Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-12-17
there lay
Planted in succession gay
Rich field of green and waving corn

Trough this pleasant valley the beauti-
full Yadkin hurries along with its contribu-
tion of waters to empty it in the lap of old
ocean. Here and there noisy creeks and
babbling brooks dance along and mingle
their limpid waters with those of the trans
parent Yadkin.
We were reminded Of the Happy Valley
of Rasselas, prince of Abyssinia. We
thought that if Rassclas had been put up
in this Happy Valley, he would not have
tra--sea r = resay 49, 8 cain eaFeae
must have taken this valley for his model
Proceeding up the river we came to Pat
terson and found the rest of the Ran
gers awaiting our arrival. This is beau
tiful little place in fiat on the banks Of
the river; here and there are small mounds,
supposed to be Indian graves, surmounted
with clumps of trees and grass. Here
there is large factory, oil mill, &C., owned
by Messrs Harper, Jones & Go. Leaving
Patterson, we pursued our way up the
river "Chestnut" and 'I,ipshin" noun
tains On either side of river rise frowningly
as if angry at being disturbed in their grim
silence by the noisy waters. -Four miles
from Patterson we reached the foot of the
Blue Ridge, and here began an "up-hill
business"
Following the course of beautiful little
stream that rushes Though the mountain
gorges, SO far below that we could scarcely
hear its rushing waters we camped, calling
the place "Camp Preston Falls" In pre-
pairing upper we were informed by that
important parsonage "lke, the Cook, that
some sugar purchased at Patterson had
been forgotten. We bad none and could
get none Here was adilemna-six miles
from Patterson, and SO dark one could al
most Bang his hat on it The Capt. called
for volunteers to return at length the
Lieut. and Engine volunteered. One bor-
rowing saddle and the other substituting
a bag Of cut oats, they sallied forth. Talk
of crossing the Alps, CT passing the Rubi-
; con twas mere child splay to this. About
: IL o'clock they returned. and turned in.
> Tuesday 22nd.-We found the road
well laid off and much BITTER than some of
our low country roads. The roads in Cald-
we'll Co., are generally good, for such a
mountainous region, AMI much praise is
due Col. Lenoir for his indefatigable in
dustry in building many of them; and
! particularly the one to- etop of Hibriten.
The traveller shouldpot fail to stop and
refresh himself at the Mulberry Spring, !"
r four miles from the top If the Ridge. In
:; the ascent we had some fne and extensive
= yiews-saw some fine land on the side OF
e the Ridge, producing laxuriant crops Of
S weeds and grass, atfordifg fine pasturage for
o cattle Near the summit in bend of the
: road we could see the Pilot mountain in
e Surry Co. While gazing at it, and the ma @
I nifcent scenery spread but before us, Tent
! very automatically interrupted us by ask.
e ing for gun to kill little bird some re
t marks were made abodt shooting him fol
g being so unromantlc. About Ii A. M. We
e arrived at the summit ind took dinner
D Here we drank of the ''Yadkin Spring,
!. !. the source of the Yadkh river The ther
a momctor stood in the spiing at $50. Afte
d enjoying ourselves on the green sward, W,
started for the "Blowing Rock" a quartz
of mile distant
ID Such view was new to the most of us
es Far below was the "Globe Valley" de
n- riying its name from the Globe mountain
n looking so quiet and lovely, that one nigh
~ imagine that sorrow had never entered il
=. =. Away to the South stand the Table Roc
ed and the "Hawk-bill," everywhere conspic
an uous. Just before us the rugged Crane
b. father softened by the mellow rays of tb
er- sitting evening sun, rises like "mail-cla
fo- 70 warrior, wooing the virgin sky" Just
II, our feet lay deep gorge covered with dan
- and waving foliage, looking like me