. Ben Hardin; his times and contemporaries, with selections from his speeches. rt- « Henry Clay, by George D. Prentice, page 124. f Autobiography, page 178. ON HORSEBACK TO WASHINGTON. 67 unate for his career that it was thus interrupted so soon after it hadauspiciously begun. The vacation passed and Mr. Hardin again set out for Washingtonto attend the second session of the Fourteenth Congress. He hadconcluded to visit his birthplace in Pennsylvania, which did not requiremuch diversion from his direct route. Before starting from home hehad equipped himself with a good horse and saddle-bags, ca
. Ben Hardin; his times and contemporaries, with selections from his speeches. rt- « Henry Clay, by George D. Prentice, page 124. f Autobiography, page 178. ON HORSEBACK TO WASHINGTON. 67 unate for his career that it was thus interrupted so soon after it hadauspiciously begun. The vacation passed and Mr. Hardin again set out for Washingtonto attend the second session of the Fourteenth Congress. He hadconcluded to visit his birthplace in Pennsylvania, which did not requiremuch diversion from his direct route. Before starting from home hehad equipped himself with a good horse and saddle-bags, carrying inthe latter such wardrobe as the exigencies of society demanded of old-time Congressmen. The journey was a long one, and, as it proved inthis instance, a lonesome one. Much of his road was rough andthrough a wilderness where he esteemed himself fortunate in findinglodging places at nightfall. As he passed the Virginia line the countrywas better populated, and occasionally the tedium of his journey wasinterrupted by the company of a traveler going his way. One even-. Which is the Cheapest Tavern? ing, as his road was passing the eastern declivities of the Blue Ridge,he approached a town where he proposed to rest for the him he heard the sound of horses hoofs. In a few minutesthree dapper-looking young gentlemen mounted on spirited horsesovertook him. From their dress, outfit, and manner he readily recog-nized them as belonging to the Virginia gentry. They exchanged thesalutations of the road, and Mr. Hardin discovered that they—as wascharacteristic of this class—were sprightly, good humored, and satisfied 68 BEN HARDIN. with themselves on all points. On the other hand the young men,from a certain air of careless awkwardness and the unpretentious char-acterof his trappings, set Mr. Hardin down as a country bumpkin. Butfew words passed before he discovered how he was esteemed by hisyoung companions, and he thereupon resolved to act the part attrib-uted to
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