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 
