rocks, in the western and central parts, is more than
compensated on the shore of Lake Champlain, in
the eastern part, by one view of the grand old
mountains in Vermont, lifting their heads high above
every surrounding object, and resting, in appearance,
against the sky beyond. At their base, the lake's
surface is spread out like a mirror, spotted with
244 PERSONAL SKETCHES
1
islands and vessels of varied size and form. Two of
these islands belonging to the town of Plattsburgh,
Valcour and Crabbe, are somewhat noted as being
near the scene of two naval battles, one during the
Revolution, the American forces being commanded
by Benedict Arnofd, and the other in the war of
1812. Near the former, the schooner " Koyal Sav
age " was sunk, and a part of it can still be seen,
and on the latter, the sailors and marines of both
fleets were buried in one common grave. History
informs us that this was one of the most brilliant
American victories ever achieved, resulting in the
almost entire British fleet falling into their hands,
and a retreat with a loss of one-fifth their whole
number, and large quantities of provisions, tents,
and amunition, with other equipages, and their sick
and wounded soldiery. The horrors of war can
never be delineated, any more than those of intem
perance. The latter has, probably, hurried to the
grave the most victims, and their deaths have been
as much more awful as the process has been more
lingering and torturous. That this bright and beau
tiful earth should be desolated with either, seems an
unnecessary evil, that poor, frail humanity voluntarily
endures. When our own country is threatened with a
civil war, and a dissolution of the Union, which was
secured with the blood of the heroes of '76, the hor
rors of war in its worst form, comes home to us
AND RECOLLECTIONS. 245
with an awful reality. What more revolting sight
could be imagined than to see a country who boasts
freedom, and the best form of government under the
sun, one half of it taking up arms against the other
half, and deluge a soil with fraternal blood, already
cursed with a system of wrongs and outrages, which
the veriest despot would blush to perpetrate on his
subjects.
Before my digression, I was trying to give you
an idea of the beauties of the scenery in the vicin
ity of Lake Champlain. A body of water, whether
large or small, when contrasted with the dark
O *
outlines of the surrounding land, especially of
highlands where the variegated surface is laid
out to the eye, several miles in extent each way?
is a beautiful sight, to an admirer of nature, for
such an one can find beauty in almost every
manifestation of the handiwork of the Creator.
Here, the most dull student can discover a loveliness ,
mingled with the majestic and sublime, impressing
the mind with the Infinite which withholds from no
part of his creation a portion of the facilities neces
sary to the advancement of the human race.
With all of its coarse and wild exterior, this part
of the Empire State, has many natural curiosities.
Xot the least of them is a remarkable gulf in the
extreme northern part, on the Canada line, in the
town of Moores, It is cut into the solid sandstone,
21*
246 PERSONAL SKETCHES.
a width of over two hundred feet, and perpendicu
lar to the distance of three hundred feet, down to
the bottom, or rather to the top of a pond of water,
which is said to be one hundred and fifty feet deep.
Unlike most other chasms of this description, there
is no running water or other visible agency that
could have produced it.
In the south, Saranac Falls, with their surround
ings, are objects of interest entirely above many
others which have been delineated in glowing colors
by descriptive pens, until a notoriety has been forced
upon them. " At the Saranac Falls, the river flows
through a narrow, torturous channel, bounded by
nearly perpendicular rocks for the space of a mile.
In its course its descent is very rapid, and at several
places it is precipitated down precipices of twenty
or thirty feet, and at last it plunges into a basin in a
perpendicular fall of sixty feet. The ragged rocks
^ upon the bottom and sides, and the abrupt angles in
the channel, cause the water to boil and seethe, and
struggle in the wildest commotion. In high water,
thousands of saw-logs float down the river, and in
their pasiage down the falls, they are pitched am
tossed upon the surges, or thrown into the air like
playthings." *
* New York State Gazeteer.
LETTER XXXII.
Correspondence of the Miles Family Letter First, Mrs. Kichardson
Second, Mrs. Lamon Third, Mrs. Waggoner Fourth, B. Miles
Fifth, J. Miles Sixth, P. Miles Seventh, Mrs. Blount Eighth,
B . S. Miles Ninth, Wm . Pitt Miles Tenth, 0. E. Miles Eleventh
Mrs. Lord.
