The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-03-27
THE STORY OF A HERMIT.


first appeared about forty yeare ago in
West Peun township, Schuylkill county.
where. in n wild and uufrequented spot
in the mountains, he built rude hut aud
shut himself out from all communication
with the outside world. Although hav
ing the appearance of II maD FAR advanced
in life it has since been uscertained that
he was not yet forty years OF aye, Who
or what he was 40 une knew He very
rarely lett his lonely retreat, aud then
only to obtain the necessaries of life
How he lived or what he did were mat
ters of which the inhabitants of the town
were entirely ignorant. Old residents re
member his coming to those parts, and
say that he truely ''dweIt with solitude
aud walked the rocks aud fures,s like a
volt ;" Young men grew to old age and
died, aud still Harper remained in his
rude hut At last, the hermit not having
been seen for some time by any of the
villagers, it began TO be whispered about
that he was dead His hut was visited,
but, although itwas empty, aud evidently
had been for some time, nothing was to
be found to indicate that the hermit had
died.
\ short time afterward, there appeared
in the village ui R'nstowu IA queer old
man, with long, snowy locks aud beard
bent form and wriDkled visage He was
bare headed, clad in ragged garments, and
walk ed with long, smooth staff Purchas
ing few groceries III the village. he dis
appeared Some months aiterward. he
a.aiu came to the village, made similar
purchases and went away. This time
the curiosity Of the villagers being excited
to know more OF the singular being. he
was ioIluwed. He took rough aud
marrow path, which ran some miles over
the mountain. aud led to deep. rocky
gorge, near the boundary of Schuy kill
aud Columbia counties. In this gorge
was dark aud damp cavern into which
the old man entered, aud where it was
found he dwet. This Was the hermit OF
West PeOn township. He had, it was
thought, lett his former retreat to 6ud
more perfect solitude and isolation The
severity of the preseut winter, aud the
great depth Uf snow, short time since
compelled the old man to leave his
mountain lastncss as he was on the verge
ni starvation. He found an asylum in
The house of kind farmer, where he
died a few days alter he was giveE shelter
On his death bed he gave an account of
his life, and the causes which led him to
put himself beyond the pale of society
pi which he had once been a brig ht
ornament. His narrative was substantial
ly ms follows:
His namc was james Harper When
he q ed he was within few weeks o.
reaching the eightieth anniversary of his
birth. Between forty aud fly ago ne
was the senior partner OF Harper Bro.
hardware merchants, Market street
Philadelphia His brother was some
years his junior, and their firm stood
among the leading ones OF the city They
lived in fne style 10 Chestnut street, and
neither of them being married, their only
sister supcriurended their household
affairs
About the year 1885 James Harper
went TO Europe, leaving the business in
charge OF his bruther. in whom he placed
the utmost confidence He spent two
years travelling in the country. during
which time he married an accomplished,
beautiful, aud wealthy young English
lady. a mepb Der OF one of the leading
his departure to London to return home.
Mr.. Harper had not heard from his
brother-his letters. which had been
regular and cheering. suddenly ceasing
Apprehensire of someihng wrong. the
snnior partner Determined 10 forego
further saunterings 10 Europe, aud
shortly after his marriage. embarked for
Philadelphia. accompanied by his bride
When the voyage was about half over.
and the dependency that had seized Mr.
Harper when he left London had been
somew hat dispelled. the small pox broke
out among the emigrant families in the
steerage. The plague spread to the cabin
passengers, and among the victims was
the young wife of Mr. Harper, who died
IN the greatest agony. and whose body
was cast into the sea. This was the hrst
thrust into the heart OF the returning
merchant. aud prepared bin for others
q hat awaited him Alter lying in quaran
tine some time after reaching port. the
passengers OF the plague stricken ship
were permitted to land.
AT W hours aterward Mr. Harper learn
ed that he was ruined man. HIS
brother, shortly after his senior went TO
Europe, fell into di>solute habits and In
a year and a half had driven The firm into
bankruptcy and FL of desperation blew
out his brains in gambling hell The
sister died 10 a few weeks of grief. and
the property Of the firm was all sold b,
the Sheriff Mr. Harper found himself
without dollar or single relative, and
barely friend. where he had left
prosperous business. happy home. and
hundreds of fattering acqualniaDces