Travel diary: D. Stabler, 1823

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believing they are as certainly in their proper allotments, as any of these people can be in theirs. _

13^th of the M^o. We left our friends, came thro' Bellfont which takes its name from one of the larest springs I ever saw, a fine fountain indeed. The water is rais'd, in the same manner that it is in Philadelphia, and waters the whole Town. We now left our long tried turnpike road never expecting to see it again, and bent our course toward Centre meeting, in half moon Valley, and a fertile Valley it is, abounding with Sugar Maples Black Walnut, Hickory and Luxuriant Crops of grain and grass. We have come 16 miles thro the heat, and have stopp'd short of the meeting house 2 miles, at the House of a worthy friend Thomas Moore, another brother of Moses Moore's, where James Moore had come before us, to attend their M^o meet^g. _ Last night there was a thunder Gust, and heavy fall of rain, between Bellfont and this place. _ Tomorrow, we expect to attend their M^o meeting. _

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14^th Attended M^o meet^g, and as it has been the experience of others in their travels, to find hard work, the pure Spring of Gospel ministry meeting with obstructions in the hearts of the people, goodly to look upon, as to the outward, it has been my lot to labor, I fear unsuccessfully; but consider it a favor to leave all in the divine hand, and have no sense of condemnation to rest upon me; there is still life among them, but if it does not increase, I greatly fear they will dwindle away, untill they will not have strength to hold a M^o meeting.

15^th of the M^o and first of the week. Tomorrow will be four weeks since we left our dear families and friends, walk'd from our lodgings, (George Wilsons by name), to meeting. A considerable number attended, friends and others, my was much more enlarg'd in communication, than yesterday, return'd to our lodgings dine'd, look leave of our kind friends, and set our for Dunnings

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Creek, with satisfactory evidence; that I have left nothing behind me, undone. We have pass'd thro half Moon Vally good improvements, and fine fertile fields on each side of us the Clover luxuriently growing. We could frequently see 3 or 4 fields at a time lying beautifully level. We next pass'd thro Warrier mark Valley, equally rich but less in width, the bald Eagle mountain on our right hand, again rode many hundrend yards on the banks of Juniata where stand more Iron Works, two we have pass'd in this afternoons ride* of 12 miles, to the House of Elisha Davis, living in Tuckahoe Vally, beside the Bald Eagl mountain. We have seen this evening a Stream issuing from the Allegany mountain, about 3 miles from its fountain, which works a saw mill within 80 or 100 yards of Elisha Davis's door, that sinks among a bed of rocks and is seen no more, but is supposed to have found its way into some of the larger Streams, several of them we have cross'd this evening, in our 12 miles ride

*ownd by J Gloniner and company

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we are now within 2 miles of Alleghany mountain - I omited to notice in its place, that when we were beside the sinking streams the rocks were more than 100 feet nearly perpendicular above our heads. _ Another good nights entertainment, and early breakfast, at Elisha Davis's prepar'd us for another days journey on the 16 of the Month. This days journey has been very fatiegueing very bad roads and hot weather; we have made only 24 miles in 10 1/2 hours, frequently in sight of the Allegany on our right hand and Bald Eagle on the left, cross'd Juniatta 3 times on bridges in Tuckahoe Valley, and pass'd thro a part of Franks Town Vally a fine Soil, white Clover often borderd the rough road and tall Timber overshadow'd both road and Clover. The White Pines in abundance, equal to almost any we have seen, also sugar Maple, Walnut &c., have pass'd several Saw Mills also Allegany Furnace in this days ride, Cross'd the Turnpike in sight of two coverd bridges, which leads from Lewis Town to Conomough where water Carriage begins, to Pittsburg &c. We have put up for the night, in Newry a

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Village of some note here. _ In this days ride we also saw many of the limestone Sinks, curious they are to us, and some very large Springs, one within a few feet of the road, where a plank bridge crossd a Gut, above the Spring that the friend informd us, was of such a depth, it was difficult to fathom or find a bottom _

17^th of the M^o _ In this days ride of about 22 miles, we saw several Springs which turn Mills just below them which rode past, traveld along side another branch of the Juniatta which Crossd on a bridge, had mountains to look at whenever we wishd, some beautiful views of the Alleghany, above, and the Cove mountain below us, stopp'd 2 or 3 hours, out of the heat and arrivd at T Penrose's about 5 oclock, a sweet resting place for the night _

4 day morn^g, 18^th of the M^o, waiting for meeting hour to come, have written to my children, and then sit down in the quiet; went to meeting, much the largest number of friends live