xt7vx05x718h https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7vx05x718h/data/mets.xml Hall, James, 1793-1868. 1845  books b92ps1799h16k4601845v12009 English A.K. Newman and Co. : London Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Harpe s Head, a tale. text Harpe s Head, a tale. 1845 2009 true xt7vx05x718h section xt7vx05x718h 
  
  
  
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KEN-TUCK

Y.7

A TALE.

BY

JAMES

HALL.

IN

TWO

VOLUMES.

VOL.

I.

S ECOND

EDITION.

D

FOR

LONDON: A. K. N E W M A N

AND

1 845.

  
  
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CHAP.

I.

A T t he close o f a pleasant day, in the s pring o f the year 17     , a solitary horseman m ight have b een seen slowly w i n d i n g h is way along a narrow road, i n that p art o f V i r g i n i a w hich is now called the V a l l e y . I t was nearly forty years ago, a nd t he district l y i n g b etween the B l u e R i d g e and the A l l e g h e n y mountains was b ut t hinly p opulated, while the country l y i n g to the west, embracing an immense A l p i n e r egion, was a savage w ilderness, w hich e xtended to the new and distant s ettlements of K e n t u c k y . O u r traveller's r oute led along the foot o f the mountains* VOL. i . B s ometimes

  
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s ometimes crossing the spurs, o r l ateral r idges, which push out their huge promontories from the great c h a i n ; and at o thers w i n d i n g through deep r avines, or s kirting a long broad valleys. T h e A n cient D o m i n i o n was never celebrated for t he goodness o f i ts h ighways, and the one w hose mazes he was now endeavouring t o unravel, was among the worst, being a m ere path, worn by the feet o f horses, a nd m arked by faint traces of wheels, w hich s hewed that the experiment of d r i v i n g a c arriage over its uneven surface h ad been successfully t ried, b ut not g enerally practised. T h e country was f ertile, t hough w i l d a nd broken. T h e season was that in which the foliage is m ost luxuriant and splendid to the eye, t he leaves being f ully e xpanded, while the r ich blossoms decked the scene w i t h a v ariety o f b rilliant h ues; and our traveller, as he passed ridge after ridge, paused in delight on their elevated summits, t o g aze at the beautiful glens that lay between

  
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t ween them, and the g orgeous v egetation t hat climbed even to the tops o f the steepest a cclivities. T h e day, however, w hich h ad been u nusually sultry for the season, was drawing to a close, a nd both horse and rider began to feel the effects o f hunger and fatigue; the former, though s trong and spirited, d rooped h is head, a nd t he latter b ecame w earied with these l onesome t hough picturesque scenes. D u r i n g t he whole day he had not seen t he dwelling of a h uman being; the clattering o f his horse's hoofs u pon the rock, t he singing of the birds, so numerous i n t his region, the roaring of the mountain s tream, or the crash of timber o ccasioned by the f all o f some g reat tree, w ere the only sounds that had met his ear. H e was glad, therefore, to find his p ath d escending, at last, into a broad v alley, interspersed with farms. H e seemed to have surmounted the last h ill, a nd b efore h i m was a r ich c ontinuous forest, r esembling, as he overlooked it from the B2 high

  
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h igh g round, a solid p lain o f verdure. T h e transition from rocky steeps a nd p recipices, to the smooth soil and sloping surface of the valley, was refreshing; and n ot less so were the coolness a nd fragrance o f the air, and the deep a nd varied hues o f the forest, o ccasioned b y the rank l uxuriance o f its vegetation. I t m ight be proper, as it certainly is c ustomary, before p roceeding to narrate t he adventures of our hero, to introduce h i m t o the particular acquaintance of the r eader, by a f ull d escription of his person, c haracter, and lineage ; but this manner o f n arration, s upported as i t is by respectable precedent, we must be permitted to d ecline. A s we have no record before u s, s hewing that the gentleman in question e ver passed under a regimental standard, w e are not aware that his exact h eight could now be ascertained ; and as h e was neither a deserter from the service of his country, nor a fugitive from t he protection of his guardian, we cannot

