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 3-1/2 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 M^r 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.
M^{rs} 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 M^{rs} 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--