MY DEAR F. :
For the closing letter of this unsystematic series,
I have been addressing you, I am going to take the
liberty, without permission, of extracting from some
correspondence of the Miles family, for the purpose
of answering your inquiries with regard to their
varied pursuits, localities, and characteristics. As
much of this information as you would expect to
get in one letter, will appear in their own language,
in the following extracts, of which it is but due to
the writers to say, that they were intended for my
eyes alone. I am not wholly sure of their forgive
ness for this trespass on their trust, but must de
pend on you to share with me their rebukes, if any
are given. Some writer has said, that in the letters
of any person can be traced their leading character-
248 PERSONAL SKETCHES
istics. This may be so ; at all events, they are plain
to be seen by one previously acquainted with the
writers. If they should not be interesting to any
but relatives, our very large circle is sufficient
apology, if any is needed, for inserting them.
Fox River Precinct, Aurora, P. O. III., \
December 26*A, 18 ]
DEAR E. Your letter was received in due time,
and read with no small degree of interest. I de
signed to have written yesterday, (Christmas), but
household labors prevented. I thought of old times
all day, and fancied that I could see you, with the
rest of our family, as in times past, going in and
out of the different apartments of our " old home."
Mother in the kitchen, warming her mince and apple
pies, and taking the turkey out of the oven ; Susan's
children and mine, with an apple in their hands ;
the pitcher of cider on the hearth, "just to take the
chill off ; Pitt and Oren exhibiting their periodicals ;
father, with his plain wardrobe, and silver-bowed
glasses on, with a book in his hand. No doubt we
have all met around the social fireside for the last
time ; we have already become the residents of
several different States. Here I am on one of the
extensive natural meadows in Illinois, which Mr.
Willet describes in his Geography, and I used to
study about in school. This morning was very clear
and cold ; in the west, south-west, and south points
of compass, I could see thirty or forty miles ; 1 have
never seen the atmosphere in such a state before.
Some places were broad prairies, with small lines of
timber, others, large pieces of woodland, interspersed
with spots of prairie. There being snow on the
AND RECOLLECTIONS. 249
ground, the distinction was very visible. After
breakfast, Russell and I took some lengthy views ;
the timbers in some places resembled flocks of wild
geese. There is very little variety here in the face
of the country, but as you go farther west, it is said
to be more rolling ; Shabona's Grove is about
twenty-five miles west of here. You can have but
a small idea how great the emigration is to this part
of the country ; and it is said that two-thirds of the
passengers stop at Milwaukie. This place is called
an old part of the country ; it has been settled about
eleven years ; you can tell the oldest farms by the
size of the shade and fruit trees.
S. sits by my side reading the President's message
that brother Pliny sent us a few days since, from
Georgetown, D. C. I do not much expect to ever
see him again, but I feel a great interest in- his wel
fare. The first time he visited me, after our arrival
in this new country, he had just returned from the
Falls of St. Anthony, where he had purchased an
Indian pipe for one dollar, and gave it to S. It was
made of the red pipe-stone, the stem as large and
long as an umbrella staff. The Indians of that place
smoke willow-bark, or " Kinekinink." ....
In my opinion the children that are now coming
on to the stage, will become, many of them, the
residents of Oregon, and will carry the glad tidings
of the gospel to that infant State, and by that time
the news of salvation will have have been preached
to every ether portion of the earth. According to
Revelation, 20th chapter, the resurrection of the
saints will take place at the end of time, as it now is,
and then, after that, appears the season of the thou
sand years, and still later, the resurrection of the
wicked ; for, previous to this is said, " Blessed and
holy is he, who hath part in the first resurrection ;
250 PERSONAL SKETCHES
on such, the second death hath no power." But
stop, this does not correspond with the sentiments of
Universalists. Read your Bible carefully, and pray
erfully, and I think you will see that all mankind
will not die the death of the righteous. No doubt
all mean to be saved, but recollect some will try to
" climb up some other way." Holiness of heart is
what is demanded, and living without the love of
sin at all, " crucifying the old man," &c. Now,
sister, this is a very important subject ; let us not be
attached to any " isms," but preach the gospel in its
purity ; it is said, " woe to him who preaches any
other gospel than this." A person may be a Pres
byterian or Methodist, and not have one spark of
vital piety. I do not think they are all perfect who
belong to my church.