  
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5

n ot t hink i t necessary to set forth the colour o f his h air a nd e yes, o r to describe w hat c lothes " he had on when he went a way." T o enlist the sympathies of our f air readers, w hose a pprobation we would f ain p ropitiate, i t is enough to say, that he was a y o u n g and handsome bachelor, l eaving each of them to fancy him the e xact image of her favourite admirer; b ut as we do not admire the practice of p eeping into gentlemen's hearts, or p ocket-books, without any other w arrant t han t he bare license of a uthorship, w e cannot t ell w hat precious billet-doux may have filled t he one, or what treasured image m ight h ave occupied the other. These are questions which may be incidentally t ouched hereafter; and the curious reader w i l l find a mple materials in the followi n g pages, for the gratification of a l audable t hirst for knowledge on these i nteresting p oints. T h e s un was about to set, and our t raveller, h aving completely left all the B3 m ountain

  
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m ountain passes b ehind h i m , could have e njoyed t he serenity of the calm hour, a nd t he bland landscape, had not other t houghts harassed h i m . H e n eeded rest a nd r efreshment, and knew not where to f ind t he one or the other. W h i l e considering t his matter, he reached a spot w here two roads crossed, at the same i n tant w hen two other persons, advancing f rom a different direction, arrived at the same point. T h e y were an elderly gentleman a nd a y o u n g lady, both of prepossessing appearance. T h e former was a p ortly m an, hale and ruddy, w ith a g ay e ye and a profusion of grey locks, as i f t he frost of age had prematurely touched h is h ead, without penetrating so d eep as to c hill t he fountains of l ife. H i s dress was that of a country gentleman ; it was n ot expensive, nor yet w ell a ssorted, but r ather e vinced the carelessness of one w ho, l i v i n g s ecluded from the fashionable w orld, f elt independent of its forms, or w ho adopted w ith r eluctance the c hanges w hich

  
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w hich seemed every year to depart further a nd further from certain standards o f gracefulness to which he had been accustomed in his y o u t h , as well as from t he peculiar notions of comfort that fasten u pon the m i n d w ith t he approaches of o ld age. H e was mounted upon a fine h igh-bred horse, rather oddly caparisoned; for the bridle, though silver mounted, was b roken in several places, and the fractures had been remedied, at one part by a h ard knot, at another by a coarse s eam, a nd at a t hird by a t hong of b uckskin; w hile a S panish saddle, which might o nce h ave d one h onour to the best c avalier at a b u l l fight, h aving l ost the stirrup-leather on t he near side, was supplied w ith an accommodation-ladder of rope, and the g irth was patched w ith l eather and linsey, u n t i l t he original material was hardly discoverable. T h e worthy gentleman wore o ne spur, either because he was too i n dolent to put on the other, or from a c onviction, founded on a well-established B 4< p hilosophical

  
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p hilosophical principle, that the effect p roduced on one side of his animal, m ust be followed by a corresponding r esult on the other, and that c onsequentl y o ne armed heel is as effective as a p a i r ; i ndeed, that gentlemanly weapon seemed to be worn m ore f rom habit t han n ecessity, for the free-spirited steed n eeded n o prompter; and the rider, who sat w i t h the ease a nd g race o f an e xperienced horseman, would have esteemed i t a b reach of the dignity becoming his age and station, to have p roceeded 'at a ny pace faster than a walk. H e was e vidently a wealthy planter, accustomed t o g ood l i v i n g a nd g ood s ociety, who h ad a rrived at a standing i n life which p laced h i m a bove a ny merely outward f orms that interfered with his comfort, a nd w ho felt privileged to think as he p leased, and do as he l iked ; w hile the f rankness and b enevolence o f his countenance at o nce a ssured the stranger that h is h eart was alive to the best f eelings of

  
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o f kindness and hospitality. H i s companion was a lovely g i r l o f eighteen, r ichly a nd tastefully habited; careless as w ere the apparel and furniture of the e lder rider, that of the lady was s tudiously neat and appropriate; her palfrey h ad t he fine limbs, the delicate form, a nd t he bright eye of the deer, w ith a g entleness that seemed to savour more o f reason than of instinct; his h air was s mooth and glossy as s ilk, h is harness e legant, and neatly fitted ; and as the f air r ider sat gracefully erect i n her saddle, t he proud a nimal a rched his neck, as i f conscious of the beauty of his burthen. A s t he parties met at the junction of t he roads, each of the gentlemen reined u p his horse to allow the other to pass; t he elder b owed a nd touched his hat, a nd t he other returned the salutation w ith e qual courtesy. There was a momentary e mbarrassment, as neither rider seemed disposed to take p recedence o f B5 t he

