My companion was a whole-souled fellow, and we really enjoyed this scene of desolation. All at once I fell into a reverie. What is life in nine cases out of ten, but what is here so clearly illustrated? Youth starts out into the world with fine and flattering expectations. The road for a few years is balmy and pleasant, but he soon finds that many of his prospects, like the pine trees, are stunted, and that gold does not grow on bushes by the roadside. In climbing the hill, he not only drags his own weary limbs along, but often has to push others ahead, and after all this fatigue, when at the top, what does he see but a dreary waste of barren rocks?
All three of us now being sufficiently rested, we bipeds got into the chaise and concluded that as we had pushed the old horse up hill, it was no more than fair that he should drag us down. We began to descend, and very soon lost sight of land. Here we were now on a sea of rocks, of every species, reaching quite round to the horizon. The road led to a deep valley. After riding an hour, we saw in the distance a green spot, when on a nearer approach discovered a house and barn near by, surrounded by some well cultivated land, and when within a quarterof a mile of it, I got out, went over to make enquiry of the people in what direction Athens lay.
I jumped over the fence and saw a good looking old man in the barn yard, whom I saluted. " How do you do, sir? will you have the kindness to direct me the road to Athens?" " Why, sir, you are in Athens now!n "Do you call this Athens?" " Yes, sir, this is Athens." I went back a short distance, waved my hat to iny friend in the chaise, when the former kindly offered to pilot him in. I had not yet made known my business to him, but as we were now all together, told hi in that we had come here to hunt up two tracts of land, having the deeds with us, and asked him if he could direct us to any one that could point out the lots to us.
" Oh, yes, sir, I am the register of deeds and commissioner for Athens. If you will show me your deeds 1 can inform you of their location. Gentlemen, walk into the house, and I will take care of your horse." We entered and he introduced us to his wife, a fine, healthy, lady-like looking woman, and a family of six rosy, chubbylooking children the very picture of health. The lady was extremely kind, and immediately made preparation to get us some refreshment. In a few minutes a table was spread with an abundant supply of good things. After partaking of them, the old gentleman sat down with us, giving an entertaining account of the Eastern land speculation, relating many anecdotes of half-mad purchasers who came there with large, and well-drawn plans, having upon them broad and rapid rivers, excellent mill sites, with a gigantic growth of pine trees, none of which had ever been found, nor did they ever exist.
He knew about our lots, and said he could point them out if we would walk to a small hill a few rods from the house. When we had reached the summit with the plan in hand, he commenced with me. " You see that farthest ridge yonder? You observe there are two?" " Yes, it looks like a little streak along the horizon." " Yes; well your lot lies beyond that!" " Why, that is beyond sundown!" II Yes, 'tis a long way off, but there is a large swamp just this side, and it would be rather difficult to reach it now, the mosquitos are so thick they would devour a man in a few hours." " What kind of land is it?" BB " Well sir, it is rather stony, and there is some wood there, but there is no way to get it off." " What do you think it is worth?" " That is rather hard to say, for nobody wants it.
You might possibly get twenty-five cents an acre by giving a long credit." Having obtained all the information, and much more than I desired, about my lot, my companion wished his pointed out. " Oh, your lot lies just here; you have passed over a great part of it in coming here.". " What! all those rocks?" " Yes sir." We both burst into a hearty laugh. " Halloo, Ben," said I, " your fortune is made, sure. All you have to do is, to notify the King of Holland that you can supply him with granite for building his contemplated city on the grand bank. And now, you have the advantage over me, for you can walk over your ground, while I can't reach mine, without going* to it in a balloon.