The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-08-09
From the Southern Christian 4drocdte.-
Rides about Camdcsa.-NO. A.
PAINT HILL.

order, amounts to trulSn. DuI IL Is hoh ~
generally understood, that in order to love our
country, we must begin by loving it in the segre-
gate g; loving it in the aggregate will follow IN
due course, and this love in the particular must
he preceded by quaintanceship. How can we
love Il ut which we do not know! Then in Or
der to love our whole country, we must first,
love the place where we live; in order to which
we should of course become familiar with its va
ried aspects. Neighbor Camdenian, do you de-
sire to love your country, or what Is the same,
your town, then get by heart her features, cspe-
cialiy, that exceedingly prominent one OF which
we have just been taking surprised and delight
ed cognisance, Paint Hill. Perhaps, you were
not aware she possessed any such feature: well
Il ride ola mile or two, in the direction will
point out, will give ocular demonstration of the
fact, and You will consider yourself we'll repaid,
for any time or trouble it may cost you, by the
pieaO in verify, The uiew, though in the vicinity
of Camden There is here, and everywhere n
view, aye many of them, to thuse who will Iut
open their eyes to see. Gods beautiful nature
is full of them, everywhere, but "'tis distance
lends cnchantment to the view," says the poet
I mean to make him Chime in with my idea }
| Yes if this view of Paint Hill were but abroad
on the tourists troddcn path, stcreotyped IN
guide books, rhapsodizod by travellers, then were
it worth while, employing ones purse and per-
illing ones limbs to got to it, but, because it Is
only pleasant ride Of 4 mile or So from your
own door, you'll spend whole lifetime without
a peep at it, and, when pragmatc strangers are
twitting you with the insi pidity of the scenery Of
your native place, YOU will not have it in your
power even to put them down with Paint Hill
| Do neighbor, without farther delay, bctake
yourself there, as did we this morning The
road is excellent, leading past the depot, through
that beautiful creek which the Bay blossoms
are using for Il looking glass, all in pure white
as they are, ard pcrfnned as a bride for her we'd
ding Then YOU will come to that venerable
relic of the past, McRaes old Mill, a revolution
ary relic, by the way, it having oeen as its palm
lest during those stirring times of seventy'slX.
nishinS food for the eater, no longer surrounded
by upcountry wagons, disemboguenG their teem-
ins loads, no longer resoundmy with the cease
less hum of busy industry it stands melancholy
m1numcnt Of the "sic transit" of the wheel Of
time, that, at last, must with us, as it has with
it, come to full stop. At the rear Of the old
mill, there is 4 small pond, and there is Il beau
tful pure white crane 'f"cding among the lilies,
the pure white water lilies, that like stars of
| light, seem to have fallen right out Of heaven
| upon that sheet uf water. But on we 90, cross
ing the bridge over the creek, which by that race
by the side of the road, was carried along to
minister to tho operations Of McRae's Mi!l. On
the bank Of that s.aguant loukin. pond, full of
old stumps, which YOU perceive as YOU cross the
bridge, sits hunter with iowling piece in hand,
waiting his opportunity to shoot Il wild duck
All, he has been successful, we presume, at least
| there is report to that effect.
Bat here we are III our llill. Paint so STYLED
we suppose from the soil here, abruptly assuln-
ing the hue of vcrInillion. Remarked my com
pagnoh du voyage, the first time approached
this hill, ii from the opposite direction, and
about the g gIoaming, us the Scotch say. The dis
,auce from Camden appeared from the view of
it, from here, so very short, that congratulated
myself OH being there before night fall but the
way seemed to Icngthen, as } went, and ere !
reached my destination, "thc Ebon Goddess"
had made tn" darkness 50 profound had well
.nigh been as bawillcrcd rs bcmiyhtcd.
But, let us take circuit of the hill, Il consid
cradle one il is for these parts, aGorling IN ex-
tended view. Camden appears in this distance
charming in rural beauty, from every stand point
Of the declivty, while touching with sacred as
Socation*, the heaven directed siirc of the dis
tant church. As we round the hills Il ch,Sln
fearfully i'nIncusc, vawnS below us, Il fine study
! for Tic gcoogist. That it is of no recent dalc,
appears from the tall trees at the bottom, with
! whose tops We arc more than OH level, il fact,
might scat honny off them" rs the saying 9ocs.
Come ncighbor lamdcnian, look at your town,
now, from Paint IIll and fn IN each "high place"
like the Prophet of old, "blesS it" for God would
have it 50. He would have the love Of home in
man. Il part Of his religion. TO look from this
noble pinnacle of na,sre, ut your green bower
like home will be to love it, and lis YOU stand
here, mbbnc its charms, YOU may if you please,
apoStroplisc it, in language like the following or
better:
TO MY OWN DEAR TOWN.
I've vicw'd from many a classic height
Full many place Of fair rcnown,
But none to me were. like the sight
Oh thee, my own dear Town.
They minstrel to eye and mind,
But all, they failed to tolh my heart
| Like thee. tho rating far behind
In charms my own dear Town.
Q From thcm rich with the spoils ofart,
With all that wealth and power confer,
Would often, my minds eye depart
| To thce my own dear Town.
| To get OF thee. refreshing view
| Embowcrd in trees, serene and calm,
While pcoplcd with the good and true,
Ny goUd my own dear Town.
Yes when see thy Churchs Spires
| know that prayer goes up from thee,
| Then my hearts holicst desires
Go up for my dear Town.
O let INC nc cr he urd by gold,
I ,1.