cxx 
LIFE OF WILSON. 
town before me, on an irregular plain, ornamented with a small 
white spire, and consisting of several parallel streets, crossed 
by some others; many of the houses built of brick; others of 
frame, neatly painted; but a great proportion wore a more 
humble and inferior appearance. The fields around looked 
clean and well fenced; gently undulating, but no hills in view. 
In a hollow between two of these parallel streets, ran a consi- 
derable brook, that, uniting with a larger a little below the 
town, drives several mills. A large quarry of excellent build- 
ing stone also attracted my notice as I entered the town. The 
main street was paved with large masses from this quarry, the 
foot path neat, and guarded by wooden posts. The numerous 
shops piled with goods, and the many well dressed females I 
passed in the streets; the sound of social industry, and the gay 
scenery of “ the busy haunts of men,” had a most exhilarating 
effect on my spirits, after being so long immured in the forest. 
My own appearance, I believe, was to many equally interest- 
ing; and the shopkeepers and other loungers interrogated me 
with their eyes as I passed, with symptoms of eager and inqui- 
sitive curiosity. After fixing my quarters, disposing of my 
arms, and burnishing myself a little, I walked out to have a 
more particular view of the place. 
“ This little metropolis of the western country is nearly as 
large as Lancaster in Pennsylvania. In the centre of the town 
is a public square, partly occupied by the court-house and mar- 
ket place, and distinguished by the additional ornament of the 
pillory and stocks. The former of these is so constructed as 
to serve well enough, if need be, occasionally for a gallows, 
which is not a bad thought; for as nothing contributes more to 
make hardened villains than the pillory, so nothing so eflfectu- 
ally rids society of them as the gallows; and every knave may 
here exclaim, 
“ My hane and antidote are both before me.” 
I peeped into the court-house as I passed, and though it was 
court day, I was struck with the appearance its interior exhi- 
