Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-02-19
Tie Girdle Of Fire.


are proverbially barren, being cover
led with immense forests Of pine, in
terspersed with cedar swamps' Du
ring the dry summer months, these
latter become parched to an exten
that is incredible, and the Academia
contagion Of a fre-brand, often wrap:
immense tracts Of country In flames
The rapidity with which the conna
grafton when once ki ndled, spread.
through these swamps can scarcely
be credited except BY those who
know how thoroughly tile moss and
twigs are dried up by the heat of al
August sun. Indeed, schrcely a spot
can Je pointed out im.New Jersey,
which has not, at one time or another,
been ravaged by conflagration. It
was but a few years since that an i'm
mense tract of these pine barrens
was on fire, and the citizens Of Phil
adelphia can recollect tile lurid ap-
pearanco of the sky at night, seen at
the distance of thirty Of even forty
miles from the scene Of the confEl-
ration. The legendary history Of
these wild counties is full of daring
deeds, and hair-breadth e eBcapcs which
have been witnessed during such
times of peril. One Of t4ese extIaor-
dinary stories it is our purpose to
relate. The period # OBJ tale dates
far back into the early history Of our
sister State, siien the tountry was
even more thinly settled than at
present. n
It was on a sunny morning in
midsummer, when a gay party was
assembled at the door of a neat h puse
in one oi the lower counties Of New
jersey. Foremost in the group
stood a tall, manly youth, W hose
frank countenance at once attra cted
the eye BY his 81 DC was bf fight
yotrng creature, apparently about
years of age, v hose golden
tresses we're fit type Of the 81 lnny
bequty of her countenaEce: bat now
her soft blue eyes were diihNl,h ears,
and she leaned on the shoulder ! Of
her mother, who was appard dntly
affected. The Dress Of the
daughter, and her attitude of ID lave
taking, told that she was.a lPride. 60
ing forth from the home Of Her child
hood, to enter ona new and untried
sphere Of life. The other members
Of the group were composed of her
father, her brothers and sisters, and
bridemeh and bridemaids-
"God bless yoq, my da tighter, and
have you in his holy keeping, said |
the father, as he gave her his last
embrace -"and now farewcllp'
The last kiss was given, the last /
parting word was said, The last long
ook was taken, and now the bridal
party was being whirled> through the /:
orest on one Of the sweetest morn
ngs Of the sweet month Of July.
1t was indeed lovely day. heir
way lay through an old road which
vas so rarely Travelled that it had
become overgrown with grass, among
which the thick dew drops, gllttering
n the morning sun, were scattered
ike jew els on monarch il mantle iii
Phe bird-sang merrily in the trees,
u skipped gaily from branch to
oranch, while the gentle signing of
he wind, and the occasional murmur
If brook crossing the road, added
% the exhilarating influences ofthei
nour. The travellers we're all young
md happy, and so they gradually
orgot the sadness of the parting
lour, and ere they ha traversed
many miles, the green ar cades of that
oyely old forest were ringing with
merry laughter. Suddenly, however,
he bride paused in her innocent
nirth, and, while a shade Of paleness
,verspread her cheek, called the at
,ention of her husband toa dark
,lack cloud, far off on the horizon,
md yet gloomier and denser Il ian the
darkest thunder cloud.
"The forest is on fre!'' was his IN
slant ejaculation; "think you not SO,
and he tu urned to his i
eyes but the wind IS not towards
is, and the fire must be miles from
,ur course. There is ne need for
llarm, Ensn,'' said he to the bride,
his sister.
but our road lies altogether
through the Forest she timidly re-