned hunter "hy himself
without bread. OF salt, or sugar. or even horse or
dog" The idea Of beloved wife, anxious for his
safety, tiueed his thoughts with sadness but 9th
erwise the cheerful. meditaiive man, careless Of
wealth. knowing the use Of the rifle, not the plow,
Of strong. robust frame, In the vigorous health
Of early manhood, ignorant Of books, but versed
In the forest and forest liie even fond Of tracking
the deer on foot away from men, yet in his dspoli
ton humane, generous and gentle, was happy IN The
uninterrupted Succession Of sylvan pleasure.
One calm summers evening, as be climbed q
commanding ridge, and looked upon the remote |
venerable mountains and the nearer ample plains,
be caught o glimpse in the distance Of the Ohio,
which bounded the land Of bis affections with magic
grandeur, and his heart exulted in the region be
had discovered. All things were still. Not
breeze so much as shook leaf He kindled fire |
near loun'ain Of sweet water and ieasted on the
lOin Of buck. Hewas no more alone than bee |
among flowers, but communed iamiliarly with the |
whole universe Of lie. Nature was his intimate |
and rs the rowing wOodsman leaned coufdingly on |
her bosom. she responded to bis intelligence.
For him the rocks and fountains, Ihe leaf and |
the badgs Of grass had lie; the cooling air. laden
with the wild perfume, came to him as friend |
the dewy morning wrapped him In its embrace; |
the treps stood up glorousy about him a. so many
myriads Oi companions. All wore the character |
Of design or peril. But how could be be afraid
Tr:umphing over danger, he knew no tar. The
perpetual bowling Of the wolves by night around |
bis cottage. or bis bivouac 10 the brake. was bis
diversion; and by day he had Joy in surveying the
various species OF animals that surrounded him. |
He lov,d the solitude better than the lowered city
or the ium Of business
Near the end Of July, ITO. his faithful brother
came back TO meet him at the old camp. Shortly
atler they proceeded to Cumberland river, giving
names to the dltTent wa'ers, and be then returned
to bis wife and children, fixed in his purpose at
the risk Of his life and fortune to bring them as
soon as possible to live in Kentucky. which he
CO seemed second Paradise.
In early times there lived in Indiana man BY
the name Of George Boon, descendant Uf the
celebrated Daniel Boon. George Boon would have
stood well in those days when there were giants in
the land. He was near seven feet high, with large
bones and muscles bis hands were large, but his
feet were beyond anything Of the kind have ever
seen, in length, breadth, and depth. can best
give some idea Of them by relating incident that
George used to relate with gusiO after be had BE-
come State Senator. He told Il thus:
was about eighteen years Of age, when for the
FIRST time took L into my head 10 20 sparkling.
One Of my neighbors, few miles Oh, had large,
pretty daughter, that ] thought would just suit
cold still Il was too early TO put on shoes. The
Sunday evening had come; dressed 10 my best
butternuteo orpd suit, made some sig months be-
fore, but soon found that the pantalOOns reached
only Just below my knees. and my coat stretched
over me as tight as dried eelskin on hoop pole
stared barefoot, wadng the creeks and muddy
bottoms till I reached the house. They were about
sitting down to supper. and invittd me. Sally sat
by my side. We had mush and milk, and plenty
of it. The cd lady handed me bowl. thought
politeness required me to met her half way, and
stretched out my hand to take il; but had made
no calculation Of the size Of the table, the space
be ween the milk pitcher and the bowl, nor Of the
width Of my hand. struck the big milk pitcher
on one sids, and out went the milk over the table
| Saiy jumped up, and went roaring with laughter
into TIE other room. The old lady merely remarked,
II will oil rub OF when It gets dry;" and the eold
gentleman said there had greater accidents hap
pened at sea-" But Il was oil over with me. !
| saw that all was lost. Not word more was
spoken. 1MW nothing more Of Sally. Theclock
struck ten.
"Mr. Boon, won't you wash your feet and 60
TO bedT" said the old lady.
"Yes, maam."'