  
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t he other, which was relieved by the y o u n g lady, who, slackening her r ein as she touched the neck of her steed w ith a h azel switch, r ode f orward, leaving t he gentlemen to settle the point of e tiquette between them, which they did b y silently f alling i n abreast, the road b eing just wide enough to admit the passage o f two riders in that manner. I n o ur country, there is n one o f that c hurlish p olicy, or that repulsive pride, w hich i n other regions forbids strangers w ho thus m eet f rom accosting each o ther; on the contrary, our hearty old V i r g i n i a n , o n meeting a young, w ellmounted, handsome stranger, w ith t he a ppearance and manners of a gentleman, felt bound to do the honours of the c o u n t r y ; he accordingly o pened a c onversation, a nd was so well pleased w ith t he stranger's frankness and intelligence, t hat h e determined to take him h ome, a nd e ntertain h i m , at least for the night, a nd p erhaps for a w eek or t w o ; and the w orthy

  
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11

w orthy old man felt no small inward g ratification i n the idea, that while he was discharging his duty as a true son o f the ancient dominion, he should secure a companion, and enlarge, for a t ime, h is own l ittle c ircle of enjoyments. B u t t he stranger anticipated his i nvitation, b y observing     " I have business w ith m ajor H e y w a r d , who resides s omewhere i n this neighbourhood, and am g lad t hat I have fallen i n w ith y o u , sir, as you can probnbly direct me to a tavern near his house, where I may l odge for the night." " T h a t I cannot; but I w i l l w ith g reat pleasure show you to the house itself," r eplied t he other, who was the identical m ajor H e y w a r d ; " I am going directly t here, and w i l l c onduct you to the very d oor." T h e stranger c ivilly d eclined this offer, u nder the plea that he was totally unacquainted w ith t he gentleman alluded to, a nd t hat his v isit was solely on business; B6 he

  
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h e wished, therefore, to l odge for the n ight at a public-house, and to dispatch h is business i n the morning as early as m ight be. " I s uspect," replied his companion, " t hat you w i l l n ot do the one nor the o ther. P u b l i c house there is n one ; y ou are now in V i r g i n i a , s ir, where hospitality i s not an article of trade, therefore y ou must, of necessity, l odge w i t h a p rivate g entleman ; and you are under a m istake, i f you think to dispatch your b usiness to-morrow, or the next day, or u nder a week at least." " W h y so?" " S i m p l y because, in this country, we do not t urn p eople o ut of our houses, n or treat a guest as i f he was a sheriff's officer. There is to be a barbecue t omorrow, to which y o u w ill be invited ; t hen y ou must hunt one day, and fish a nother, and after that. but see, there i s t he house." The

  
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13

T h e stranger h a l t e d     " I really cannot intrude " " I ntrude, my dear sir! why, young g entleman, you were certainly not raised i n V i r g i n i a , o r you would have learned t hat one gentleman can never be considered as an intruder i n the house o f another, especially one who brings so g ood a l etter of introduction as yourself." " P ardon, me, sir, I have no c redentials." such

" O h yes, you have   yes, y o u have," r eturned t he planter, laughing at his o wn wit, and bowing to his companion ; " as a late writer hath i t , a g ood a ppearance is the best l etter of introduction; a nd y our modesty, y o u n g sir, is an i n dorsement which gives it double value. C ome along, I ' l l be answerable for your w elcome." " B u t I am a total stranger." " T r u e , and so you w i l l r emain u ntil y ou are introduced; then y o u w i l l be so n o longer." " But

  
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" B u t i t is so awkward to go to a gentleman's h ouse j ust at n ightfall, as i f b egging for a night's lodging." " T h e very best h our i n the world, for t hen y ou are sure to catch the gentleman at h ome, a nd at leisure to entertain you. V i r g i n i a , m y dear," continued he, calling t o the y o u n g lady, who r ode a f ew paces before t hem, " w i l l y ou not j o i n me i n a g uarantee that this y o u n g gentleman s hall be w elcome at W a l n u t - H i l l ? " " W i t h g reat pleasure, i f it were necessary," replied the l a d y ; " but your i ntroduction, m y dear uncle, w ill be a l l sufficient." T h e stranger, who began to\ suspect t he t ruth, a nd saw that he could not, w ithout r udeness, decline the proffered k indness of his hospitable guide, now s ubmitted, a nd the party entered a long l ane which led to the mansion. O n e ither s ide were large fields of corn and t obacco, l ately planted, and exhibiting t he distinctive characteristics of V i r g i n i a a griculture;

