, 1873-03-10
THE STORY OF A HERMIT.

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| THE cT0QY nE HERMIT
| ' W - ''t-''"'''
|
PJsr7tfe ta1 Correspondence q tue Seo Tort 7imex
| There died, near tho village OF AlnBtoWn,
schuylk1u County, near tic northern boundary.
not long snce, man named Harper, tho greater
part OF whose life was passed i'll voluntary
| hermitage among the rocks and mountains of
| schuylkin and Columbia Counties: He first ap-
Peared about forty years ago IN West Penn
| Township, schuylkil County: where, IN wild
| and unfrequented spot in tho mountains, hc
| communication with the outnde world. Although
having the appearance Of man far advanced in
life, it has Hince been ascertained that he Vas
| not yet 40 years OF ago, Who or what he was
no one knew He very rarely lett h1s lonely re-
| treat, and then only to obtain certain necessa~
rios Of life. How he lived OR what
I he did Were matters of which the inhab-
itants of the town we're entirely igno-
rant. Old residents remember his coming to
those parts, and say that he truly "dwelt with
solitude and Walked the rocks and forests like
wolf" Young men grew to old age and died,
and 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 whis
pered about that he Was dead. His hut WAS
visited, but, although it was empty, and evi-
IDENTIFY had been Tor somo time, nothing was
found to indicate that the hermit had died.
short time afterward, there appeared in the
village Of Ringtown queer old man, with long,
snowy locks and beard, bent form md wrink1ed
visage. He was bare-headed, clad in ragged
garments. and walked with a long, smooth
staff. Purchasing few groceries in tho village
he Disappeared Some months afterwards, he
again 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 followed. He took
rough and narrow path, which ran some miles
over the mountain and led to q deep, rocky
gorge, near tho boundary Of Schuylkill and Co
1umbia Counties. In this gorge was dark and
damp cavern, into which tho old man entered,
aud where it was found he dwelt. This was the
hermit Of West Penn Township. He had, it was
thought left his former retreat to find more per-
feet solitude and isolation.
great depth sestf Of the e. snow short time Since % COM @
pelled the old man to leave his mountain fast
ness, as he Was on the verge Of starvation. He
wandered over into Columbia County, where he
found an asylum IN the house OF hnd farmer,
whore he died few days after he was given
shelter. On his death-bed he gave an recount
of his life, and the causes which led him to put
himself beyond the pale OF society OF which he
had once been bright ornament His narrative
His name was James Harper When be died
he was within few weeks Of reaching the eigh~
tioth anniversary OF his BIRTH Between forty and
fifty years ago no was the senior partner OF Har-
Per Bro, hardware merchants, Market street,
Philadelphia. His brother was some years his
junior, aud their firm stood among the leading
ones OF the city. They lived In line style in
Chestnut street, and, neither Of them being
married their only sister super1ntended their
household affairs.
About the year 1885 James Harper went to
Europe, leaving the business in charge OF his
brother, in whom he placed the utmost conf
dence. He spent two years travelling IN the old
country, during Which time he married an ae-
compIshed, beautiful, and wealthy young Eng
lish lady, member Of one OF the leading fa1ni-
Lies. For some months previous to his depa1-
ture from London to return home, Mr. Harper
had not heard from his brother-his letters,
which had been regular and cheering, suddenly
ceasing.. Apprehensive Of something wrong,
the senior partner determined to forego further
saunterings in Europe, and, shortly after his