The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-09-22
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! ArHEvlLLE, N. G. Sept. 10, 1869.
Dear News: y ~
A change comes over the spirit Of
ones dream, when ho stands for tho
first time three thousand feet above
the ocean tide, and then fluids himself
at the feet of lofty mountains, cloth.
ing themselves with vapor, as a gar
ment, wrapping tho clouds around
their giant necks and lifting their
towering hoads to the skies. TO one
who has dwelt among little hills and
level plains, the spectacle is more like
dream, than reality. Asa
Leaving Morganton about two weeks
sinoe we crossed the Bluo Ridge on
foot, that wo might slowly drink the
solemn grandeur. The stage road
through the Swananoa Gap is too mar
row to admit of moro than a single
vehicle. On the one hand rises a
range of mountains, sometimes per.
pendioularly like solid wall, and
then slopeing off their rock-ribbed and
rugged sides toward their SUBMITS.
On the other lies deep wild ravinc,
the depth of which is often concealed
by ovorhanging rocks, and foliage,
beneath which flows the Catawba-
here a shallow stieam-mnrmuring
like some troubled beast in his lair: =
Beyond rises another range Of irregu-
lar peaks, covered with wild pictu-
rescue scenery. Dark clouds gathering
overhead and the shadow of twilight
thicken tho forest gloom, a storm is
muttering around tho distant noun.
tains, and the tightening flashes across
the pathway Of the solitary pedestrian.
Emerging from tho gap he takes
drink from tho fountain head of the
Catawba. Mountains arc still on
every hand, but they are scarcely Wis
iblc through tho thick veil of mist an d
clouds. The storm is approaching. =
The crashing thunder leaps, ~
From peak to peak tho rat,ling crags
among"
Lifting the veil, tho tightening favors
tho beholder with momentary.
glimpse of them from base to summit
in distant outline: Thus the curtain
rises and falls at brief intervals, until
he reaches o friendly. habitation,
just in season to escape dolupe
of rain. There was only ono thing
which disturbed tho poetic flow of our
emotions as we admired the sublimity
of the storm, and that was the recoi-
lection of tho parched and witherea
fields of Fairfield.
The view from the top, of "Beau-
catcher Knob" the loftiest of the
peaks around Asheville, is a scene of
surpasssing grandeur and loneliness.
The quiet village reposes apparently
in q valley, but it Is a valley of gent
ly sloping hills, whose smooth green
surfaces, are crowned with charming
groves and neat residences partially
visible among the trees. -.., e.,t. ("
Tho French Broad River winds
about the outskirts of tho town, break.
ing out here and there into view, and
indicating its serpentine course by the
dense trees providing upon it's banks.
Mountains stretch away on, every
hand, range beyond range, as far as
the eye can reach. The Balsam
Mountains in IIaygood County, forty
five miles distant, can be distinctly
seen. The landscape in the light Of
the setting sun is beyond, all desorip.
tion, and all imagination to one who
has never witnessed o similar soone.
The scene along Davidson and Mills
Rivers, is, if possible more sublime
and enchanting. A new soene bursts
upon the astonished vision, at evcry
turn of the road, like the successive
pictures of a moving panorama. : We
oan only daub a feeble specimen with
our unskilful pen. i, ->,s3s,sa N.
We are riding along, the course of a
beautiful river, rrefeotiug the chang,
ing and picturesque scenery uponr it's
banks. Before and around us rises an
amphitheatre of mountain ms, 10 field Of
corn or an orchard Of fruit is growing.
here and there upon their, slopes and
the cleared land showa..that a harvest
is waving upon a bald summit, or has
been already roaped. This is singular
ES-Suiohu Wo "Ouu0T W0uG 0Ds
ticed tho industry Of, man to those, alb.
parently Inaccessible regions, until
we learn that nature has crowned the
mountain with fertility equal to, its /
grandeur. There is moro an,poctry
In the Psalmist's .laDguago,, when he
says, "There shall be 4 a = handful of
corn upon the mountains. and the Fl dit
shall shake like Lebanon" s.sf<I
The Landscape, in tho aniet sstes
beneath is endless visions. - Heresis a
field of corn yhalf.a mile. lin extent
that never suffered for8 want, OF rain,
and promising o golden harvest !. Two
thousand bushels Of grain will fill the
planters granary&when the time for
sShtoking'' cconles.N ,sda aaitssss4tI al
aI1 aI1Arpeacsful habisstion il reposing al
the foot sof yon crag9g peak.t emBos.
!Ofnod snonft The S frneates Shaany tana