SETTLEMENT IN THE WEST 189 



sented an imposing appearance; the foliage was heavy and 

 luxuriant; the soil of the foot-hills appeared fertile, but the 

 crops were inferior. 



We were awakened early in the morning so as to begin 

 our journey in good season, and having had a heavy storm 

 during the night we expected to find the roads very bad, but to 

 our delight they were none the worse for the rain. Journeying 

 most of the way through woods, we came to Shipensburg and 

 breakfasted ; this village had only one long street, and pre- 

 sented an appearance far from pleasing. A lady with her sock 

 [knitting work] proved a great talker and asked us many ques- 

 tions. This village was intersected by a creek, called the Mid- 

 dlespring. We next came to Chambersburg, ten miles away, 

 and there rested and purchased tickets for continuing our jour- 

 ney. That village lies in a valley, and is composed of two 

 squares containing a post office, an academy, a factory, mar- 

 ket place and tavern. 



When the stage was at last made ready for its journey 

 we took our places in it, but no sooner was the village left be- 

 hind than we encountered very rough roads, which for a time 

 caused great discomfort ; our feelings were expressed by all the 

 passengers, but at length we reached a tavern named "Cable 

 Roussed," where our horses were changed. We next stopped 

 at the "John Campbell" tavern, and saw many drunkards 

 about ; then at "Peter White's," almost at the foot of the moun- 

 tains, where we were each treated to a glass of excellent fresh 

 milk. Still going on and approaching the mountains, the roads 

 became so excessively rough that Audubon and myself decided 

 to proceed on foot. Though this was a three-mile climb, we 

 managed to cover it in three and a half hours. So bad in 

 truth was the road that it seemed well nigh impossible for any 

 vehicle to ascend the mountain ; the stage did go up, however, 

 and reached the summit soon after us. On the heights of the 

 mountain was a small tavern where refreshments were served, 

 and while partaking of a light lunch there we were waited on 

 by a couple named Currie, and James, their hired man. While 

 we were refreshing ourselves, our host told harrowing tales of 



