The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-01-12
4 TRIP no ROTHER WOOD.

To the Editor Of the Hawkins County Departm' mt:
OF the many pleasant parties that went
to make up such a high carnival of fun
for our young folks around R dur
ing the holidays it is now too late to
speak, but | cannot resist the tempta-
ton to tell you of a Christmas visit in
which 4 number of US participated
Although | have most disheartening
consciousness that the best account |
can give of the trip must be but stale
draught, lacking all the fine effer-
vescence of frolic, all the keen fiavo r
of adventure, which were half intoxi-
eating at the time. But they bottle
Tate's and Montvale for such poor NOR
! tails as cannot drink at the fountain
The morning of the 29th, the day fixed
for the setting forth was not propitious,
but a resolute party of young ladies and
gentlemen, well mounted, and water
proof clad, left the residence of Major
II for Brotherhood, " Mr. Nick
Phipps pleasant country home, twenty
five miles up the river, the objective
point in our journey. Before many
miles the sun shone forth with a smile
child-Iike and bland" and our party,
under its pleasant influence grew hilari-
Gus. Perhaps it's we'll feel the impos-
sibility of describing the days journey,
the bright sunshine, the constantly vary
ing scenery of the finest valley in old
Hawkins, but as we logged along, single
file in many places, for the roads were
muddy, we formed an odd, if not pic
turesque procession. Reaching the old
Bradley place" we stopped at the
spring, from which abe water pours
clear as crystal, for lunch, and seated
ON the rocky banks of the creek, breath
ing an air borrowed by December of
May we unpacked our lunch basket and
proceeded to be jolly under creditable
circumstances. We rested for an hour
and then, with a last drink of the ice
cold water, blessing the nymph of the
fCunt like true pilgrims of the East, we
recommended our journey. twas deep
in the afternoon when we reached the
hin top overlooking the Mecca of our
little pilgrimage, and wearied as we
were, reveled in the unspcakable lowell
ness of the scene. Below, above, on
every side was the fullneSs of beauty
and life. For in all East Tennessee
there are few more beautiful and lovely
places. Stretching out on all sides, wa
tered by the two branches of the Ten
ncssee, which here unite, are broad
Vallies, whose grain fields and meadows
are walled in by mountain-sides, not OBJ
trusively near, yet by their noble out
Zines giving a perpetual refreshment and
an hourly-changing feast to the eye.
steps to Olympus, sits RotheTwOOd, the
pleasant house in which we were to be
dOmiciled, and where we found a well
come waiting us so kindly that it charm
ed away our fatigue and restored us to
vigor and gaiety. Surely, he, whose
Penatcs would not root internationally
here, has no heart for home, nor senses
for the glory of nature. In frOlic and
merriment the days of our stay fled
10
the angel that Cooked DER our almanac
and marked out our i'll days" did not
suffer these to escape him. They were
clear, bright, invigorating days, with a
vitality in the air as rousing to the spirits
as IA blast from the horn of AtOlpho.
We rode and hunted in the mornings;
the bold hOrsemanship of the ladies be-
ing the wonder of a Western man of
the crowd, and in the afternoons smoked
and talked, and dreamed and dream
ed' in the sunshine on the veTanda; the
Dr., especially, lay like a gentleman
taking a snOoze," dreaming no doubt of
a little bunch of roses!' In the even
ings we gathered in the large parlor
about the flaming, open fire, where with
song and jest, and merry games the
house seemed ''angel winged" all per-
vadcd by the heartiest hospitality and
best of Christmas cheer. One. of the
queries of the visit was, why did the
young ladies especially admire the view
from the east porticO? Did the misttetoe
over the front door have anything to do
with the preference / wonder? Or did
Levi say it was rinktum?" The home
ward journey was a fit winding up to
visit SO fresh, piquant, and altogether
enjoyable that when the time came for
departure the entire bright experience
seemed like a " midsummer nights
dream" even if somebody's silk hat did
come to grief in a mud hole, and only
mutual friends" get to ride in the bug
gy. And the first regret of the New
ear came with the breaking up of the
pleasant party, for ere this closes many
may be far away, far away.
A HERE -TuEREI