Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-06-26
Bath and HIghland Correspondence.

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Bath and Highland Correspondence.
Dear Spectator Within few days past /
has been my pleasure to enjoy delightful ex
cursion through portions of Bath and Highland
The meadows and. grain fields are more pron
sing of bountiful crops than they have been fol
years. The rains seem to fall at the right time
and in proper quantities. The people are blessed
with health and willing mind to work, 80 put
ting all things together, matters in general may
be regarded as more hopeful and prosperous
than usual in these beautiful mountain counties
Did time and space allow, might give you a
good many items of personal incident, which
might give your readers some idea of the pleas
ant life one may lead in these mountains, butfo,
the present one or two hope will be sufficient
One Saturday morning Gs | was riding along
the valley of Jacksons River, found few per-
sons assembled for public worship; dismounted
and soon became interested in the scene around
me. At some distance from the church was q
young man, the officiating minister, reclining on
his shawl, his sa1dle-bags and umbrella lying al
his side. He was holding an open Testament in
one hand and hymn book in the other. In the
meanwhile an elder entered the house with q
package OF religious books and tracts, which be
spread out for the inspection of the people,
Some books were purchased and many pages oil
tracts distributed to be carefully read during
some leisure hour, otherwise less proftably spent
perhaps. 1t is in rural congregations like these,
in the mountains, that the labols of pioos COL
porteur are the most needed, and where good re-
suits are very immediate.
During the afternoon, learning that some
young persons had made arrangements to visit a
noted minera! spring in the neighborhood of the
church, curiosity and an inclination to be with
pleasant company, prompted me to attend them
on their pleasant excursion. The party attend
ed consisted Of five ladies and four gentlemen :;
three of the ladies and two of the gentlemen had
been or were school teachers. Shortly after our
arrival quite a number of other persons Joined
us at the spring. The spring gushes from the
base of a very steep hill, densey covered with
pine, and sends forth a constant stream amply
sufficient to turn common mill, if properly APP
piled. The transparency of the water is remark
able, even for this region noted for springs of
exquisite purity and beauty. Near the sides and
upon the rocks, long streamers of beautiful
green moss are attached which play with grace
full undulations in the pure flowing water. This
moss is of the finest silk like texture and is as
soft and emollient to the touch as anything can
possibly be, and is said to have most happy ef-
feet in cleansing and healing sores. Those &C
quanted with this spring are of the opinion that
its medicinal virtues are similar to those of the
All Healing Spring, in Bath county. Some Ply
sicians acquainted with both springs, recon-
mend either, Unfortunately, as | have been
informed, for the same diseases. The tempera-
ture is quite agreeable, and were there means
devised to shut out the water of some fresh and
cold springs, it would be delightful temperature
for bathing, morning and evening The sur
rounding scenery possesses much of the pic
turesqne and beautiful, and the ladies of our par
ty seemed to be very susceptible of the charming
influence exerted by such scenery upon pure and
elevated minds, as was manifested by their ST.
lence and the thoughtful cast their uplifted
countenances assumed, when they contemplated
the rugged rocks high up the mountains, or lis
tened to the murmuring of the waters and the
singing of the Robins. Had there been any
broken hearts among US it would have been a
fitting time to die and be buried by the birds,
and lulled to dreamless rest by those flowing
waters, emblem of the fountain which springs up
to everlasting life.
Near Us was an arbor formed naturaliyIof pine
and species of beech. It was really/a most
charming retreat, and Immediately on the banks
OF the transparent stream formed by the copious
waters of the spring. Rude seats were found in
this arbor, and while there the young ladies en-.
tertained and soothed the more savage of u.s.
their gentlemen friends, by singing Nellie Gray
very sweetly indeed. The swee,pess and the
pathos of the song, harmonized most bewitch
ingly with the surroundings Of that arbor, the
lovely mountain vale guarded by the mountains,
the transparent fountain gushing from its side
and sporting like living jewel over its bosom
and murmnring by the arbor where we stood en-
tranced by the vision OF love weeping in bonds,
as painted on our fauc'es, by the simple, broken
words of Nellie Gray.
Soon afterwards the party dispersed with
pleasant memories ever to be associated with
this evening. Very sincerely,
TTRMIZrp