It is of but little use to hold protracted corres
pondence on the subject of religion, our views are
so different ; but one thing I think you are behind
the times about, and that is, the Presbyterian creed ;
the one you speak of, is of quite an ancient date.
There is, once in a while, one of the old school ; on
some points, if I am not mistaken, the one you speak
of is not subscribed to, of late. If a person is a
Christian, it is sufficient ; though it appears that we
are warned of " a sandy foundation," and as long
as I say anything all all, I must warn all alike to
" stand on the rock."
Affectionately, &c.
MARY EICHARDSON.
Pinckney, Lewis Co., N. Y., \
May 16th 184 )
DEAR SISTER E. I have been writing some letters
to-day, to others, and thought I would address a
short one to you, inasmuch as we have both changed
AND RECOLLECTIONS. 251
localities. You will be surprised to hear that we
have left Watertown, for awhile, to test the realities
of a rural home, in this retired place ; but you will
see when you come here, that it is not so bad a place
after all. I have enjoyed life well, here, better than
ever before, since Francis retired from business.
Here, on the farm is plenty of good wholesome air,
and employment enough to keep us all out of mis
chief, which is far better than listless indolence, and
you know " variety is the spice of life." Here, my
little boys can have a freedom they never enjoyed
before, and I am not continually in anxiety, fearing
they have fallen into Black River, should they for a
moment be from my sight. A spacious yard and
play-grounds free from dust, and the noisy rattle of
wheels, and the shouting of cartmen, is a delightful
change for little folks. We do not think of staying
here more than a year or two. F. has bought a
small farm of Dr. Goodale, on the State road, oppo
site Mr. Andrew's ; and intends building there for
a permanent home ; but it is all uncertain, one year
can bring about great changes, and it may never be
accomplished. Life is so uncertain that it seems
but folly to lay plans for the far-off future. The
present is all that we are sure of, and the future but
a dream, very often never realized. I have learned
to make the best of life as it is, and await time's
changes for the revealment of that which is to be.
The ill health, and rapid decline of our mother, is
now my greatest trouble. She has become too weak
to raise herself from her chair, without assistance,
and I think we should be prepared for the greatest
trial we have ever endured, for I am fully satisfied
that her time here is very short. She has the kind
est of care and attention, though her sufferings are
great, from the nature of her disease. How truly
252 PERSONAL SKETCHES
thankful we ought to feel that she is blessed with
everything that can contribute to her comfort in her
last days ; for if ever children had the watchful care
of guardian angels, such a guardian has our mother
been to all of us.
Watertown, November 28^, 1852.
" This is to inform you of our safe arrival home,
from our journey east. The day we left you at
Brasher Station we arrived at Ogden^burgh about
noon where the new and elegant steamer " New
York," was in readiness to convey passengers up
the river. We left that place about two o'clock and
arrived at Cape Vincent at seven P. M. Here we
were obliged to stay over night, for the cars had
been gone an hour. A short ride of an hour and a
half, the next morning at half past four o'clock, took
us home to breakfast. All were well and glad
enough to see ma. Our father enjoyed the trip very
much ; he said it was worth a thousand dollars to
him. We passed through Vermont, Massachusetts,
Connecticut and New Hampshire, and visited many
places in this State, entirely new to us. I found
the beauty of the scenery among the " Thousand
Islands," on the St. Lawrence, had not been exag
gerated by you, nor the various writers who have
attempted to describe it. Their variety of size and
shape, with the thick mantle of evergreen foliage,
and their great number, give them the interesting
appearance we have read so much about.
Two items of news and I will close. Brother
Pliny has written home that he intended to sail for
America the first of this month ; I think he must
be in New York now. Are you not rejoiced ?
The old school house where you and 1 graduated,
was burned last week ; " peace to its ashes."
AND RECOLLECTIONS. 253
May 3cZ, 1854.
I will not detail to you every affliction I have suf
fered the last six months in the form of sickness,
it is not only unpleasant to me, but it would do you
no good ; besides you have heard from me quite often
by way of R., and our other friends in this place.
