Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-06-22

III u ME- . ERRE TREE;
Or, LUCSEmATsoHs TRJrH.
ATA1E12Jn ! MORAL.
cHzqsER1.
From brigLfning felds<feether fair disclosed.
Child Of the sun-refnlg gesf5 5summer,comes
In PEiee otyouth, and felt Shrough natpr's gloon"
6,a fre sunasaper morning IN the year s1s
90. setout % kisit n IisItfTo VILLAGES Thiet
pleasantly situated In one of the soush
Western Counties ofNorth Carolina Taking
With me my two little daughters and nurse,
4 assembled neatly made, nicely painted Jer-
sey, and took the reins in nv own hand.--
This kind of vehicle being a little altered in
structure and greatly in appellation, Is now
recognized by the classic title of RockawaT.
Ny husbands overseer, or " driver" whose
friends lived few miles beyond my visiting
sphere, accompanied me, also on horseback
A cold dinner was prepared for the travellers
usual visitor, hunger when. he should assaif
US. The road lay along broken and rough
country, and as the sun assembled higher In
the heavens, the heat became somewhat op-
pressive. We were occasionally relieved,
however, by an avenue of persimmon trees.
whose grateful shade seat a delightful and
refreshing sensation over the whole system.
whenever we came under its influence And
sometimes an orchard was presented, whose
fruits displayed the most tempting hucs, the
taste of which VIC knew to be of the most de-
licious flavor.
Towards noon we halted at spot known
as the 60 Mulberry Spring" having derived
its name from tree of that species wkio1
grew in close proximity Though within the
enclosure of a corn-6eld, yet was the spring
near enough the road for the trees (which
were clump of naples and said mulberry,)
to shelter from the suns rays both it and
the road for some PAGES round, and tho traV-
eler found easy access to the spring by set
of bars attached 70 the fence. Tho rustling
of the dark, gIeen corn, and the playing oi
the soft Zephyrs among the trees, added t.
the purity and sweetness of the water, made
it desirable resting place, and we began to
prepare for lunch. / felt in a most amiabla
mood and with the blandest smile | could
call to my aid, requested drink of water OF
man who in his shirt sleeves was watching
the progress of two or three negro men, whe
were a short distance of, pressin the juice
out of the enormous horse-apples; or, in 9TH
er words, were beating cider. With slight
inclination of the body, he started directly
towards the spring, bus as suddenly stopped !.
and inquired if [ would prefer drink of ci-
der. Sweet cider f" running from the press"
| ever considered most delicious drink, and
was about to answer in the affirmative, when
| recollected that, at any time, a copious
draught Of this liquid in its fresh state was
a most unwhOlesome beverage, and that In
my then thirsty condition ! might indulge In
/ its too free use. declined by saying" not
now, thank you, when | have somewhss
abated my thirst, | will avail mysef of your
/ hospitality" lie then gave me drink Of
pure water in that sweetest Of all vessels, q
common gourd at the same time calling to
a servant and bade him bring pitcher Of ci .
der and q basket of apples.
On my first arrival at the place, had dis.
covered something very unusual in the ap-
pearance of the mulberry tree, and my curl
osity being excited, was in lady's parlanee)
: dying to know its cause. 1t had the most
r natural appearance of having been braided
, and was wonderful tree, whether consider
ed as q natural or artificial production, and
was very large OF its kind. | will not ven
ture its magnitude, having found that on 40
tual measurement Of distance, or size of body
/ / greatly and ignorantly err in such things
But it was magnifcently beautiful. Its wide
spread branches, its rich dark foliage, and
effsaffFEs effsaffFEs rqlarittSg Ell its gtF9p With fully developed
miration, | learned, of all who had seen it
The man who stood before me was apparent
! ly about fifty years Of age, with clear intel
: Hgent eye, and whose conversation and man
ners evinced more information than his ap
pearance at first indicated, which verified tile
adage that appearances often deceive. When
| spoke Of the beauty of the location and sin
gularity of the tree, | found had struck 6
familiar chord, but though often thrumbed
sent hack no discordant note. " Yes" he
replied to my observation, this is pleasant
place but as pleasant to me from assooia-
tions with the past,as from any merits of it
own"
Association l inwardly calculated with
interest for the mans words induced ms
to believe that +" thereby hangs tale" and
| again spoke g From your conversation in.
: fer there is something interesting connected
2 with this spring or its vicinity, and if it b'
not too much trouble, you will greatly obligt
me by It's recital, and give my thoughts EN-
pioyment during this lonely and fatiguinG
route. . Although" he replied have
!, related it many times, yet will repeat it td
e yUu with plooeezro and soainer you ara =
o bout to eat your dinner, if you will com,
! over to the spring, will lower the bars fo
you"
: Glad of an opportunity to change my tire
Z some posture, descended the carriage anC
0 passed the rustic entrance to the spring, fol
/ lowed by my silent companion, Mr.. H
. who carried our provision basket. Iadvance,
0 towards the spring and though benches wer
placed around chose for my seat mOss-cov
cred hillock at the foot ola maple, and lean
: ed for support against the tree. My histori
: companion reclined against the huge trunl
= Of the mulberry.
J.
h CHAPTER II.
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