Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-08-28
LAKE DRUMMOND.
Interesting Sketch of ats Beau
ties.


A very racy travelling correspond
ent of the Alexandria Gazette, among
other interesting notes of observa-
lion, writes the following sketch of
Lake Drummond and its scenery ems
beded in the bosom Of the Dismal
Swamp.
At last you reach Lake Drummond,
and it opens to your gaze like the
raising of curtain of theatre or
tableaux. If God has ever made a
fairer sheet Of water, it is yet hid
away from gaze and mortal ken. 1t
sets in the very centre Of the great
swamp, pure, uudefled and fresh
its waters whether at rest in placid
repose, or stirred by the winds, al
ways wear rich, ruby hue that
CLEANS like gold in the sunshine
Hid away in the midst of an inac>
cessible swamp this lonely lake seems
to dream away its life, and one can
almost believe that it was conceived
by Jove himself and made for the
Ohaste Diana, to battle in, away
from the haunts Of men, 1t is now
ell, weird and strange scene, the
stretch of water looming all around,
for Lake Drummond is seven miles
long by five wide, oval in shape, and
it looks larger than it really is. No
sails cleaning on the waters set off
the dark back ground; no long slen-
der cloud of sm oke darkens the hori-
zon, showing where the swift steamer
pursues its way; not even puppy or
tiny skiff can be seen only the calm
still lake, radiant in its solitary beau>
ty. Hid away, as it is, aud bearing
on its bosom no argosies of commerce,
the lake, as cOntrasted with the Dismal
Swamp, is jewel in a toad's head,
an oasis in desert, precious dia-
dem in a miser's chest. There is tra>
dition that before the colonial times
an Indian warrior dared to love the
daughter of his Chief, who, like many
white fathers. raised the mischief be-
cause the young man couldn't show
up more wealth than pair of strong
arms and brave heart. No ponies,
no blankets, and no nothing The
warrior having won the maiden's
heart, gained her listening ear, and
persuaded her to run off to lake
which he had found in the swamp,
and live and die together. Both
left, and futile was the pursuit, and
they were given over as dead until
many years after they Were seen to-
gether to cross the lake in canoe.
Tradition further tells us that the
Great Spirit was so pleased with the
rare devotion and love displayed that
he allows them to return to earth oc-
casionally as great mark of his ia
vOr, and to linger in the scene of
their happiness. | beheld Lake
Drummond at twilight and watched
the night closing in, the shadows on
the water deepen, and the lofty woods
that gIrded it around grow denser
and darker. Then the stars in the
sky stole cut one by one, each repro
duced by the rejecting lake. The
fire-hies came out from the woods in
myriads and made the waters lumi-
nous. There was light everywhere,
the darkness was dissolved by the
fitful flashes of the insects miniature
lanterns, aud the air, the lake the
very water itself seemed ablaze In
this illusory glare Imagination with
its power made phantoms actual re-
alities. Here passing a huge log
submerged with its skeleton branch
es standing upright 10 the air you
could swear it was a graceful ship
swimming lazily at anchor. Then as
the great ho'rid OWLS hoarse discor>
dant boot fioated across the lake,
mellowed in the distance, il sounded
Tor al The world liz The voice ~ Lie.