Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-05-26
THAT HORSEBACK RIDE.



There might have been seen, in the
murky light Of a drizzly spring morn
ing, d solitary horseman vending his
way through the streets Of Knoxville,
and over the bridge spanning the Hol
stou River. With his face set toward
Sevierville, lie Disappeared among the
hills. The horse ne hestrode was near
the color II 'he pills dispensed by his
owner The -nIdle-pockets were
borrowed from i Suuduy-schooi me-
anderer. The rest ot the equipuge may,
by fair inference, be supposed to belong
to the rider. The heights Of the Chill
hover range Were reached aud passed,
in bliSsfui ignOrauCe-the luue horse
man family impressed thar he was
passing over the back bone OF some
thing. Noon found him passing
through the pusture-land of fine
Durham preacher. Drawing rein at
the residence of one Of hi. parishioners,
two delightful incidents proceeded TO
place themselves in history. First, an
escape from pouring rain; second
splendid dinner, with provender for
NLG llOlSC' ChG nun eAilNA Is LIAM l'o5Sttu
in waiting for the rain to cease All
in vain. The gray sleed is again
mounted, and, under the leaky
heavens aud good umbrella,
he slo WY passes on. Nearing
Pigeon River, he is informed
that the recent freshe,s have ruined
the river road, ald the knob road -
was much the best. The verdict is
soon reached, that for obscure, muddy,
billy, crOokedness, the "knOb road E"
may challenge the world and have no
" takers" After much laying down
of fences and opening Of gates, foring
of creeks and once wandering wide
of the proper direction and bring
turned on our back track oy a lady
with lurking joke ia her eye, we
reached the ford of Pigeon river, pass .
ing which We were in Sevierville. 1t
rained, it was dark, it was muddy. The
people were out in force, however, and
after lecture by the wanderer Lodge
OF Good Iemplars was organized,
counting charter members present
and ABSENT of forty-seven members.
Next morning We were again on the
wing. Interviewed all the hills and
valleys OF the Alder Branch neighbour
hood TO correct q wrong appointment,
and at night iectured to large house,
and organized Lodge.
Again We are moving by the light OF
the early day, his time with our face
set toward Daudridge When going
at brisk gate down the hill overlook
ing the French Broad, DUr ,teeds foot
started through to China, put by the
time it had reached The depth If the
knee, the horse bethough, him to
take a turn al gymnRstic-, AMI began
summersauit. which ended
in his blowing his nUse ID The mud,
falling on his side, and rolling over.
Now, reader, if you think the rider
could in any wise consent to be out
gymnasticed by gray horse, you are
much mistaken. No, Sir! We, upon
our part, attempted mid-air hight''
and succeeded admirably, only that the
lighting was not as graceful as we
could have wished. For there, in the
solitude OF the mountains, with no APP
plauding multitude for which we were
devoutly thankfully to bring out the
best that was in us, we landed on two
hands and two knees, and in order 10
get out OF the way of the tumbling
horse had to eXtemporize a frog race
down hill. Our left wrist and left ankle
complained that the thing was rather
roughly done. We THAT is to say our.
self and horse gathered. US up, fully
satisfied that gymnastics was not our
forte" The horse evidently believed
we would chastise him for not per.
forming better. But we took HIM by
the bride, laughingly telling him that
accidents tOOuld happen to the best OF
horses, and so We were soou at the
ferry.
Lectured at cambridge to large
house, and sunrise Of the next day
found the lone horseman holding hfs
solitary way with face set toward
Knoxville. This first horseback ride
for the season proved little protracted
and rheumatic, sweeping as it did two
counties and two county towns.
J. +. GOLDMAN.