The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-05-30

On Wednesday, Of last week. we went
with pic mic party, five miles down the
Chillicothe road, to the beautiful caves
which have been described in these col
umns. TIE day was one of the most
beautiful we ever saw-clear and warm,
Il must have been just such time Burns
was thinking of, when he wrote:
''Now nature hangs her mantle, green,
On every bush and tree,
And spreads her sheet o. daisies Wilte
Out DER the grassy lea"
Arrived at the caves, we turned the
children of the party loose, for grand
romp. There is not, perhaps, wilder,
more romantic piece of scenery IN the
county, than these caves, nor place
where one can pass sultry summer day
more pleasantly There is, at the head
of the hollow, large cascade, where the
water dashes over the rocks, and forms
miniature lake, at the bottom. This
water is as clear and cold as well-water
and is excellent drinking-water. Along
the sides, forming the walls of the hollow
for a considerable distance, are huge
cliffs, at the base of which large pieces of
rock lie around, as though nature had
tried to have the little hollow in the ut
most possible confusion. 1t is, taken
all together, wild and beautiful place.
Some of the boys had long cane rods
with them, but, as it is against the law
to fish, these, they claimed, were to use in
knocking service berries. We took a
stroll along the banks of Salt Creek
Near where the road strikes the creek,
there is a rifle, and just below this rifle
we noticed some of the boys of our party
bathing. 1t seemed strange to see those
little fellows splashing around in the wa
ter. in this wild place, and led US to won
der if, in the long, long ago, the noble, |
greasy red man had not laid aside his war
club, doffed his breech- cloth, and capered |
around in the manner, and in the same |
place, that these boys were now capering.
We went further up the creek, and sat
down to enjoy the scenery around us.
Here one can read a sermon, from the
book of nature, sermon more powerful
than any ever uttered by mortal. The
filled with their music; the stony road,
the huge trees, the dense undergrowth,
the blue sky above, and the CLASSY sur
face of the creek beneath, all went to
make up picture that Bierstadt would
be in no hurry to pass by.
While sitting there in the woods we
noticed an old gentleman limping along
the bank of the creek, with the aid of
cane in one hand, and a fishing grod in
the other. He came up, spoke politely,
and commenced talking about the
changes which are constantly taking
place in the scenery along the creek. He
US that he had formerly resided
n that section of country; that drift" ]
;aid he, used to be just above there,
where you see those logs-'twas there the {
asst time I saw it; ah, me, but things do
,hanger'
How long has it been, friend, since
rou were along this piece of creek" we 6
tsked him. {
about fifty years
Then we did not wonder that the drift ]
lad moved, just a little, and that the
Whole scenery looked somewhat differ {
mt Here was an old man to whom half
century seemed scarcely more than a {
ear Father Time must surely have r
ouched him with light fingers. Happy f
Id man Shall we meet him there an
ther year? J
The drivers promised to be on hand,
yith their teams, at five o'clock, to con- a
ey the party back to town. John Reed, F
f the Ishan House was an hour or more
head of time. John brought back a +
Dad of women and children, in the "bus," 2
nd we must return thanks to him, for Q
is careful driving. 1t is terrible road,
ut John travelled it without an accident, I
s did also Aten and Garrett, of Delays S
tables, who had, however, much lighter
G
1t is not often that persons used to v
,orking can feel satisfied after idling
way whole day. but believe our party '
anne back feeling that the day had not
cen misspent. These little excursions j
re treasured among the pleasant memo
les of the passing years. We trust that