Jennyauter-P—Wednesday 2 oclock P M-between 2 brothers——
This morning we cross'd the first mountain call'd first brother, & are in an inn between the first & second brother; the latter we are soon to ascend-The first m-n is 3½ miles over,- better road than we expected- but bad enough to tire the horses almost to death- We met & were overtaken by a number of people— We all walk'd the whole distance over- I did not stop at all to rest till I reach'd the top- I was then oblig'd to wait for some of them to overtake me, as I had outwalk'd them all. It is not a little fatiguing to walk up a long mountain I find—When we had nearly reach'd the foot of it, we heard some music in the valey below, & not one of us could imagine from what it proceeded; but soon found it was from the bells of a waggoner- He had twelve bells on the collars of his horses, (not sleigh bells) & they made a great variety of sounds which were really musical at a distance— We found at the tavern where we are now, or rather they came after us, a Mr Beach, & his wife who was confin'd nine days after she set out on her journey, with a little son-It is just a fortnight since she was confin'd, & this morning she ventur'd to set out on her journey again- They came from Morristown- N J- & are going to some part of the Ohio, much farther than we are going. Mrs B- appears to be a very pretty woman & quite a lady- Her father & mother, a sister & 3 little children, set out with them, but were oblig'd to leave them & go on, as soon as Mrs B was confin'd- I feel afraid she will catch her death, tho' every care is taken to render her journey safe & comfortable— She & babe are both very well now—
Fannitsburg- Penn- McAllen's Inn-Wednesday night- Nov- 6th-
We have over come 2 mountains to day- & are between the 2d & 3d brothers- We walked over it-I have walked about 8 miles to day & feel as much fatigued as I have almost ever been in my life- It was 4 long miles over- We met a number of waggons on it- but no other travellers- This is a very small but pretty place- The 3 first m-ns are very near each other- the 4th is 40 or 50 miles distant—They are higher than I expected, & make a formidable appearance- It has been very smoky all day- I am so tir'd I can neither think or write, so good night——
Thursday morn- We had a good nights rest, but I am so lame I can scarcely walk this morning- I have a mountain to walk over, notwithstanding— Mr W's horses grow so dull that he expects to be oblig'd to put up for a few days, & we are all almost discouraged—The weather looks stormy & where we shall get to or what we shall do, I cannot imagine—The Jacksons enquire about the road & the mountains &c &c., of every one they see, & get such different & contradictory answers from each one, that it perplexes & discourages us all- I wish they would be contented to wait patiently till time & experience inform them what they cannot find out any other way- Mr W says I have now an opporty to experience the truth of a text of scripture which says "all men are liars"- I found that out long ago- & this journey confirms the truth of it.