The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-07-10
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WILLIAM ALLEN.
How the Sage Of Frat Hill Farm En-.
tered Ohio.

tered Ohio.
Correspondence New York Times
On cold. clustering winter 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
haxen hair, stood in one OF
the streets OF Lynchburg, Va. He
had determined to leave the town.
and - seek his fortune 10 the distant
but even then thriving State o. Ohio.
He bad a haif-sister and brother in :
law living at Chi.licothe, in that State
They were his only near relatives
then living, aud he had made up his
mind to go to them How the Jour
ney was best to be accomplished by
u weak boy. who carried all his for
tune upon his back. was the question
which engrossed his attention % be
stood in the streets OF Lynchbarg. on
that lowering winter day. While he
was yet Undecided he was appro ,ched
by young man, roughly clad in the
costume OF Kentucky hog drover,
then most familiar in Lynchburg
which was one Of the great pork mar
kets OF the South. Ia spite of bis
rough appearance, however, there
was a certain open and honest look
about the man which at once won
strangers to him, AMI when he asked
young Allen to show him VIII. re he
could buy sjme good tobacco. the
boy, without hesitation. went some
what out OF his way to do him the
service. Going toward the shop where
the purchase was TO be made, the
young droyer said that he had on the
evening before disposed of III the
hogs he had driven from Kentucky,
Lad been paid his own price for them.
aud that on the next day he was go
ing to set out for his home across the
mountains.
Aud how are you going to travel?"
asked his companion. who Was him
self 80 anxious to make a Journey In
the same direction. Tw
"On. I'm going to tramp it," was
the cool reply = @
Going to cross the Blue Ridge on
foot in the middle or winter?"
Yes. indeed. It's much safer than
going on horseback, aud doesn'r cost
so much"
Allen, through the corner OF his
eye, looked at his companion, meas
ured him from head to foot, saw that
he was thoroughly in earnest, and
then said quietly:
Il want TO cross the mountains into
Ohio. L would like to go with you.
Will you let me?"
The drover stopped for moment,
looked at the slim figure beside him,
laughed. and exclaimed:
"0h. you're joking"
"No; / am in earnest must oss
the mountains. no IN after how 1 60"
You would break down the first
day." Aud to this William Allen,
through firm, thin lips, and looking
feaIlessly into the eyes OF the other,
replied:
Il will not break down; / will hold
up az long as you do and longer"
The drover was convinced. He
gave the boy his hand on 1t, and the
next morning the pale and cheerless
winter saw them, with knapsack and
blanket, setting out on this journey
across the snow-capped and almost
Pathless mountains OF Virginia.
Twenty eight miles they walked that
day, and spent the night in the little
town OF Liberty. On the night Of the
second day they reached the foot OF
the dangerous and dreaded Blue
Ridge, and on the morning OF the
third day commenced the ascent. For
nine hours they pushed ON. dragging
themselves painfully through snow
drifts and oyer-faIlen trees. Then
the strong Kentuckian fell exhausted
by the wayside. Young Allen, whose
indomitable will still kept him on his
blistered and burning feet, made a
great fire OF the dry wood which he
was fortunate 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