  
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a griculture; t he scale was extensive, but t he manner of cultivation rude. T h e s pacious domain, spreading for more t han a m ile on either hand, was covered w ith f lourishing crops, which attested t he f ertility o f the s o i l ; a nd the i m mense worm-fences surrounding the i n closures, and d i v i d i n g them into accurate parallelograms, were as substantial as they were unsightly. T h e corners a nd s kirts o f the fields, and every vacant s pot, were grown up w ith w eeds a nd b riars. S tumps of trees blackened w i t h f ire, a nd immense t all t runks, f rom which t he bark and smaller limbs had fallen, s howed that not many years had elapsed s ince the ground had been cleared ; but those sylvan remains b ecame f ewer and m ore decayed towards the mansion of t he owner, which was i n the centre of t he opening, as i f the occupant, after fixi n g h is dwelling, had been gradually c learing a way the forest from around i t i n e very direction. A n apple-orchard h ad

  
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had been planted so recently as to be n ow ready for bearing its first crop, and peach-trees were seen scattered in every d irection; w herever a kernel had fallen b y accident, and the y o u n g s hoot h ad escaped the plough, or outlived the n ipping o f the cattle, was a flourishing tree, p romising a l uxuriant harvest of this d elightful f ruit. T h e mansion stood on arising ground, o verlooking the whole plantation, and was c omposed o f a cluster of buildings, r ather i nartificially c onnected. A stone h ouse, w ith t wo rooms, had been first e rected; then a framed b u i l d i n g was a dded; and year after year, as the family i ncreased in wealth or numbers, subsequent additions had been made, consisti n g o f single apartments, all on the g round floor, e xcept t he original b u i l d ing, w hich contained an upper story    t he whole connected by piazzas, and b eing, i n fact, a number of separate, t hough contiguous, houses, inconveniently

  
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n iently a dapted for the residence of a s ingle f amily. T h e offices w ere scattered about in the rear of the main edifice     t h e kitchen, the ice-house, the smokehouse, being each a separate building. S till f urther back were the negro-cabins, a nd b eyond them the stables; so that, a ltogether, the place had more the appearance of a village than of the r esidence o f a single family. T h e aspect of t he whole was pleasing and respectable. H a d i t been surrounded by a w all a nd a d itch, i t would have borne no s mall r esemblance to some o f the earliest of those old castles in which the barons resided w ith t heir followers, in patriarchal s implicity. T h e out-buildings were so d isposed as not to intercept the view f rom the front of the mansion; and the l atter, b eing painted white, looked w ell i n s pite of its structure. A beautiful l awn s urrounded i t , set w ith f ine forest trees, the venerable and gigantic aboriginals o f the s o i l ; a nd on one side was a g arden,

  
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g arden, l aid o ut w i t h taste, and highly e mbellished w ith f lowers and ornamental p lants. A s soon as the party entered the lane, d roves o f y o u n g negroes r an out to g aze at them, h i d i n g behind the trees and fences, or peeping through the bushes; a nd t he worthy host began to exercise h is l ungs, i n speaking alternately to the n egro c hildren, to the blacks who were r eturning i n t roops f rom labour, and to his g uest. " G e t away, you y o u n g rogues! what are you peeping at ?   There's fine corn, s i r .     H e r e , y ou Cato, t ell Caesar to c ome t o m e .     T h a t corn has just been p lanted s ix w eeks.   Pompey, c ome a nd take these horses.   There's the best t obacco i n t his c o u n t r y .     L u k e , where's Peter a nd J o h n ?     P r i m u s , t ell A d a m to get some fresh water; and go y o u , F i n i s , a nd h elp h i m . V i r g i l , y o u dog, c ome o ut of that peach-tree. I ' l l take you and M i l t o n , a nd knock your heads together.     These