I will simply say, that I am some better than I was
a month ago ; am about my house, but not able to
do much. I have suffered intensely, this Spring,
with that weak feeling through my chest and lungs,
the same as when you were here six years ago, only
much worse. It is impossible for any person, enjoy
ing the good health that you do, to have any correct
idea of the sufferings of a weak, nervous person ;
indeed, it can't be, told. You will be surprised
when I tell you that I have submitted to the medical
treatment of your old friend, Dr. S. He has been
through with a course of studies at a medical insti
tute in Cincinnati, and says he feels competent to
treat diseases of all forms ; he is also an operative
surgeon. Mr. H. knowing that I was very feeble,
came here with him about two weeks ago, and was
very anxious that we should employ him ; being
quite sure that the old school physicians were not
S)ing to help me ; we concluded to let him try. Mr.
. thinks very much of his skill and intellect, if he
should cure me, of course I should, too.
I hope it will be convenient for you to visit us
this Spring or Summer, for I hardly know how to
wait till your rail-road is done, before I see you, and
you would not expect me to visit you in my state of
health. I went down to New York last Fall ; met
E. and P. there, had a good visit with them, and
should have enjoyed the journey extremely, if my
health had been a little better.
How is M., and that little namesake, of ours ? I
almost imagine that I can see those blue eyes of his
22
254 PERSONAL SKETCHES
/
looking over your shoulder ; don't know but we
shall conclude to give him the Pinckney farm instead
of the homestead, for his name, you know pa gave
us our choice."
June ls, 1854.
" You know there has been some effort made to
f3t our scattered family all together, here, next
all. Father wishes me to say to you that Mary
cannot come, consequently there will be no further
exertion made, at present, to bring about that very
desirable object ; for, he says he does not wish to
make the trial and have one fail of coming, for the
chain will then be broken, and the interest of the
occasion marred. If you can come this month, we
all hope you will do so, at this delightful time of
year, without any reference to what has been written
you before, of waiting until September.
Dr. S. has just been here and thinks he is certain
ly curing me, and I have a little hope that he is, for
I am much better than when he commenced pre
scribing for me.
August 15th, 1854.
My health is no better than when you were here,
and not much prospect of improvement. My arm and
hand, on the side of the cancerous humor, are
swollen, and, on the whole, I am very feeble. I have
been out to-day, attended church this afternoon.
Have not seen Dr. S. in four weeks, but when he
left, he said he should return in a week or ten days.
I rather think he has exhausted all of his skill in
my case, or else he thinks I am not worth saving ;
it matters not with me, which."
As ever, your affectionate sister,
SUSAN LAMON.*
* Died, October 22d, 1854.
AND RECOLLECTIONS. 255
Middletown, Conn., July 30, 1854.
MY DEAR SISTER : As I have not written you
since our removal to this State, I thought I would
take this opportunity, knowing you would be pleased
to hear how we like our new location. We are in
good health and much pleased with Middletown ! It
is a very delightful place, and is called the " Forest
city " of New England. It is generally healthy,
but there have been a few cases of the Cholera here
this season. As I have not yet been over the city,
I cannot give you any interesting descriptions of the
numerous attractions of the place.
You say we have not met in five years. That is
very true, but I made the last visit, and thought if
I waited long enough, I should see you at my own
home. For a long time I have desired to visit Jef
ferson and St. Lawrence Co.'s, but a variety of cir
cumstances have occurred to interrupt my arrange
ments. P. and I undertook to get together our long
scattered family, and for awhile there seemed a pros
pect of success, and it was not till about the middle
of June, that I received letters from different mem
bers of the family at the West, saying they could
not meet us this year, but were in hopes they could
next. About this time, my husband concluded to
go to Philadelphia in September to attend the Uni
ted States Convention of Universalists, and wished
me to go with him, so I concluded to defer the visit
and go to the Convention. In view of the rapid de
cline of our sister Susan, I now very much doubt
our ever all meeting again in this world. I never
expect to see her again, though circumstances may
change the gloomy prospect.
256 PERSONAL SKETCHES
North Adams, 3fass., Dec. 5iA, 1858.
Enclosed you will find my likeness, which is as
good as I could get at three sittings. Hope it will
be satisfactory, and you will succeed in getting up
the family picture, and I should like to see it after
it is completed . . . We have now resided here
nearly three years without having received a visit
from one of our friends abroad in all that time.
