Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-01
THE OLD MILL.

terest with kind of weirdness Of pleasure causing
pangs Of severe regret that childhood had not al
ways lasted
! a little stream which formed the outlet of lake
embowered among the hills as if TO add only the
charm of ray of sunlight to the beauty of the
landscape, ran conreaed along by the alders and
flags the meadows and pastures, till at last it cross
ed the highways and plunged into thick forest
aud was lost TO comprehension.
| One summer day, ], tired of wondering where
this trout stream ran to-for likv the "brook" OF
Tennyson, there was poetic romance about il which
was rresistiblc-tempted by the wildness of the
scene, made journey to its course, and wander ed
along its fringed banks. -Aslght rushing sound,
os distant falling waters or the Fastening of the
wind through the foliage, led me down the grad
ually STEPPING declivity and the increasing rugged
banks, now across the stream upon high suspend
ed log or picking my footholds among the rocks
which rose above the rapids.
Oyer the bed Of the stream, as'it deepened into
the forest hung the birch and elm forming con-
unuous shade and vista, down which my eyes
peered with all the admiration of a young poetic
soul. Here and there a white cascade broke the
regularity of the descent, and wound around the
base of jutting hill or rock, growing every step
more wild, varied and picturesque.
As the descent grew steepr the rougbness of the
banks compelled me to leave the shore and Chamber
around distance Of a few rods when again came
full upon the stream and beheld the pouring waters
the sound of which had grown more and more dis
tnct as approached. Turning suddenly to the
left around projecting ledge the stream plunged
down a height of hundred feet or more into a
ravine still more dark and wild, and forming q
beautiful cascade, which broke in spray and
sprnkledt moses and wild flowers upon its banks
with delicious GOODNESS. -
Upon the brow Of the opposite shore and the
shelving rocks, the fir and hemlock grew SO close
and dense as to completely shut out all view of the
scene beyond The vine and gooseberry inter-
mingled with the dark gray rocks, while ever the
fall the mngling branches of the trees formed
beautiful gateway from which the white cascade
farted like thing Of life, and fed away down the
deepening vista.
At the foot of the fall stood the ruin of an old
mill, the stones growing over with the moss and
weeds while little green plot Of grass and wild
flowers spread out before it. As clambered upon
tie ruins lost in heroar Of the falling waters and
unconscious of outer things, / dis oyered pretty
summer hat, decorated with ribbons and wild
flowers, lying partially concealed by some over
hanging branches and suddenly recollected hav-
ing caught an indis met strain of song it mingled
and seemed lost in the so, nd of the waters 20 as
not TO have befor. left distinct impression upon
my ear l listened and gazed about carefully,
searching for some indication of the fair owner,
but to no purpose. p ~ V-rt y "tt
Whether the Yearer noticed me and hhstened
away, fearing to stay 10 claim IT, or whether some
accident might not have befallen her, were thoughts
which engaged my curiosity until near the sinking
of the evening sunshine into twilight. The soft
air grew cool and balmv and the fall more beauti-
f in the contrast Of the deepening shade, but still
! | waited thoughtlessly carving a device npOn a
shelving rock, and musing until the moon was up
and shining when wound along by the ravine
outward, bearing and admiring the hat, to my
4 l. .E
less lovelness. ! doubted not the waving tresses
Of the fairest flower of sixteen summers had often
been concealed beneath it. ...
Many q year later, I strayed again TO the thicket
and the fall, still hidden in the depth of larger
forest. There lay the old milstone-a tree OF con-
siderable size growing through it, and the wild
flowers and the brambles were considerable coarser
The ruins suddenly called to mind the incidents o
the former visit, so long before that the precise
time was not recalled; but before | left, my eve
fell upon the following inscription: ili-
"June Is, ls45. Found hat, and lost my
heart. S. 81
Just below, cut in a similar style, by the chisell
ing oka piece OF qIarI, was:
HLost my hat but found no heart. A. B."
recalled TO mind my impression Of the time that
the hat was out of style and trimming usually
worn in the country, and that it was no doubt that
of a visitor to the locality, who had unattended
strayed to crafty curiosity for romantic scenery
similar TO my own, and that rambling away from
the locality, had mistaken the place where the ha
\ was left.
1t was in a moment, my full determination tC
'I discover who was the fair "A b. md then fo
the first time in my life seriously thought of tn,
idea of choosing companion to With me admir-
the romance of nature, ....t
"Yes" said l. 'she could not have come herr
unless tempted by the same fancy, and if the germ
n
all could imagine, both in body and SOUL"
'But the wide world spread out before me, an'
with il vista Of nncounted years, while how
many times might the fauced "a B.. have becom
A. any of the 26 letters Of the alphabet ye
and the ~ besides. And ! was no longer a resi-
dent Of the country, and she might be abroad"
The meditation was well nigh distracting, ant
the few moments of sleep that night were bu
, snatches of wild song and fairy nymphs just eud
ing my gaze and grasp by the foaming spray. T
free myself of the effect the madRess had produced
it quickened my departure to a contemplated tou
lamong the northern hills and likes. The Ion
e al sence from these scenes had new charm TO m'
or else the Interruption TO my peace of mind ha
. suddenly made me more appreciative. / passed
week at fine hotel which had grown up on III
shores Of willoughby lake, which was now fave
lite resort.
My unsettled fancy led me by long wander
ings among the forest shores ana by the new toun
pastures, in search of a wild flower or stra
berry. One afternoon / came upon a party
ladies wreathing garlands for q couple Of brigl
: little girls, the very embodiment OF loseliness an
health, and placing upon them their summer M
the party stTolled down TO the lake to watch Il
u white-fringed waves, as they laved the shinir
sand.
) had not needed the ladies. None could
beautiful or charming to me but "a. b., hut
sudden remark caught my ear; Show singular
y is Annie that we never had a trace OF your 10
IhatP
q hardly understood the words first, nor did
catch the reply; but looked up, started with
pOng of despair as had no doubt { om the oppes
ance of the group that one lady was the mother
of the children and the other an aunt or gran
imother !, however, caught hasty glance OF I
features % the mother and beheid all my fan
ideal, with bat BEARING Of still greater loveln'
" and grace than my fevered Imagination ever h
e, pictured
ed "Confound the fortunep ! calculated, and tnrn
-. - a -. kate arH