and ate my supper, and then retired to my pallet as hearty and well as I had been at any time during my stay previous. I may state too, that I slept soundly on that night. But when I awoke in the morning, I found one of my legs drawn up so much that the heel of my foot was almost touching my hip. I crawled up and out of bed as well as I could, my leg drawn up as I have described. What to do, I knew not. I crawled about and prepared me a little breakfast. After I ate my breakfast, with the use of a stick or sticks in my hands, I hopped over the three hundred yards that laid between me and the road. This journey, short as it seemed, consumed a good while in accomplishing. I then sat down by the road side, in order to wait until some person would pass by. And as good luck would have it, (Providence I should state,) two persons from the neighborhood in which my employers lived, came along. These men had been up at a place called Cattawissa, and were then on their way home. They alighted from their horses and examined my leg,but they could not tell what was the matter with it. They said it was very strange, the way that I was affected. They could not say what was best to do, it appeared like a very great risk to remain there in the wilderness by myself. I asked them if they would call upon some of my employers as soon as they should get home, and tell them of my situation, and that they should come and take me and the hogs home, as the hogs were already too fat. They promised me that they would do this the first thing after getting home. They were as good as their word, for in the course of three, four or five days at most, my employers arrived at my mansion. By the time they came, I had some little use of my leg, and was able to hobble about with more ease to myself. We gathered all the hogs together, having the same number as at first, less two. One of these had got its back broken by the falling of a limb of a tree. The other was quite a small one, and was killed and ate by travellers, (as we supposed,) for we found the entrails lying by the side of the road.

We then commenced our zigzag march on our return home, leaving our chesnut country, which exceeded any thing of the kind I had ever seen; for after a storm, I could have gathered, or rather scraped them up by double handsful-leaving my pavilion for the wolves to billet in as their reward for the fine growling music they afforded during my stay in the neighborhood. We had to move very slow on our march homewards, in consequence of our hogs being so very fat; we arrived at home, and all safe in the course of five or six days. Being now at home, I set about to doctor myself, and in a short time recovered the perfect use of my leg again. I have never undertook such a jaunt and job since, and I am quite sure that I shall never undertake another such again.

It is true, I was very happy in my lonely abode. Although very fond of a social life, yet there is something so exquisitely peaceful and happy in the true solitude of deep woods, that the soul becomes spell-bound, and lingers in leaving; especially,

"In that sweet season, when the mountain sun,
Prepares with joy his radiant course to run,
Led by the graces, and the dancing hours,
And wakes to life the various race of flowers;
Our eyes are ravished with the sylvan scene,
Embroidered hills-venerable groves in living green,
Such was the seat where courtly Horace sung,

And his bold harp immortal Maro strung,

Amid sequestered bowers near gliding streams,

Druids and Bards enjoy'd serenest dreams;

Even "lovely queens" forsake their "shining" courts,
"For rural scenes and healthful sylvan" sports."

CHAPTER XIX.

Having in the preceding chapter informed my readers of my return to Poplar Neck. I now state, that I continued to work at my trade (boot and shoe making) in

this neighborhood for about four years. A portion of this time I lived in the family of a son of James Lewis, and in the mean time took me a wife. I married a young woman of the name of Elizabeth Ettzel, who was the daughter of a Swiss farmer. This woman bore me two children whilst I remained in the neighborhood, Henry, born 28th of June, 1788, and Sarah, born 21st of July, 1790.

In the spring of 1791, I removed with my family to Wormellsdorff, then Berks county, Pa., and took charge (as foreman) of a boot and shoe shop, belonging to Conrad Stouch, to whom I was brother-in-law. Here I remained about a year. Then upon advisement I purchased a lot of ground, built me a house and commenced the Boot and Shoemaking business upon my own account. The people were better satisfied with my work, than they were with the work done by Stouch. This was the cause of my setting up the business for myself.

Although the revolutionary war was ended, and the benign blessings of peace were scattering themselves far and wide over the face of the country, yet with the end of the war, the patriotic spirit did not end-did not die. The young men of the infant Republic every where, were organizing themselves into volunteer military companies, with the patriotic and laudible desire of keeping securely that which had been gained at the expense of the blood and lives of so many of the patriotic brave— that had been gained by the father of his country, and his brave companions in arms in an eight year's war.

The young men of Wormellsdorff and adjoining country fired with the same undying spirit of true patriotism, organized themselves into a volunteer company, and chose me for their Captain. In 1793, if my memory serves me right, General Washington when President of the United States made a tour through the eastern part of Pennsylvania, passing through Reading, Lancaster, Harrisburgh, Carlisle, Chambersburgh, &c. After leaving Reading, he came to Wormellsdorff where

he stopped for the night. He arrived late in the evening, and put up at the public house of my brother-inlaw, Stouch. Hearing that Washington had arrived, I ran around and collected about thirty of my men and placed them under arms, each man having in accordance with my orders, provided himself with a powder-horn containing powder enough to fire fifteen or twenty rounds, as a salute to President Washington, First Father and Saviour of his country. By the time we were in readiness it was nearly dusk. I had a capital Drummer, but no Fifer, and I could not think of marching my men to salute the great and good Washington, without having music as it should be. I resolved, that I would play the Fife myself. I therefore sheathed my sword, appointed my First Lieutenant Captain, in part, and myself Fifer pro tem. I then placed myself by the side of my Drummer, on the right of my company.When matters were thus arranged, we marched up to Stouch's Hotel, then the quarters of President Washington, and drew up in line in front of the house. I then brought my men to an order, and as soon as President Washington appeared at the door of the Hotel, I quickly commanded my men to shoulder arms, and then ordered them to present arms. I then had to assist the Drummer (by playing the tune on the fife for him,) to beat the appropriate salute. It was common in those days, and I believe it is still done, when beating the salute, for the ensign or flag-bearer to wave the flag at certain rolls of the drum. By the time that the musical salute was ended, President Washington had gained a position on the steps in front of the door of the Hotel. He then asked for (or who was) the Captain of the company. I drew my sword, and stepped towards him and saluted him with the usual salute of the sword. I then stepped up to him and with my sword in one hand and my Fife in the other, observed to him as follows-Sir, I am both Captain and Fifer. I have a good Drummer sir, but no Fifer, and could not think of tendering military honors to you in a patched up or lame way, and concluded in