I watched her receding form as long as I could see her, for 1 was very sorry that she had left. From what she had said to me during a minute or two, I concluded that the old lady was suspicious that our friendship was be- coming too warm; and I thought then, and have always since thought, that something of that kind was the reason why her daughter left home. That was the last I ever saw of Nancy; who, in my opinion, was as fine a girl as Western Virginia contained.
After Nancy had gone, I went to the stone-quarry, in which I, with others, was engaged in preparing stone for building a very large house. Hands of all trades were also gathered there to finish the building.
Several days passed by before I understood why Nancy said to me, "You will not be long here." The very morn- ing on which my four months were up, I was lying on my bear-skin in the shavings, with my blanket thrown over my head to keep off the mosquitoes, when I felt it drawn off ray face, and presently down came a large bucket of cold water all over me. I bounded to my feet, and in- quired of the old lady what that was done for. She re- plied, because I should not be lying there till that time in the morning, and receiving high wages; and she said that she would do the same thing every time she caught me so late in bed; though at that time there was no one up but herself.
I said to her, "I have been at all times ready to do all in my power to keep you in a good humor; but you will never again have an opportunity of treating me thus; for I will never strike another stroke on your farm while
A HUNTER'S LIFE. 65
I live and keep my senses. For," I continued, "you must not think, because you have wealth, that I am your ser- vant. I am as free and as white as you are, madam; and I have done with you, and you with me, for life."
"That's just what I want," said she.
"And that you shall have," I replied;" though really I hate to please you so well. But it shall be done; and as soon as Mr. Caldwell returns I'll be off."
About twelve o'clock the old man came home, and I immediately called on him for a settlement; telling him that I could not stand Mrs. Caldwell's rough treatment. She complained to him that I had told her that I was as white and as free as she was.
"Well," said the old man, "that's all true, as he is free, and white too; and if you had let him alone he would not have meddled with you. He is the only one that I can send to do any business and depend on. You have sent Nancy away, and there are two of the best hands gone by your fault."
She left the room, and dinner was soon on the table. I had not eaten any breakfast, and being told to sit down I did so.
As soon as dinner was over, the old man got his money, and paid me all my wages in silver dollars. This was very pleasing to me, for it was ten times more than I had ever previously been the owner of.
After the money was transferred to my pocket, the old man said, "Browning, I wish you would remain with me, and I will pay you ten dollars a month as long as you please to stay. The land on the other side of the river will soon be in market, when I will show you all the choicest pieces; and if you should get a wife, you can have the best of the land, and live on venison and bear- meat, like I have done many times when I first settled in this bottom."
6* E
66 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF
To all this I replied, "Mr. Caldwell, your offer is very good; but, sir, I know your wife has been angry with me for the last month, and I do not wish to be in her way; for neither she nor I can have any enjoyment of our lives under such circumstances.''
We then shook hands in the most friendly manner, and I left Wheeling. That was my last interview with any of the family, of every member of which I was very fond, with the exception of the old lady. And, indeed, when I now think of the whole matter, if she thought what I be- lieve she did, I don't blame her at all; for I am sure there was nothing in the world to recommend such a shabby- looking boy as a match for her fine-looking daughter; I backed, too, as she was, by a wealthy father. But I have beeen informed that the old gentleman, by some mean? or other, subsequently became involved, and failed in busi- ness, and that Nancy married a man who managed badly, and became poor. Whether my information was correct or not, I cannot say; but on account of the respect I al- ways entertained for the family, I hope that it was not true. Her father was very wealthy when I knew him; and I am sure that I saw more silver in his possession than I have ever, either before or since, seen at one time.
A HUNTER'S LIFE. 67
CHAPTER III
Returns to his .Mother's—Is employed by Mr. Foot, at a dollar a clay, to shoot Squir-
rel in his corn-field — Shot nine days, killing hundreds—Goes to see his be- trothed, at "Blooming Rose" —Interesting meeting—Engagement, but to wait until older—Has a Hunt and Trout-fishing with Uncle Spurgin—Good success—Meets Mary at uncle's—Accompanies her nearly home, with a dozen fine Trout, and Venison—Fear of her father–Removed near the McMullen's—Goes hunting, and kills a Panther measuring eleven feet three inches—Marries Mary at eighteen, in the year 1799—Roughly treated by her father—Actually turned out of doors—Mary's noble conduct and Christian spirit—Affecting incidents— Poverty in setting out in life—Succeeds in shooting a wild Turkey and trapping a Bear; their first meat.
HAVING bid good-bye to Wheeling, I traveled to my mother's the same night; and meeting with my uncle, he told me that Mr. Foot, the gentleman who had introduced me to my grandfather, had offered a dollar a day to any good gunner who would shoot the squirrels that were de- stroying his corn. So we agreed that we should both go together, and have fine sport, besides being paid for our services.
The next day we started off to the corn-field before day- light, and as soon as we could see, found ourselves sur- rounded by the greatest number of squirrels I ever saw. which were running by hundreds in all directions. At them we went, shooting sometimes half a dozen on one tree. My partner would place himself on one side while I would take the other; and between us, we killed and took home so many squirrels that Mr. Foot would have no more brought to the house. We went home every night, the distance not being more than a mile. We car- ried away as many as we wished; but after two or three
68 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF
days we left them lay where we shot them; and I think it was on the fifth day that uncle left me to manage the balance. I continued shooting for nine and a half days, till I could see but one more squirrel, and that was a black one.
When I had completely exterminated the squirrels, Mr. Foot paid me nine silver dollars, which I added to my stock, and thought I was quite well off. Still further to help me, my step-father and my mother had bought me a complete new suit of clothes; but I had to work for the tailor who made them.
I went to work at my new job heart and hand; and when I was through I began to think of the "Blooming Rose" again, and Mary McMullen. I labored on, how- ever, till at length I proposed to mother that I should go and see my old friends; to which she agreed, on condition that I would promise to return to her again; which I did in the most positive terms.
In a week or two I was ready, and set off for Allegany County again. Two days subsequently I was at my uncle James Spurgin's, in Monongahela County, in a very dif- ferent situation from what I was in when I left there the previous January, though I had only been gone about seven months. I showed them my clothes, besides from twenty to thirty dollars in silver, which I had in my pocket, and described all that I had seen. I told uncle how near I had been to getting in a scrape by breaking the mule's shoulder, and also how I remembered his advice, and had made up my mind, if the question had been asked, to tell the whole truth, and see what it would do for me.
"Well, Meshach," said he, "if Mr. Caldwell is the man you represent him to be, he would not have made you pay one penny for it; and on the other hand, if he had dis- covered that you did break the mule's leg, and that you had tried to clear yourself from blame by telling a lie, he