Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-19
The PIlnrIm FamIlY,

from religious zeal, some to promote dar-
ling hobby or fulfill, as they call II their
"mission;" others to change their habita-
tion, and others again from an distinctive
love of locomotion. AS various as are the
objects, are the modes resorted to In order
to accomplish the end desired. Bayard Tay-
or has written book of his trayelsin Eu-
rope, called "Views A-Foot," and often
we meet with, or hear of persons, both male
and female, who have performed, or are en-
gagged In performing, the tour ofthe globe,
alone and on foot. But the pilgrims we
most commonly encounter In this country
belong to the class called emigrants, travel
ing sometimes In groups, sometimes in fam
ilies, and often singly. They move by rail-
road, by water, in emigrant wagons, and
also in the primitive pedestrian mode,
though this last fashionis becoming quite
antiquatcd, and one looks upon 1t as the
geologist does upon newly discovered fos-
sill animal, whose existence he dates some
millions of years before Adam.
There is, besides this migratory dispose
! tion, love Of oddity in human nature. 1t
is said to be the prerogatlve of genius to
be eccentric, but mediocrity is often more
prone to eccentricity than the most exalted
genius. The feeble-minded, the poor and
obscure, often seek to bring themselves into
notoriety by some strange freak out OF the
common order of things. To gain little
notice or attention from the world, or
small portion of 1t, even from entire strang-
ers who will speak of them but for day or
an hour, they will make surprising sac
rifices of ease, comfort and health, and
sometimes even life itself.
But we must cease moralizing, Or our
preface will be longer than the incident we
propose to relate, which, indeed, may be
told in few words.
Yesterday morning man came into the
city from the east on the National road,
drawing small hand-cart or wagon with
iron wheels. He was accompanied by his
wife and four children, one of the latter a
babe in its mothers arms, and perhaps a
month old. The mother and children were
all barefooted. The cutlcle on the soles
of the woman's feet had become as thick
and tough as strong sole leather. ... .
The wagon which the "head" OF this
interesting" family engineered, and to
which he supplied the motive power, was
filled with blankets or bed-clothes, a little
clothing, a kettle and a few other utensils
for cooking, small tent and some miscel-
laneous articles. Altogether, the equip
ment of this migrating family was on
scale of the most frugal economy. Still the
man and his loving partner trudged along
side by side, often hand in hand, as though
satisfied with their lot, and like the philos-
opher we have read of somewhere, thank
ing Heaven that their fortune in this life
was no worse.
The group passed through the city and
took the National road west for Indiana
whittier they said they were bound for set
tlement. Their grotesque appearance, as
they came along in the roadway of the
streets, caused crowds to gather on the side
walks to gaze at them, and excited almost az
much wonder and amazemcnt as the trained
dogs and monkeys now performing with SC
great eclat at the Atheneum.
In answer to inquiries, the father of the
family stated that they left Carlisle, Penn
sylvania, on the I'd of May last, and had
travelled all the way hither, over four hum
dred miles, with their present outfit. Dur
ing their journey they had been delayed al
one place seven days on account of illness
Otherwise, fortune had favored them
They did not appear to be begging; on thu
other hand, they seemed to be quite inde-
pendent and to rely on their own re
sources, the man saying, if they wanted
anything, and he had no money to get i
with, he could work and earn it. Perhaps
, there was policy in this show of independ
ence.
f At any rate, it brought them more, prob
, ably, than any amount of direct and earn
} est begging would have done. Benevolen
and kind-hesrted citizens supplied then
with articles of food and clothing, wit
r groceries, etc., and loaded down their ca
till it was feared the drGughtSman might b
overcome by the joint operation of the loa
and the heat. ~.t'
There is one thing this family does, 70
which many who pass the night, awak
and restless in their hot bedrooms, wi
envy them. They camp out at night in tn
Q open air under their little tent. s'iol
Arrival of the Eleventh Cavalry.