The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-09-26

tops OF the hills that shut In this little
paradise waved the arms of great forest
trees, cottonwood, oak, and others, that
seemed to bend over the place protect
inely to shield it from tempests and all
else that might threaten it. Cleared
and rich fields i'll ample supply COM
pleted the picture.
/ have said above that life and its
comforts here were had on too easy
conditions. Stopping to get breakfast
and our horses fed, the good woman of
the house, to "give us something to
do" she said, "while she was preparing
the meal" brought forward some plates
of the most beautiful honey in its white
comb was ever fortunate enough to
taste. And she added, "the bees had
left that rich hive of honey the day be-
fore, and she couldn't think of single
reason for their doing so-but was COM
pletely puzzled"
Well, it was not long before an adj
mirable breakfast was smoking on the
table before us, and then, in the course
of conversation, we learned that the
family were doing their best to dispose
of their beautiful place for the purpose
of moving to Missouri.
"Alas," said to the good woman, 81
didn't believe there was any vale of
content in this world, whatever the
poets might say" for could no more
understand why they could think Of
leaving their present beautiful home,
for any PARKWAY place whatever, than
she could understand why the bees had
left their hive with its ample supply of
honey, to 60 winging their way in
search of some fancied better home.
Well, the poor woman hung her head
halfway justification for the proposed
flight, enough to convince me, however,
that had only made her merely unhap-
Ply, perhaps, and left, quite convinced
that the example set by our far-otf pro-
genitors, in showing restlessness in
whatever Eden located, was still and al
ways would be characteristic of their
descendants to the very end; that that
Adam and Eve were not all who had
been located discontentedly in pleasant
places.
One strong and controlling reason
why, in all the past history of enligra-
ton and settlement of the whole coun
try, the rich valleys of Kentucky have
been so much overlooked was that the
range of rough mountains, extending
almost from the Ohio river to Cumber-
land Gap, compelled trains of emigrant
wagons to keep on southwest clear to
the last-named place, as to the only
point where this tremendous cape could
be doubled" and, once through the
Gap" then before them lay feasible
road to Central Kentucky, Middle Ten
nessee, and, indeed, to the whole West.
And if, comparatively, a few in these
early times diverged mountainwards
from this great leading pathway to
richer lands, they were those who es-
pecially liked hunting for its own sake;
and who, in the mountain districts,
would be sure of sport not to be found
for any length of time in more agri-
cultural district. So it was, then as 1
have said in the first portion of this
chapter-the mountain ranges and val
leys were in the outset peopled with
those who transmitted their unthrifty
ways to their descendants; and hence,
whatever the native resources of those
undeveloped to this day.
But-the query is worth entertain
ing-is it indeed the case that because
the great tides of emigration, assisted by
railroads and ether potent agencies,
have swept past this great mountain
region on both sides, to find homes in
the far Vests it SO that this section
will be overlooked and neglected to
the very end? Will there not come
reaction desire to look up desirable
places nearer home? and, making of
this mountain region with its unbound
ed water power, its mineral wealth, its
iron, and coal, and copper, and lead,
and salt, true New England of the
South, develop it to better conditions
and results than hitherto it has been
fortunate enough to experience? Blessed
especially as its residents are with good
health, and this to degree excelled by
no other region on the continent, all
this should awaken public attention to
its advantages, and cause some more of
our people to benefit by them.
And in regard to what has been here
said of the mountain regions of Ken
lucky and Tennessee-indeed of that
whole scope of country in the head
waters of the Big Sandy and New rivers
on the one side and the Cumberland and
Tennessee rivers on the other-mucht the
same reasons exist for making infinitely
valuable to the people of this country
for homes the mountainous region of
North Georgia, and the sections of that
character adjoining. In that naturally
favored hill country, it was declared by
the Cherokees when they were made to
abandon it for the lands west of the Miss
lssippi, "a man was never sick or
sorry and at present it is encouraging
to know that every year public attention
it getting somewhat more drawn to it,
the chief attraction being its mild and
healthful climate, which supplies favor
able conditions for many who find it
impossible to live in the severer climate
of the North.
But there are potent reasons why the
people of the South themselves should
turn to the development of that portion
of their territory, which, after all, has
more elements of real power in it than
anything offered to them besides. The
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