My last visit home, was such an event in my life,
that it does not seem as if it could happen again
very soon, though I hope it will, without so long an
interval next time. . . . Imogene has just re
ceived an invitation to go to Thomastown, Georgia,
to teach school, at a salary of $450 a year, with two
months vacation. We are quite undecided, whether
to have her go or not. She would like to go if it
were not for the voyage. . . Our Society is pre
paring for a Sabbath School exhibition, which is to
take place on Christmas eve. Mr. W. and the chil
dren are all gone to a rehearsal this evening, so that
I am quite alone.
Many things I wished to hear about, you did not
mention in your letter, for instance, after riding
away from your home ninety miles in your carriage
with you, I expected you would say something about
your return alone, whether the journey was per
formed safely or not ? and how is the book busi
ness ? Has Marion's paper doll bride a presentable
appearance yet ? please answer all these questions
and many more unasked ones as you will. Yes, one
more, certain. How do you and Mrs. Sandford get
along with your little Sunday School ?
Your affectionate sister,
EMILY W. WAGGONER.
AND RECOLLECTIONS. 257
Hartford, Van Buren Co., Mich.,
April 12th, 1856.
DEAR SISTER : Your letter of March 29th,
was received last Thursday, probably not quite so
soon as it would have been, if it had been directed
to Lawrence. Letters directed to Hartford, gener
ally stop at Paw Paw, fourteen miles east of here,
but sometimes they go west before they stop into
Berier County. I have travelled to almost all parts
of the State since I have been here, in search of my
mail, and have done nearly all of my travelling on
foot. I have been to Kalamazoo, Battle Creek,
Marshall, St. Joseph's, Niles and Mishawaka, and a
hundred times or less to Paw Paw. Now for your
first question, " What kind of a place is that you
live in ? " We live in the north-east part of Town
3, south range, 16 West, (called Hartford) on the
north banks of the Paw Paw river, in a small open
ing of between four and five acres, in a triangular
form, with a good stake and rail fence on two sides,
and the river on the other ; the land here is quite
high and the river rapid.
Our shanty stands about twelve feet from the edge
of the bank, which descends nearly perpendicular a
distance of thirty feet to the water. The country
about here, say commencing five miles east and
about the same south and west, to the lake, and
thence north as far as you please, is a dense and al
most unbroken forest of heavy timber, consisting of
beech, maple, ash, oak, bass-wood, white-wood,
black-walnut, hickory, butter-nut, cherry, and occa
sionally large tracts of pine and hemlock, and some
tamarac, and all varieties of elm; and interspersed
all through the country, there is more or less pep-
perage, sassafras, hack-berry, box-wood, iron-wood,
sycamore, poplar, Paw Paw, and Wahoo, and Lo-
*22
258 PERSONAL SKETCHES
cust of different kinds, and also some Buckeye, &c.,
&c. The soil is generally good, and the country is,
I think, generally more healthy than the northern
part of New York State. The country is here sub
ject to the ague and ever, and 'other bilious com
plaints, but the consumption is very rare. The bil
ious complaints which are common in the country,
do not attack every one who comes into the coun
try ; much depends upon the constitution of the per
son, their habits, location, &c. If a person is not
predisposed to bilious affections, and locates where
there is good water, and not near any dead marsh,
and stays generally at home in the warm season,
they will be likely to escape unharmed. Many who
came here about the same time we did, among them
all the little ones, and many. others that I could men
tion, have never had it.
As to the business of farming, I think I can say
safely that it is a good farming country. We have
every variety of land in this State. In coming
through the country from Detroit to this place, you
will see much poor land, and some first rate. The
light timbered, white oak barrens you would pro
bably not like. The soil of that variety of land is
generally a white sand, which appears to a stranger
perfectly barren, and is, in fact, much less productive
than the burr oak plains, the prairie, or heavy tim
bered land, but is easier cultivated than either.
Bethiah is now asleep, and the blue eyed baby is
playing with the kitten. When she awakes, she will
projbably finish writing this sheet.
Yours, &c.
FABIUS MILES.
AND RECOLLECTIONS. 259
^ April 12^,18-
DEAR E. We were exceedingly glad to receive
your letter, and it is with pleasure I reply ; it was so