The Wabash (Volume 1); Or, Adventures of an English Gentleman's Family in the Interior of America (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1855. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XL i THE WAGON. Our new equipage.--Its triumphs and pleasures.--Highway robbers.--Baiting.--The Cholera House.--Long's House.-- An American woman.--Mount Meridian.--The National Road. --Mr. Townsend.--Evening fancies.--Records of children.-- Dr. Ushaw's.--A land-jobber.--Van Buren. -- Premonitory symptoms. I Had hired Morrison, us the man who had helped me to purchase my horses and wagon was called, to convey our luggage with his own two horses and wagon from Indianapolis to Vandalia. A heavy load it was for his miserable cattle; and as he started with it from the door of Wright's House, I doubted whether they would be able to accomplish what he had undertaken: but he was to hire additional horses if necessary. Carpet-bags and such light articles, were thrown into the bottom of our own wagon; as we thought that they would make convenient seats for the children. The body of the vehicle was then filled half way up with hay and straw, that they might less feel the shaking and the jolting. The cages of the parrot and of the canary birds were tied to the hoops, on which the canvas awning was stretched, overhead: and, amid much fun and laughter, the children helped, lifted and tumbled one another into their places. My wife and I scrambled up to the bench, which I had had made and swung across, on straps, under the awning in front. I handled my beautiful whip and shook the reins; and away our horses started at a good trot. The Indianapolitans looked after us admiring, and thought we had a most perfect turn out for the prairie and the backwoods. " How little," said my wife to me, as she pressed my arm, " how little happiness is dependent upon the external attributes of wealth or rank According to my earliest recollections of travel, I always rode on an elepha...