  
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    These plagues destroy all my f ruit, s ir, before i t is ripe.   Open that gate, M oses   help h i m , A a r o n . C ome here, C u p i d , a nd hold your y o u n g mistress's h orse.   Run, some o f y o u , and t ell V e nus t o get supper.   Come, sir, a l i g h t ; y ou are w elcome t o my house." T h e s tranger, who throughout t his s ingular c olloquy had found no opportunity t o address his host, had placed h imself b eside the y o u n g lady, to whom h e addressed his conversation d uring t he few minutes that preceded t heir a rrival at t he house, where he assisted her to d ismount; a nd the whole party were soon seated i n one of major Heyward's spacious piazzas. W a l n u t - H i l l was the seat of plenty a nd h ospitality ; and in a few minutes s ervants w ere dispatched in different d i rections i n pursuit c f refreshments. T h e w orthy p roprietor himself, in respect of h is age, and certain habits of reverence, t o which his whole household had been l ong

  
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l ong a ccustomed, received the f irst a ttention. H i s niece placed Ills g reat arm c hair, a l ittle n egro fetched his pipe, another b rought t obacco, a t hird f ire, a f ourth a glass of water, a fifth s lippers; a nd i n a few minutes he was comfortably seated, enjoying his accustomed l uxuries, w hile his guest retired to arrange his dress. O n t he r eturn o f the latter, he found h is host i n the same position in which he had left h i m ; and approaching h i m , s a i d     " I h ave perhaps been to blame in d elaying so long to announce my name a nd b usiness." " Y o u r name, m y y o u n g friend, I s hall b e glad to hear, whenever y o u p lease; as for your business, we w i l l t alk o f that when we get t ired o f every other s ubject." " I a m w ell a ware of your hospitality, a nd t hat towards either a friend or a s tranger, i t would be cheerfully exercised ; but neither of these characters can

  
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can be claimed by Lyttleton Fennimore." T h e old man started as he heard this n ame; a cloud passed over his features, a nd h is frame seemed agitated w i t h p ainful r ecollections. These feelings he endeavoured to suppress, as he r e p l i e d     " I h ad rather you had borne another n ame; but that is not your fault." H e t hen rose, extended his hand to h is g uest, and emphatically a d d e d     " M r . F ennimore, p ardon an old man, for not b eing able to forget, i n a moment, that w hich has been a subject of bitter reflection for years. T h e antipathies of parents should not be entailed on their c hildren. Y o u are cordially w elcome t o m y house   make i t your home, and c onsider me as your friend." T ea was soon a nnounced; and major H e y w a r d , as he introduced his guest to h is n iece, M iss P endleton, resumed his u sual c ourtesy of manner; but his gaiety h ad e ntirely forsaken h i m , and i m m e d i ately after this meal he retired to his a partment,

  
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a partment, l eaving the y o u n g p eople t o e ntertain each other. W e need hardly a dd, t hat, predisposed as the l atter w ere t o be pleased w ith each other, the eveni n g passed agreeably; and that when M r . F ennimore r etired, he could not but a cknowledge, that whatever might be t he character of the uncle, the niece was o ne of the most agreeable women that he had ever seen.

CHAP.

  
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C H A P . II.

O N t he following morning, Fennimore rose early, and sallied f orth, b ut found t hat he had been preceded by major H e y w a r d , w ho was bustling about, w ithout his hat or coat, in the sharp morning a ir, g i v i n g orders to his servants. T h e c loud o f the last evening had passed from h is b r o w     t h e reflections of his p illow h ad been salutary   and he now met his g uest, w i t h h is usual cheerfulness of c ountenance and kindness of m a n n e r .     " M r . Fennimore," said he, " I d i d not r eceive you, perhaps, as I o ught, and I ask your pardon. I m ust be frank w ith y ou, f or I c annot be otherwise. T h i n g s h ave passed between our families which I h ave

  
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I h ave not been able to forget. B u t the w ays o f Providence are always wise; it was necessary for m y peace t hat y o u s hould c ome here. I am too old to cherish an unsettled feud. L e t the past be b uried. W e are friends." " I k n o w so l ittle o f the particulars of t he affair to which you allude," replied F ennimore, " t hat 1 can say nothing, except that I desire to stand in no other relation t o major H e y w a r d than that of a f riend. I h ad not thought of i ntroducing t hat subject. M y business relates t o a pecuniary transaction " " W e l l , w e'll talk of that another time. A n y t ime w i l l do for business. W e can s ettle that in five minutes. There is to be a barbecue t o-day, M r . F e n n i m o r e ; w e are all g o i n g     y o u must go with us." I n v ain did F e n n i m o r e plead that his e ngagements r equired his attention elsewhere   that he had no time for parties o f p leasure   that he had no taste for such a musements, &c. " No

