The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-10-09
Monday Morning, Oct. 8, 1865.
AH1QEwAv ADyEN,rIuRE.

ia AHiGHWAY ADVENTURE.
Y MY business calledme through The northern
part Of the state Of Illinois. I crossed the IL
linois river at0ttawa, intending to strike Rock
river az Fosters Mills. Foster was an old
Trend, who had gone out some years before.
and erected mill upon one of the tributa-
~ RES OF the last mentioned river, he having
bought whole township in that section. 1t
was some out of my way, as nv most direct
route was very near due west from Ottawa,
"a whereas this route took me over sixty miles
farther north. However, had learned that
there was quite good road to Rock river, and
turned my horses head in that direction,
calculated my time, and concluded that by
moderate travelling [ could reach the mill in
two days. g4l3a -4.dH =
During the first day my road lay through
country mostly cleared, and was well travelled,
but on the second day I struck into a wilder
region, and the way was little better than a
prldle-path through dense forest. passed
several eearings, where small huts were erect
ed, and at enc of the latter stopped to din
ner. found young man in charge of the
premises, the father having gone to 1.-THE rniIIs''
L asked what mills they meant, and the old Ia
fdy said they were Fosters Afills.D
From these people I learned that Fosters
place was forty miles distant, and that the on
" dwelling, after leaving Two near BY between
here and there, was sort of stopping place
kept y a man named Daniel Grootne. They
SAID ne generally kept food for man and beast,
and also good supply of liqner, principally
Winskey his house was twelve miles from
the mills. go ~ p g (. tg9ld arsA -
Thisjust suited me. i could reach Groome's
5y SIX O'Clock, and there get some supper, and
rest and bait my horse. Then i could easily
reach Fosters by nine, as the moon was well
del on the second quarter se4 s.al 9is izta
The good people refused to take ANYTHING
for my dhher, but / bestowed half dollar
upon a faxen-headed urchih who was trotting
sa round upon his bare feet, and then set for
ward again. ig l31
There vas another hut at the distance of
hall nile, and, another about a mile of.
4 saw M more human habitntions until L
reached Groome's. found the travelling fun
as good as. expected and arrived at the for
est inn al just half past five. M
Ine inn was sitliased upon q romantic spot
ana to lover Of Isolated nature must have
been charming retreat The house was
built OF logs, the outside surface hewn, and
= the seams filed with cement formed of some
sort OF tine, tough moss and pitch. There
were three separate buildings to this house,
the principal one being built with the gable
endto the road, and the other two upon either
side, running out like two els Then there
was a barn a short distance OF. with a-pig-
gerry connected Take it all together, and it
was quite place forsueh location. A small
f1l. 1 III q
f15 1IOue up 20 bfle door, Sir. GT0Om0 him.
self came out He was tall, gaunt man.
with fiery red head, and face aslcoarse as it
was ugly.' But was surprised when l heard
his voice. had expected tone like the bell
low Of bull; but instead of that his notes
fell on my ear like the speech of a woman.
He smiled as he spoke, and thought to NY
self how his appearance would deceive any
one, for in conversation he seemed a different
man. sA -
informed him that was on nv yyay to
Fosters Mil, and could oniy stop long enough
to get some supper. ai'ae5
He ga9ed into my face some moments with
g out finally, said: 694safA t'1' -
1 eAh--yes-humph.n
aIke." eeN' -,
Ike came--a tall, strapping youth of one or
two and twenty-with a red head and features,
such as could belong to no one but child of
g. my most. Ike took my horse, and Mr.. Groome
led the way to the sitting room, as he called it,
1t was rough but comfortable, and the f1rni-
ture consisted of pine table, a mahogany
bnreau, and four long pine benches which
were set against the walls. There were no
chairs, these benches being sufficient to accom-
modate quite an aSsemblage.
fGroome asked me If 1 would like some
thing warm. [ supposed he meant Whiskey,
and told him no. he said had better take
little-'twould do me good. But assured
him that l never used it--that 1 felt better
without 1t. = si} isaaaf = ~. -
But do you mean that you never drink
whiskeyp" he added, with elevated eyebrows.
'Never ~ told him. s8loH
Brandy, s'pose or Inebby raIe old gin ?'
pursued my host - ~
aNo, replied. Il don't use any stimulating
drinks at ALL" q aagH s5as & -lfl l1 ga3iSl
"You don'tw burst ffom his lips while he
eyed me from head to foot ''Wal, stranger,
I'd give sun'thin for your picture to hang up
In my house. Never drink How in rnercy's
name dye i've? How dye contrive when ye
get wet and cold ?1 ifaas tsA 81 s.s go
"WhN" said [, with a smile II get dry again
as soon as possibIe" e, iet s4' 'aa
"DIy, my sakes, should think 'twoulds be
an everlasting dry? Never drink Wal-here
I've lived year in am year out, gon' ON to fE
teen year, and you're the fust man ever seed
as wouldn't drink bit O. whiskey on the top
of long journey. Faet--strangeT BY
told him thought it very probable, and
house. 80
In half an hour my host came and informed
me elat supper was ready. He led me to
DacA room; where a table was set quite res
o.s'' peollois, .ue qshes being Of blue we're, and
hel,Als new. ne and Ike sat down with me.
ana as saw them attack the variors articles
OF looo' aelt assured there could besna noiso1
IN thela. Inc meal consisted OF boiled nota-
toes, Hlea oseali, and new wheat bread. and /
did ample justice 70 the repast ''''@
sK0a think ygn must e3 On te.niybt o. s.,a
my host while We were eating 'a'u
sYes,P | told him, II wish e So ms A.,
and shall gam considerable time Nv r...,.s.. -..-
his place 70 nlshA7 ''''''S
efs he expectin' yep 0raone asked
sN0.n answered.
aPsrhaps lc dont tnpaatiat yoa're ID la
syo' - donsn't.a I Sad; and 4 sx.ee...,
flag 1ny bosf would urge me- o. slay with hip
un2h malni14, 40 ] had mg ansEers an pre-
paae3
Bat vas rlistakaa. He- aitot rrre sa.v
aafh iAaz on She contrary, Pc SAID he
t@N@ai faa Miae ia fa4 eaeie en. ne
s1aaa Ats ~ couenanY but q Weld ~ better
- p Islsu aa. : was qaitf ftiefad
%ssfi eNeFter b. sewer wheu ms Aqre
N tas 3.N. I tpd& eai nay wAl-
~ = 49, easa Fas ta pas. .Aeif ani-
Pa q esi teen askei uh&eh VS. fhe
nta t2@st Fdu1f
es ~ lAai "a ,ne. Iass over ne barn
~lrtHIris.
alafs tAlt "a Esa kas ~s.a pg1sen
ft4 ahisss tsst fse eN14 -. ti.. -
~ticf ..rf fisse aa1sI.-- 49, ~. ~.
W fses rff. aewu n fhe mlltsss
tA@A4 tsI t1sa iassrss Y y ~ \ sa,,..
sh y sa SAD takFn cars 81 nir hs-as ot -,
t- Ufss.ial taa was f zai 81 IA -, ..-s..
MNA ests keateF his Diia poWa#. a,d a.
aaa fsad ie.lgwez to stream dirssf
%. tnil My hosl turning add ir,bt,. -