The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1879-03-26
No. .13.
Fox THE HERALD.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND
PRESENT.

perfect day it is There is SaJbath
like hush on the dear old hills, broken
HOW and then by L strain Of cntrancing
melody from the throat Of some cour.
agcous mockins ns-biTd who, anticipating
the glories Of summer, thus gives ut
tcrauce to its joy. Verify the day is
perfect psalm, oyvrfowing with pro-
missive beauties and blessing ; 50 per-
feet in fact that we have cschewed
the household gods and are here sit
ting on the steps of the old bridge
where rest and quiet hold genial sway.
From afar comes the musical ring
of the smiths anvil and the distant
tapping of busy hammers telling that
dormant energies no longer latent lie.
Softly falls the fountains crystal waters
into its basin Of granite 50 grey
overhowing which it wends its way to
the bright streamlet beyond, and TO-
gether they wind their way like sill
yer ribbon through brake and fallow.
"Though men may come and nlep may
go they 60 on forever" As they flow
Oh thought flows back and We think
of the time when Williamson was an
unbroken forest. As that was long
before We had entered upon life's busy
stage, its history comes back to Us
through the dim shaded avenues Of
the pas;, enshrouded with all the halo
of romance and the glamour of tradi,
tion; but let me tell the tale to you
as twas told to me.
1t was during the year l645, when
the site now graced by the pretty vii
lage Of Williamson was a dense wood,
where squirrels gambo!ed and birds
sang undisturbed by even the sight Of
a sportsman in bis "Lincoln green"
that Mr. Allen Williams, the proprie-
tor Of said woods and the honored gen
tleuan from whom w. derives it's
name, was stroling through his do
main, being weary with the heat and
the unusual distance which he had
walked, threw himself down to rest
on the greensward, overcome with "a
tigue he fell asleep and dreamed a
very remarkable dream. Upon awak-
ing he repeated the dream to a little
lad who accompanied him. l cannot
remember the exact words, but it ran
in this wise: He dreamed he saw the
gigantic trees laid low and picturesque
cottages rise in their stead, he heard
an incessant roar accompanied by claug
of bells, this he predicted would be the
graceful monument Of steam sweeping
its dizzy train through the prospective
5oun, converting the wilderness into a
busy commercial mart: But most
wonderful of Ill in his dream he saw a
sparkling spring, which from::its great
medicinal properties would be as the
balm Of Gileaa for the healing of many
nations. Having finished relating his
dream he looked around for water
wherewith to queneh his thirst and
beheld but short distance tiny pool.
He stopped to drink and 10 was found
the "Minera! Spring. Some months
after this Mr. Williams had the water
analyzed and it was found to contain
valuable medicinal qualities. The
present park was then enclosed, the
spring crowned with a neat granite
basin and donated as a gift to the vii
lase, which was still 10 prospective.
Mr., ". was generous to fault and
many we're the recipients of his lavish
bounty. lie likewise presented lots
to the Baptist, Presbyterian and Meth
odist denominations, whereon oul
churches now stand, commemorative
monuments of his generosity. 'T!s
happy thought to Know the good mar
lived to see the realization Of his won
derful dream. The little village rose
in all its rural beauty, the shrill whis
tie of the incoming train broke the
solemn stiffness of shadoWy eve, anc
strangers focked to the wondrou:
spring, Long ago the dreamer ha:
passed away, but so long as flows th'
crystal water Of the spring he dlscov
cred, so long will his name be reVeren
TALLY remembered. "Requlescat in
pace"
We would that we could enhance
the attractions of our "Auburn." w
all admit that the summers are tn
brightest bits Of coloring in the year.
landscape. They bring US old friend
and new acquaintance, and sometime
"Prince Charming' comes to town
Really the summer season is quite a
much of an event to US (though of
more pleasing character) as the "En