Fourty-Four Years, or, the Life of a Hunter. Meshach Browning
did not seem much as if I was in love with any one when I was then on my way to the West, perhaps never to comeback again. "But," said I, "let ma tell you, girls, that Mary McMullen is one of the sweetest girls in all this country ; and if I was old enough, and was as well situated as your brother Jesse is, I would like very well to marry her. Marry her! yes, indeed. Lord! wouldn't I like to take such a pretty little bird as Mary is 1 "
This was said in a joke; but my feelings were such that I feared that Lina would see something in me that would
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betray ray real sentiments. But it all passed off as a joke, and our time was spent very agreeably till the old people called out bedtime.
We all parted, and I lay a long time before I could persuade my eyes to close. Uncle's good advice had made a deep impression on my mind; and, seeing the benefit it was intended to be to me, I concluded that from that time forward I would never tell a lie. And I now declare so- lemnly that I have never, to this day, told what I knew to be false, except, perhaps, when I have been sometimes called on to relate some mischievous tales that were going the rounds; when I have said I knew nothing of the mat- ter; and in this way, and this only, have I ever departed from the known truth.
And here I say, thanks be to the name and to the me- mory of James Spurgin; to whom, I am free to acknow- ledge, together with another very kind friend of mine, of whom I shall speak hereafter, I owe all that I now am. However, nature overcame my feelings at last, and I knew nothing of myself till the old folks called for the boys to rise and make fires. Up we all bounded, and soon had them roaring and crackling. Then for feeding the stock. Snow had fallen during the night above knee-deep, and the morning was stormy and very cold. But out we ran, as if we would defy everything like snow and wind ; and soon we had fifty or sixty cattle fed with hay from the stack ; two pitching it off and one scattering it out.
"Now for the horses!" cried Jesse, as he started for the barn.
Off went Jonathan and myself; but Jesse had the start of us, and was throwing the hay on to the floor ; and in a few minutes the feeding was done, and we all gathered around the fine fireside. By this time the girls had break- fast ready, and all were seated; the conversation being mostly between the girls and myself, as to where I ex-
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38 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF
pected to make my residence, and when they should look for my return. To all questions 1 made the same reply— that it would be very uncertain when I should return, if I ever returned at all; when Lina took the opportunity to tell me when I would come back. That would be, she said, as soon as I began to think about that pretty little bird that I had been telling them of last night, I replied that I would go out to the far West and look me up a pretty little squaw, and live among the Indians and hunt buffaloes and bears.
" Well," said Lina, "when you undertake that, the In- dians will take off your scalp; and really, I think it would be of no consequence if they did." She spoke with seem- ing warmth, which raised a burst of laughter round the table, and ended the discourse.
Breakfast over, I began to talk of starting on ray way; but all hands thought the day was too cold and stormy. Having now commenced my journey, however, I wished to see the end of it, and I would not agree to lose a day. So, bidding all farewell, I set off for Union Town, which was twenty-two miles distant. I traveled at a tolerable gait till I fell into Braddock's old road, which I found well broken. I proceeded on till I reached the summit of the great Laurel Mountain, and looked as far west as J thought I could travel next day; while nearer to me, and in full view, laid the little town where I intended to lodge that night, which I reached as daylight was about leaving me.
Here was a boy, not sixteen years old till the following March, thrown out into a strange country, without friends, without money, and, worse than all, without education; like a wild colt in the wilderness, to stray where he pleased.
The land lord, being a friend of both my uncles, would act charge me anything when I was about to leave the
A HUNTER'S LIFE. 39
following morning; for which I thanked him kindly, bade him good morning, and took the road for Wheeling. I traveled till late in the evening, when I fell in with a young man on his way home from a raising. He invited me to stay with him over night, saying that he lived with his father and mother, who were very old, and that he would be glad of my company. As it was but a short distance from the road, I accepted the invitation, and was treated kindly by the good old people, who would not charge me anything, but sympathized with me in my present con- ition
Bidding them good-bye, I set off again on Sunday morning, and, after traveling some eight or ten miles, 1 came to a rather better-looking house than many I had passed in my journey, when, feeling tired, I concluded to stop and rest myself. The owner of the house, who seemed to be a good man, asked me many questions as to where I was going and where I came from. He then in- quired my name, to which I answered, " Meshach Brown- ing, sir."
" Meshach Browning! any relation to old William, and his son John Browning ? "
Thunderstruck at these words, I made every inquiry I could, until, recollecting himself, he said there was to be preaching at his house that day, and if I would stay, perhaps several of the family would be there; and he felt sure the old man would come, for he never failed to attend. So I remained some time, till I be- came restless. After many persons had arrived, it was said by some one that old Mr. Browning was coming; when Mr. Foot, the gentleman of the house, asked me if he should introduce me to the old man as his grandson. Being fully convinced that it could not be otherwise, I consented; and, as the old man was looking for a seat to rest himself, he being then over eighty years old, Mr. Foot
40 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF
said, "Mr. Browning, don't sit down till I make you ac- quainted with one of your grandsons." The old gentle- man looked astonished as Mr. Foot took my left hand and presented me to him, saying, " This is Meshach Browning, your grandson, sir."
The old man at first seemed to be completely confused; but after recovering himself he said, "Is this Joshua's son?" I told him it was truly so. He then sat down; and, after wiping the tears from his eyes, and when his feelings had become a little more composed, he said, "Well, Mr. Foot, you will excuse me for this day; for this youth may have some trouble in finding the road to his mother's, and I cannot miss being present at their meeting."
"Certainly, sir; I should like to witness it myself. But young man, tell your mother that I wish her much joy on account of her young son, and hope to see her as soon as she is able to be out again."
The old gentleman took his hat and started off. I fol- lowed, answering many questions, and hearing of many things that had taken place after I left Flintstone, till we approached a farm; when the old man, laying his hand on the fence, said, "Meshach, this is the farm where your mother lives; we shall soon see her. Yonder she is now."
The old lady had gone out to get a bucket of water, and was then near her own door, but did not notice us till we stepped into the house. She took the old man's hand, and, after asking how he was, said, " Who is this young man with you, father ? "
"Look at him, Nancy, and tell me if you think you have ever seen him, or if you know any one he favors." She seemed confused, and after some time replied that she did not recollect ever having seen him before, nor did she know any person whom he looked like. "Well," said the old man, "does he not look like yourself?"
A HUNTER'S LIFE. 41
"For Heaven's sake, father, what do you mean? is it one of our relations ? "
The old man replied, in a calm tone, "Be composed, Nancy; it's your son, Meshach."
"Lord be praised I "said the poor old lady; and she Bunk back in her c hair, breathless.
Her husband, who had been looking on, immediately threw cold water on her hands and in her face, and in a short time she began to recover; when the old man told me to go out of the room until he called me. I walked out, and in a short time she entirely