The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-15
Flow He Left E.ynchbHrG.--cver th'
Maintains Into the World.

On cold, clustering wintc: day in the
year 1922, William Allen, a pale, lank boy
OF sixteen, who had been half educated IN
the local schools, and who was principally
noticeable for his keen blue eyes and long
flaxen hair, stood in one Of the streets OF
Lvnchhurg, Va. He had determined to leave
the town, and to seek bis fortune in the dis
rant but, even then, thriving State OF Onio'
He had a half-sistcr and brotLcf-ln-a"
living at Chilicothe, in that State. They
were his only near relatives then living,
and he had made up his mind 10
90 to them. How the journey was pcst
to be accomplished by 4 weak boy, VINO car
ried all his fortune upon bis BACK, was
the question which cngrnssed MS alleh-
ton rs he stood in the streets OF L!ncn-
burg on that lowering winter day. WuliG
he was yet IN decided he was approached
by young man, roughly clad IN tue
costume of Kentucky hog.droVer, then
most familiar in Lynchburg. which was
one Of the great pork markets OF the
South. In spite Of his rough appearance,
however, there was a certain open and
honest look about the man which ut once
won strangers to him, and when he asked
Young Allen 10 show him where he could
buy some good tobacco, the boy, without
TO do him service. Going toward the shop
where the purchase was 10 be made, the
Young drover said that he had on tue even
ing before disposed OF all the hogs lie had
driven from Kentucky, had been paid his
own price for them, and that on the next
day he was going to set out Tor his nome
across the mountains.
"And how are you going to travel?"
acl- oil if,n
anxious to make journey in tue same d.
rection.
"Oh, I'm going to tramp it," was the
cool reply.
"Going to cross the Blue Ridge on foot
in the middle of winter?"
YES indeed. It's much safer than
going on horseback, and doesn't cost so
much"
Allen, through the corner of his eve,
looked at his companion, measured him
from head to foot, saw that he was thor
oughlv in earnest. and then said quietly:
~ want to cross the mountains into
Ohio. | would like to go with you; viii
you let me?"
The drover stopped fora moment, looked
at the slim figure beside him, laughed, and
exclaimed:
ooh. you're ioking!"
emo; Pun in earnest. I must cross the
no matter how co."
"You would break down the first day."
And TO this William Allen, through firm,
thin ips, and looking fearlesSly into the
eve OF the other, replied:
{. I will not break down; Will hold up
rs long as, you do and longer"
The droyer was convinced. He gave Tue
boy his hand on it, and next morning tue
pale and cherries winter sun saw then,
with knapsack and blanket, setting OUT on
this Journey across the sno".caPpee anu
almost nathlcss mountains OF Virginia.
sru,enfv.tive miles they walked that day, and
mont the night in the little town OF Liberty.
IN the night of the second day they reached
the foot of the dangerous and dreaded Blue
Ridge, and on the morning OF the third
commenced the ascent. For nine hours
thew pushed on, dragging themselves pain
fully through snow-drifts and over fallen
trees. Then the strong kentIckian fell eX-
bausted by the Wayside. Young Allen,
whose indomitable will still kept him on his
bli>tered and burning feet, made great
fire of the dry wood which he was fortu-
nate enough to find in a mountain nook,
fed his companion and himself with
the coarse fare he had provided at
the foot OF the mountain, and then
having done all he could do he went
to sleep. The night passed quietly
and next morning the travellers once more
set out on their weary tramp. So they went
on from point to point, encounterng no
great danger, but overcoming many difficult
ties by the way.
When they reached little place then
known as Theases Valley, twentv-one miles
from Gallipolis, the Kentuckian left Allen
with many sadly-spoken farewells and went
toward his home, while the boy, with Il
heavy heart, set out upon his lonely walk of
Yorlc Times.