The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-03-30
2k3M,oNsNS
AS 80 81 4 1I:lEIisR
AT THE BOTTOM OF A CHASM.

NJ thrilling incident, which is given as
ear as possible in her own language:
"My husband, when ! married him, was
onsidercd a man of means, and we set up
Ousekeeping in the city of Richmond, with
ONE pretentons to style but Richard
Allston, dear good soul though he was, had
fondness for speculation that at length
asulted in his ruin. Soon a the birth
Of our fourth child, he came ana told me,
with tears in his eyes, that everything he
had in the world would soon be seized to pay
dabts-houses, lands. furniture, horses, his
atte-all.
ut was a terrible blow to me--for what
would become of our poor children? the
81 dest of which was only eight and the
youngest a helpless babe in the arms.
4 see but one way for us to live and
keep our little ones with u.s., he said and
hat am afraid will be worse than death
to you
'"If it is honorable, dear Richard, |
replied, 4 will submit to it without muir
:. ar
In the southwestern part Of this
2 tate, he continued, my brother owns a
ract of some two hundred acres of wild,
uncutivated land which he says he will
deed to you if we will settle on it,
"Thank your brother kindly in my
name and say we accept his offer
''God bless you Clara, for dear noble
woman he rejoned, rushing from the
apartment to conceal from me his over
towering emotions.
81 need not dwell on painful scene.
Six months later, my dear husband, self
aud children we've the sole tenants of
onelv cabin in the wilderness; and both of
US, from state of ease and luxury, had
come down to hard work and hard fare.
For the first three or four years suffered
much from severe labor and privations, but
these seemed light to me when weighed
against my constant fears. The thought of
Indians did not trouble me so much as the
ear Of wild beasts. Bears, wolves cougars,
and snakes were all around us, and |
scarcely ever felt at ease night or day. |
was afraid for my husband when he went
out to his work. | was always afraid when
| entmed out myself, and mothers fears
children made me tremble at every I'M
usual sound. My husband tried to reason
away and then laugh away my fears-but
all to no purpose | remained to suffer
from my imagination what no language
can describe.
During the first year of our life in the
wilderness, we became possessed of a very
fine COW; and this animal, with a bell
attached, was allowed to run about the
woods in the daytime, but was always
scurcd in snug little shed at night She
cost me a great many fears and anXieties,
for when my husband was busily engaged
in planting, hoeing, or harvesting, | gener-
ally took upon myself the task of finding
and driving her home; and always set out
with Il tremulous prayer for safety and
returned with a fervent prayer of thanks
giving. Thus some four years passed away
without any events of special interest,
when | suddenly met with a terrible mis-
fortune, mainly arising from my foolish
fears.
Gone day had been so busy with my
housework as to forget my usual task of
going for the COW till just as the sun was
setting; and then hurriedly charging my
eldest daughter not to venture from the
house with the children, | set off to find
her. | had gone but few steps, when
ancied heard the welcome sound of her
bell and hastily turning small point of
woodland, | suddenly caught view of her,
more than a hundred yards distant. |
called her j0yfully, with feeling of great
relief, and expected to see her advance
toward me as usual; but to my surprise
she only lowered and tossed her head
angrly, stamped her foot once or twice.
and then, with a low below, as if Of fear,
suddenly WHEELED and bounded off in
contrary direction.
Had taken time to consider that some
4
have fed back to the house in alarm: but
my first impulse was to follow and turn
her, and get her secured before dark; and
in carrying out this design, | thought of
nothing but the trouble and vexation she
was wilfully giving me. | ran after her as
fast as | could and as she struck across an
open field through hollow, and upa slope
that led to the summit of steep bluff, |
was enabled to keep her in sight all the
time.
"Upon the bluff or cliff | have mentioned, |
at the extreme point where it jutted out !
from the main ridge, and fairly overhung "a .
mountain stream that foamed and roared .
over its rock bed far below, the animal .
came to stand, facing toward me and
away from the fearful precipice; and when
| drew near her, painting from my exer-
tions, I saw with surprise that her eyes were
wild and glazing, and that her whole frame
was trembling like an aspen.
IL now became much alarmed myself. /.
The sun had set, and the shades of even