  
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" N o taste for a barbecue !" exclaimed m ajor H e y w a r d . " Y o u surprise me, M r . F e n n i m o r e ; no taste for a barbecue! W e l l , t hat shews you were not raised in V i r g i n i a . T i m e you should see a l ittle o f the world, sir ; there's nothing in life e qual t o a barbecue, properly managed     a g ood o ld V i r g i n i a b arbecue. Sir, I w ould n ot have you to miss it for the best horse on my plantation ! T a l k i n g o f horses," continued the cheerful old m an, " r eminds me that I can shew y o u a s ight worth seeing;" and without waiting for a reply, he led his guest to his stables, where the g rooms w ere feeding a nd r ubbing down a number of beautiful b looded animals. These were successively p araded, and the proud owner descanted upon the merits of each, w ith a v olubility that excluded every other subject, u ntil breakfast was announced. " H a s M r . Fennimore consented to j oin o ur party to-day?" inquired M iss VOL. i . c Pendleton,

  
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P endleton, after they w ere seated at the b reakfast-table. " C ertainly, m y dear," replied the maj o r ; " M r . Fennimore would be doing i njustice to us, and to himself, i f he did n ot improve such an opportunity of witnessing a festivity peculiar to our State. I a m sure he would not be deprived of i t u pon any consideration." " I c annot resist the temptation," said F ennimore, w ith a bow which M iss P e n dleton took to herself, while her uncle r eceived it as a tribute to his favourite a musement; and after a hasty meal, the p arties separated, to prepare for the excursion. T h e horses w ere soon at the door, and t he party proceeded, attended by several s ervants, to the place of meeting. It was a gay and beautiful morning. T h e y passed over a high mountainous ridge, b y a w i n d i n g and rugged path, which at some places seemed impracticable; b ut the horses, accustomed to these acclivities,

  
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c livities, s tepped cautiously from rock to r ock, or nimbly leaped the narrow ravines that crossed the road, while the r i ders scarcely suffered any inconvenience f rom the irregularities of the surface. S ometimes the path led along the e dge o f a precipice, and they paused, to look d own upon the broad-spread valleys, that l ay e xtended in beautiful landscape before t hem. T h e song of the m o c k i n g bird arrested their attention, as he sat a mong the branches of a t all t ree, pouring f orth his miscellaneous and voluble notes, i mitating s uccessfully all the songsters of the grove, and displaying a f u l l ness, strength, and richness of voice, w hich often astonishes even t hose w ho are accustomed to his melody. Upon r eaching t he highest elevation of the r idge, they wound along its level surface, b y a path w e l l beaten and beautifully s mooth, but so seldom travelled as t o be c overed w ith a g rowth of short grass. Its w i d t h was sufficient only to c2 a dmit

  
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a dmit t he passage of a single horseman, a nd i ts course so winding, that the foremost rider was often concealed from the v iew of the last of the t rain. D ense t hickets g rew on either hand, and the branches of the trees interlocking a bove t he riders' heads, formed a thick canopy, g i v i n g to this romantic path the appearance of a narrow serpentine archway, c arved w ith a rt out of the tangled forest. V i r g i n i a , w hen she reached this elevated p lain, seemed to feel as i f i n f airy l and, a nd, l oosening her r ein, b ounded away w ith t he lightness of a b ird, g racefully bending as she passed under the low boughs, g liding r ound the short angles, and leaping her beautiful steed over the l ogs t hat s ometimes lay in the way. Fennimore g alloped after, admiring her s kill, a nd e qually e lated by the i nspiring s cene; w hile m ajor H e y w a r d , who thought it u ndignified to ride out of a walk, at any t ime e xcept w hen following the hounds, f ollowed at his leisure, wondering at the l evity

  
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l evity o f the y o u n g people, which made t hem f orget t heir g entility, a nd ride l ike d ragoons or h ired messengers. S uddenly t he path seemed to end at t he b rink o f a t all c liff, and far below t hem t hey beheld the majestic Potomac, m eandering t hrough its deep v allies, a nd a pparently f orcing its way among piles o f mountains. T h e charms of mountain s cenery were enhanced by the endless v ariety o f the r ich a nd gorgeous, the p lacid a nd beautiful, the grand and t errific, t hat w ere here embraced in one view. A t one place the t all n aked rock rose in perpendicular c liffs to an immense height, t erminating i n bare s piral p eaks; at another, the rounded elevations were covered w ith p ines, cedars, and l aurel, a l ways i ndicating a s terile s oil a nd a cold e xposure. T h e mountain sides were c lothed w ith v erdure, i n all the intervals b etween the parapets of r o c k ; and the c lear streams of water that f ell f rom ledge t o ledge, enlivened the prospect. F a r c8 b elow,

