Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-07-28
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Sketches of Travel.

! Sketches of Travel.
Mr.. EDITOR: As it israining to-day, and
lam forced to keep close to my quiet little
fbin, | will resume my hasty Sketches
Tnce | last wrote, but little of interest has
tanspired. "The Fourth" passed away
$most uncared for in this vicinity, there
eing no extra attentions given it-save a
9paous qua6fmg in Danbury on Saturday,
/ %d also mischievous frolic on Monday
Fight, in which sundry vehicles were un-
theeled, untopped, &c, much to the
amusement, no doubt, of those engaged
land to the boiling faror of the owners.
Another rattiesnake has been captured
unhurt-and mine host, Mr. Smallwood,
has proffered him to me as present. If
| were sure he was fangless-I would take
him; but SO long as he is himself shall
follow " the better part of valor" and let
him alone. This isa rare section forsnakes.
Friend T. went with party on the
mountain the other day, and when he re-
turned, he said: f" We kilt snake IS Iona
ash de road" Of course he meant as long
as the road was broad.
On yesterday morning left the Springs
in company with Rev. Mr.. M, to visit
some OF the objects Of note around here
| had been furnished by friend with a
clcarfooted, active young horse, that bore
me quite briskly over the rocky cliffs. We
were guided by Dick Chamberlain--the
notorious old PiEoter" as he calls himself:
and we admitted on first sight that it was
a dehatable question" which is the great
er natural curiosity, the Pilot Mountain
or the Mountain Pilot Z" With Dick
there is surely deal Of the a0ondertuk.-
He is sometimes accused Of appropriating
unto himself things that are not Justly his;
but he justifes himself by scripture a. as
follows: Whomsoever don't provide for
his own household, is worse than infikil."
The quotation at which he aimed, is of
ten abused by the selfshness of an avari-
cious world; and many who boast of in
telllgence and refinement, ignorantIy re-
peat it as defence of despcable and con-
demnable striving for more. It is no more
an excuse for covetousness or selfishness,
than it is for theft
Dick is emphatically " hard looking."-
lie has the reputation of being one Of the
merits the distinction. He has peculiar
manner of smiling, in which he shows his
full oral calibre. He smiled for US once
yesterday, and positively it suggested the
idea of the crater of volcano.
Soon after leaving here fer the Cas-
cade, while Dick was plodding before US,
he suddenly jumped forward, made an ex-
clamation Of great JOY, and stopped down
with as much eagerness as if he had real
ly found a purse of gold. Looking closely
| discovered that Dick had found hand
full of tobacco, which some careless one
had dropped. 1t delighted him as much
as if he had reached the acme of hi
hopes, for he loves his short-stem pipe.
understand that a portrait Of Diuh-"i I
sheep on his back is hanging in some gal
lcry, constituting, to be sure, an object o
great attraction. But after all, Dick is
4 good pilot and led us safely to the beauti
ful cascade ona gay little mountain stream
several miles from the Springs. The spo
is impressive and charming. There is jus
enough of grandeur to mingle delightful
" with the beautiful. The first view wa
from the brow of the massive rock whic
oyerhangs the pool Of the falls. After gs
zino enchanted for few moments W
walked around the rock and descended
the stream. In this we passed hug
broken rock, uplifted several feet from th
ground, like some of those which put Q,
from the craggy mountain-banks OF tt
French Broad, suggesting the thought
a terrible monster with disteDded jaws
The charm of the cataract was not appr
ciated by me, till / stood immediately
its base. To my right was large, II
raised mass of rock; to the left, a towe
ing concave rock-wall, about 200 feet higl
before me the picture of dancing icicl
and million OF crystal pearl-drops, bou
ding, glancing and pattering along tht
street of messy stone. | regretted that
; could not remain long enough to see t
; falls glistening in the sun-the rainbo
5 tnts would have been so olovely. But til
! urged us on, and feeling that we had dra
: aIsweet blessing from nature, VIC left,
: visit Moore's Knob.
In ascending the mountain, l obser,
al abundance of different species of
fan-but saw very few flowers. WI
We reached the summit, my feelings W
/ riore deeply stirred than on any SIM
a privilege of my life. Ny first view fir
l. the Pilot was almost transporting, but tn
i was realization about my soul this Il
st that cannot forget. Whoever clamt
lg to high-lifted peak, and looks around
te awav over the vari-colored fields
a. forests that stretch beyond the mortal Wis
IN if he has the heart of christian, may
" and fervently thank God for the mounta
n They are invested with peculiar and
IN perlative grandeur. They are halo
IN forever by greater than earthly glor.
It. They were chosen by Jehovah as the t
A tres of the grandest exhibitions of his
We cellence and power. The almost hcav
in harp of Israe's King sought and love
h its loftiness, the song of the hills
mounts. But they have glory be.
,e! that which springs from memorable as
- ations. When we ascend them, as
, is vision expands, the soul swells; and
in dimensions Of the panorama seen
eer graduate the increasing emotion. L
.ara L. 1~,,a D,trunNei0n cpall ,sobich ro;so