Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-07-12

mountain, passing the immense Rock
wood Iron Works that were Just getting
fairly into operation. 1t was busy and
picturesque scene now. We had to await
the descent of several trains loaded with
Goa, which came rushing down unaided
by steam or any other than the power of
gravitation. Some of our party, your cor
respondent among the number, chose to
walk. / felt, as walked over and looked
into the openings of the coal mines, like
gentleman said he felt while standing in
the money department of the Treasury at
Washington: awed to find himself sur
rounded by almost countless millions of
dollars. 1 stood in the presence of wealth
that generations yet unborn cannot
fathom; safely slowed away by an All
wise hand in the great heart of the noun
tain for the benefit of the children of men.
10, that men would praise the Lord for
His goodness and His wonderful works to
the children of men,"
When we reached the top of the noun
tain, all covered with most beautiful ferns
of seemingly every variety and beautiful
holly trees and laurel trees in full bloom,
beside many pretty and some handsome
wayside flowers, our patient, faithful en-
gines were unhitched and led off to their
homes and their dinners, while we were
left to finish our journey as best we could.
We all got on board again, and now comes
the funny part of our most romantic ride.
A whiz along the top of the ridge, with no
visible power to make us move, a brake
and switch, and scream from the ladies,
as we seemed about to pitch down to some
unknown depth reversing of the brakes,
backward motion, great laugh at our
gro,GadleSS fears, another whiZ, another
scream, and the ladies at the other end of
the car saw the breakneck place where we
seemed about to plunge down, another re-
verseing of the brakes, another laugh and
thus we sailed back and forth six or sew
eral times, the screams resolving into laugh
| ter, as we found we were not going to pitch
off the end of the track, and we suddenly
brought up at Pine city. Here we found
our venerable host, that was to be, waiting
for US with his wagon, so 1--WE jumped in
to the wagon and we all took ride". Two
miles more and we drew near our destina-
tion The gratitude of our hearts for the
goodness and mercy that had protected us
in all the perils of travel, found vent in
that grand old hymn.
'Come thou Fount of every blessing"
in full chorus which made the welk-
in ring. AS we sang the last words
we came in sight of the house of
our future abode. We gave three cheers,
which upset Mrs. Chrisbaum's soft soap
barrel, and when we reached the door we
found the Indian woman who lives here
ladling up the soap off the ground Hun
cry and tired we ate our supper, filled our
bed-ticks with straw, had family worship
and sought repose, but found this to be the
time of our introduction to our country
cousins. We were compelled to have it a
reception night and to find these poor re-
lations depending upon us for substance
also that they demanded, and would have
our very life-blood. A large family of
gnats, of whom those on the boat were
connections, family not so numerous of
mosquitoes, much more numerous one
of little hOppers, whose surname is flea, and
another family whose names am ashamed
to mention as of my kith-I hope they are
very remote. was never acquainted with
them much. But aside from this domestic
unpleasantness, we find the mountain
charming, discovering new beauties every
day. We all have good appetites, eat as
much as we please and do as we like gener-
ally. The young folks are wild with free
dom and run from morning till night.
The young ladies take walks and talk Sc
crets, presume, the older ones cook and
keep the house in order. The gentlemen
are variously employed. We have nice
croquet ground, swing, etc., etc., etc.
Here endeth the first chapter. Sincerely
yours, 81 EAST TENNESSEE.