hat an all-bountiful Providence
has bestowed upon our happy country. He continued to talk upon this
subject, travelling over the whole ground as it were, until his
imagination glowed, and his soul became full to overflowing; and he
checked his horse, and I stopped mine also, and a stream of eloquence
burst forth from his aged lips, such as I have seldom listened to: it
came from the overflowing fountain of a pure and grateful heart. We
were alone in the wilderness, but as he proceeded, it seemed to me as
if the tall trees bent their tops to listen; that the mountain stream
laughed out joyfully as it bounded on like some living thing that the
fading flowers of autumn smiled, and sent forth fresher fragrance, as
if conscious that they would revive in spring; and even the sterile
rocks seemed to be endued with some mysterious influence. We were alone
in the wilderness, but all things told me that God was there. The
thought renewed my strength and courage. I had left my country, felt
somewhat like an outcast, believed that I had been neglected and lost
sight of. But I was now conscious that there was still one watchful Eye
over me; no matter whether I dwelt in the populous cities, or threaded
the pathless forest alone; no matter whether I stood in the high places
among men, or made my solitary lair in the untrodden wild, that Eye was
still upon me. My very soul leaped joyfully at the thought. I never
felt so grateful in all my life. I never loved my God so sincerely in
all my life. I felt that I still had a friend.

"When the old man finished, I found that my eyes were wet with tears. I
approached and pressed his hand, and thanked him, and says I, 'Now let
us take a drink.' I set him the example, and he followed it, and in a
style too that satisfied me, that if he had ever belonged to the
temperance society, he had either renounced membership, or obtained a
dispensation. Having liquored, we proceeded on our journey, keeping a
sharp lookout for mill-seats and plantations as we rode along.

"I left the worthy old man at Greenville, and sorry enough I was to
part with him, for he talked a great deal, and he seemed to know a
little about everything. He knew all about the history of the country;
was well acquainted with all the leading men; knew where all the good
lands lay in most of Western States.

"He was very cheerful and happy, though to all appearances very poor. I
thought that he would make a first-rate agent for takin