Travel diary: D. Stabler, 1823

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having gone on after the rain, gave notice and they gather'd to the meeting apparently with gladness, and left us I believe well satisfied. The committee requested the heads of families to meet at 8 ocloick, the request was promptly attended to, and as in the first so in this opportunity, we we were well satisfied, in being there, and in no other place in the world, could I have desired to be just then, they were advis'd and encouraged to build a meeting house and request a preparative meeting without delay; The Lot of ground is given by James Moore at whose house we lodgd, and where the meeting was held, of about 60 or 70 people he is brother to Moses Moore, who married W Canbys sister and a worthy couple, rather advance'd in years, has some very clever promising children, They have a Saw Mill and heaps upon heaps of elegant Logs already down, They think they will have the House up between harvest, and winter. _ One circumstance to notice in our mornings ride was passing or attempting to pass under a tree, blown down and broken off one end rested on its own, and the other on another stump.

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it was more than 12 inches thro, and so shiver'd in the fall, that when the carriage top struck it, it shook over our heads. G Wilson and ourselves apprehended serious danger, we all alighted, and he very gently back'd the Carriage, and turn'd about to a house we had lately pass'd, the people assisted in cutting it out and we got on in good time for the meeting, but the road was extremely bad amoung the Grampion Hills, as they call them, tho the settlement of friends is call'd, Clearfield. It lies in Clearfield county, not far from the fine stream call'd Clearfield, which empties into the west branch of the Susquehanna, running thro the Hills, which they call the Grampion Hills _

9 of the M^o, 2^d day morning we left James Moors, with grateful and thankful feelings, turn'd our faces on Eastward course, well enough pleas'd to do so, came on to J Packers, about 8 miles; where we fed, took dinner and left the family with feelings much interested for their wellfare, of which they were fully sensible, and were much tended poor things, they with many others seem as if they were hungering for over the crumbs, which fall in abundance

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from our tables which are full and plenty, where the feet of the Gospel messengers, often tread, but leave no traces of their foosteps. _ or at least their labors are too seldom productive of fruits unto righteousness; we proceeded on our journey Eastward, on the sides of the road this afternoon we pass'd in riding 18 miles, 78 Springs of water running out of the upper sides of the road, many of which we tried as went up when the weather was warm & we thirsty, and found it cold and very pure. It was so cold after the rain that our cloaks and Shauls hardly kept us warm enough most of the day; in the morning after sunrise, the frost lay on the top of our Carriage, &c &c, as white as we often have in the 10 M^o _ At 6 oclock we arrived in Philipsburg, found a welcome reception, where we lodg'd going up; we had not taken off our Bonnets when two methodist preachers came in and enquird of our Men friends, whether we would not have a meeting in Town, before we took our seats, they were introduced to us. They took seats with us, and after a little introductory

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introductory conversation, made known their business. I soon let them know, I felt no engagement of mind to call the people together. One of them was spokesman and the subject, on rather an enlarg'd view, was left wholly to him and one. I earnestly endeavour'd to avoid argument, and to make as few words do, as I could, believing the Man sincerely desir'd to be correctly inform'd respecting our way, in waiting for a right qualification to minister in the ability which is freely given. In about an hour we were call'd to supper. By this time my head ack'd, and I was glad to be off. After Supper we return'd to our fireside, and he having been away return'd without the other, sat an hour longer, and was civil enough to converse on subjects less calculated to put my feelings to the test. He was call'd out, we suppos'd on business, and we saw neither of them anymore. We sat this evening by a Coal Fire, in sight of thousands of cords of wood standing and lying on the ground, also many cord cut, and were informd, that they prefer'd the coal

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deliver'd at Ceents P^r [per] bushel rather than to hire the cutting and hauling wood, tho' in such abundance all around the Valley. _ 10 of the M^o left Philipsburg and again cross'd the highest part of Allegany, the weather so cold as to require our Cloaks all day, had a fine view of two Deer. They were both in the road, untill they saw us we sat still in the Carriage, and look'd at one of them long enough for Edward to have shot it several times had he been there, with his Rifle. Our Horses moving a little gave it a Start and it soon left us and the road to ourselves. We also saw many of their footsteps imprinted in the sand beside the road, in the Gutters. Cousin Hannahs desire was now to see a Fawn, but in this, both desire and expectation faild. _ At about 4 oclock, we reach'd the plentiful and hospitable abode of our kind friends W^m & Sarah Fisher, in Bald Eagle Vally, and expect to have a meet^g with friends here, tomorrow. Within the last 4 miles G W^s horse took fright at two large Stumps turnd up at the lower side of