The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-07-10

more SET out Oh their weary tramp.
SO they went on from point to point,
encountering no great danger, but
overcoming many difficulties by the
way.
When they reached little place
then known as Theas' valley. twenty,
one miles from Gillipolis, the Ken
tuckian left Allen with many sadly.
spoken farewells, and went toward
his home, while the boy, with heavy
heart, set out upon his lonely walk OF
100 miles to Chiliicothe. In his path
there were but few settlements, the
country was bare aud desolate, the
roads broken, indistinct, ard at times
entirely blotted out with thick cover
ings-o snow. But In spite OF all the
hniculties before him, William Allen
was not dismayed. With that all
overcoming energy and determine.
tion to succeed which in the years
that followed made him q chief man
10 great nation, fresh obstacles only
nerved him to fresh trial. All night
after leaving hi, companion of the
mountains. the brave boy walked on.
Dense woods surrounded him on
every siie; often he he heard the cry
OF some wild beast; his eyslids for
moments glued themselves together
In sleep, but he came to no habita-
iion; he dared not lie down, for he
knew that IL he dill he would never
again see the light Of an earthly sun.
And still, through all that terrible
night he kept on, walking mechanic
ally. passing over the ground more
like "a machine than a human being.
When the sunlight came he had his
reward. His weary eyes were made
glad by the sight of the broad Ohio,
snd on the further bank the little
town OF Gallipolis. Nearing the place,
however, he found that his troubles
were not yet ended. The river was
filled with huge cakes OF broken ice
which the swollen current rapidly
carried down the stream. For this
reason the ferrymen refused to take
young Allen across. All his entreaties
were in vain; the man refused to
fisk his boat among the CT Jshing
blocks of ice. There was no help for
it The boy saw that he must wait.
As the day wore on, however, the ice
cakes in the river became thinner and
less dangerous, and at last a negro,
who owned rickety old boat, O greed
for a piece OF silver 10 take Alien 10
tie othor side. With much difficulty
they drew the boat up stream for sew
eral hundred yards, and then, cm-
barking, floated down with the blocks
of ice, rowing toward the opposite
shore whenever they could slip
through aud avoid "a collision with
cakes OF a particularly dangerous
appearance, and 80 az last they
reached Gallipolis.
Young Allen FASTENED at once TO
Gntes' Tavern, near the river, and,
while he was taking the hearty
meal which had been prepared
for him after the landlord heard OF
the extent Of his journey, he saw
flne looking man in the adjoining
room blacking his owu boots. Shortly
afterward he was informed that the
gentleman so engaged was the Hon.
Samuel 4. Vinton. who had recently
been elected to Congress, and who
was regarded as the great man OF
that part OF tho State. The boy
looked at him with mingled feelings
Of cailosity and awe, never for a mo-
ment imagining that he would live TO
serve with Mr.. Vinton in Congress,
aud to be his rival at the bar OF Oaio.
Such, however. was the fortune which
fate had In store f0r'hin.
Leaving Gallipolis, thoroughly
rested aud refreshed, the young trav.
eler continued on his journey through
Jackson county. All went well with
him for several days, but on what
proved TO be the last night of his
wandeIings he became very lame
from over exertion. His feet, too,
were badly cut and blistered, and he
was scarcely able to drag himself
along. when suddenly young man,
two or three years older than himself,
came out of wood into the road In
front or him, and said, with rather
startling abruptness:
Hello, stranger, where be you
goin'?"
"Pm trying TO get to Chilicothe,"
replied the young traveller, "but I've
fallen lame and am rot getting on
very fast
"If that is So" said the other, with
the rough and ready hospitality OF
the time and country, "you had bet
ter go home and stay the night out
with our folks. They don't often see
strange ones, and they'll like to hear
you talk"
The invitation so readily given was
as readily accepted-;he people OF
Ohio were not so suspicious OF each |
other in those days as they have be-
come since--and In few minutes the |
foot-sore wanderer was safely housed
in rude but we'll warmed log cabin,
containing two rooms, and giving