  
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b elow, the r ich v alley spread out its broad b osom, s tudded w ith t he noblest trees of t he forest, the majestic tulip-tree, the e legant locust, the g u m , the sugar-maple, t he broad-spreading oak, and the h ickory. T h e numberless flowering trees were i n f ull b loom, and their o dours f illed t he air w ith a r ich p erfume. T h e r iver, w ith i ts clear blue waters, was f ull o f a ttraction, s ometimes dashing r ound r ocky points of the mountain, and s ometimes flowing calmly through the v a l l e y ; at one point placidly reposing i n a w ide basin, at another, rushing o ver a r ocky l edge w hitened w ith f oam. " H o w beautiful!" exclaimed V i r g i nia, as she reined up her horse, and g azed, w i t h a d elighted eye, o ver t he w ide-spread landscape. " H o w exquisitely beautiful!" r e-echoed Fennimore, as his admiring glance rested on the form of his lovely companion. H e r deer-like a nimal, s moking w ith h eat, and just sufficiently excited by

  
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b y exercise to bring every muscle into f ull a ction, to expand his nostrils and swell his v eins, h is fine neck arched, his head raised, h is d elicate ear thrown forward, and his c lear e ye s parkling, s tood on thevery e dge o f the cliff. T h e light figure of V i r g i n i a was rendered more graceful by an elegant riding-dress, closely fitted to her p erson, and extending below her f eet: she sat w ith t he ease o f a practised rider; b ut her chief a ttraction, at this moment, was the animated expression of her features; her bonnet was pushed back from her fine forehead, her eye lighted up w ith p leasure, her c heek flushed and d impled, her l ips u nclosed; and as she e xtended her whip in the direction i n d i cated by her glance, Fennimore realized t he most exquisite dreams, that his fancy h ad e ver formed, of female loveliness. S he turned towards her companion, as his expression of admiration met her ear, blushed deeply when she discovered t hat his impassioned glance was directed c4 t owards

  
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t owards herself, and then, w ith a l ittle dash of modest coquetry, which is quite n atural i n a pretty woman of eighteen, l aughed, and resumed her descriptions; b ut her tones s oftened, and her conversation, w ithout losing its sprightliness, a ssumed the richness and vividness of p oetry, from an involuntary consciousness that all the young and j oyous f eelings of her heart were responded in k i n dred emotions from that of her companion. I n a f ew minutes they were joined b y major H e y w a r d , and the whole party descended the mountain by a precipitous path, which led to a part of the v alley bordering on the Potomac. A r r i v e d at the place of rendezvous, a n ovel and enchanting scene was presented to the eye of our stranger. A level spot o n the shore of the river had been d ivested of all its bushes and trees, except a few large poplars, which were left for shade, whose h uge trunks had risen to

  
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t o a majestic height, while their spreadi n g branches interlocked, so as to form a c anopy impervious to the sunbeams. H a v i n g been the scene o f these festivities for many years, the ground was t rodden hard, and covered w ith a t hick s ward o f short grass. O n three sides t he forest was seen i n its native w i l d ness, tangled and luxuriant as it c ame f rom the hand of nature; on the other flowed the river. A t the back part of t he area was a fountain of l i m p i d w ater     the Virginians always c ongregate a round a c ool spring   issuing from the r ock, and f illing a l arge basin, which s erved as a wine-cooler, and in which a f ew trout, kept w ith g reat care, sported t heir g raceful forms. T h e company began to assemble at an e arly hour   a gay and miscellaneous assemblage, somewhat aristocratic, but b y no means exclusive: it was all of the class of freeholders, but included every v ariety o f that class: some w ere memc5 bers

  
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bers of ancient families, well educated, p olished and wealthy, proud of their b irth a nd of their estates, simple and h ospitable, though somewhat stately i n t heir m anners: some w ere decayed gentry, a l ittle p rouder t