San Andreas independent., 1858-06-26
Mountain Scenery in Somerset County.

mountain scenery III COWcISSC COunCy.
The following admirable sketch of the
wild and varied loveliness which crowns
the Alleghenies, comes home to our heart
with peculiar force, and cannot fail to
gladden. the reader whose steps have ever
tracked the turf described. But it is in
the Autumn of the year, when the Low
land landscapes have put on their most
unpretending livery, when the bright bios
som, and the green bough have diappear-
ed, and the trembling little violet has
withered in the sun, it is then that the
Alleghenies appear in the full splendor of
their beauty, as if nature meant to smile
her sweetest smile amid the lofty home of
the spruce and the fir, just before wrap
ping her form in the snowy mantle of
death Read:
From the Somerset (Pa.) Democrat.
Somerset county presents many induce
ments to the seeker after health or plea
sure; and to the lover of wild and varied
scenery, its mountain ranges offer source
of inexhaustible enjoyment. 1t is the
mountain county of the State, being ira
versed by no less than three distinct ran
ges-the Allegheny, Laurel Ridge, and
Negro mountains. These are intersected
and cut up by numerous streams of water,
forming many beautiful valleys, and divi-
ding the mountain ridges into mere series
or succession of lofty hills, from the sum-
mits of some of which the enthusiastic
tourist can feast his eyes upon some of
the grandest scenery that can be met with
anywhere in the State. The writer of
this has been familiar from his childhood
with the mountains of his native county.
1t has ever been source of deep pleasure
to him to steal away from the busy haunts
of men and roam for hours through the
dark green forest crowning some lofty
hill, with all the wild freedom of child
of the woods dreaming many grand
dreams of the future greatness and glory
ofour magnificent country-learning many
noble lessons of truth from the operations
of nature and of natures God around
him. And now he asks the imagination
of his reader to accompany him while he
makes an effort, however feeble, at de-
scrption of some of the scenery of Laurel
Hill.
Let us start here, from the bed of
"Laurel Hill Creek" in Jefferson town
ship. Here is an old, worn out road that
will lead us to the very summit of Laurel
Hill. 1t was at one time turnpike,
leading from Somerset to Connellsville,
and very much travelled; but it has fallen
into disuse, and is now nothing but a
green path through the woods. See I!
yonder is an old mill, in the very last
stages of dilapidation. Up on the hill
stands the house. All my friends, there
is story connected with that house
which you would, perhaps, like to hear.
Well, | am not good at telling stories,
but [ will try; it may serve to keep our
minds employed while ascending this
steep hill. Many years ago, when this
old road was the great thoroughfare be-
tween the east and the west, yonder old
house, that you are regarding so curious
ly, was the residence and property of
man named j the father of pleasant
family of grown up sons and daughters,
who kept it as a public house. 1t was
happy family. The daughters were bloom
ing and beautiful, and the sons noble and
manly; while the vivacity and intelligence
of all, made it welcome resting place
for the weary traveller. But alas in one
hour the fell spirit of ruin passed over
the pleasant home, and left it desolate-
The mother, at the sober age of sixty,
eloped with some whiskered fend, and
the father, on the morning succeeding
the sad occurrence, was found drowned
in his own mill race. The beautiful
home was broken up-the brothers and
sisters were scattered among strangers
and now the old house and mill are rap
idly going to ruin
1t is sad story, my friend, but alas !!
too common. Let us pass on. All we
are getting up into the mountains, and
this glorious breeze that is tanning our
cheeks, and invigorating our frames, and
sending new life into our spirits,-say,
did you ever feel anything like it in your
dull village home? Oh ye sick and
feeble dwellers in crowded streets! ye
who drag out miserable existence be-
tween your walls of brick and stone,
whose ambition is limited to dragging
your weary steps from one brick house to
another, who think you enjoy yourselves
hike other people, when in reality you are
strangers to true enjoyment and to the
true pleasures of living-ye wretched
gropers after health and higher life
come up here and climb this hill with us
IT you want to know what it is to live
Drink In this pure, delicious air, fresh
from the hands of the great Architect
let 1t fan your brow, where for the first
time In your life the sweat is standing in
great drops, and then tell me whether
you don't feel new life in every vein.-
Confess that the life-feelings that are
stealing into your heart, and lifting it up
from the gross things of earth on which
it has habitually rested into the bright
hight of newborn aspiration, are diviner