The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-24
Zephyrs frsm the Blue Ridge.
GLEN ALPINE SPRINGS, July 10th.

Editors Farmer and Mechanic:
Once upon a time you asked me to write
you a letter, and for that fatal indiscretion
you are indebted for this boldness of mine.
/ am sitting by my window in the large and
picturesque hotel, at Glen Alpine Springs,
watching the white mists unfold themselves
and roll slowly off the mountains; watching
the soft grey clouds that encircle their crests;
watching each changing shade and tint that
give these everlasting hills such ineXhausti-
bic variety.
Bathed to the very soul in the stiffness
and grandeur OF these encircling mountains
-exhilerated by this October air after the
fervor of July, we verify begin to realize the
dream OF the early explorers and announce
that we have found the fountain of health
the elixir OF life. Nature, our tenderest
mother, our discretest nurse, our surest COM
tOrter, provides these waters of healing,
these fountains of refreshment for her
weary children.
1t is hard to realize that this is the same
earth it was last Saturday when the ram
pant mercury rose over 100 and the air
was like the breath Of Sirocco. 1t is hard
to keep out of a rhapsody, hard to remem-
Der that tastes are weary and hearts ever
ache-hard to realize that the streets are
long and hot and dusty, and the nights
hideous with heat and musquitos-doubIy
hard to realize when just now | had to close
my window and borrow a shawl from a friend
who had faith to believe last week it ever
would be cool again.
| wish Messrs. Editors you would Law aside
YOU pen and a modicum of your dignity
and come up and have a romp-yes a gen
uine rOmp among these hills of Burke.
You would find pretty girls ready, willing,
and able to aid and abet III any plan for fun;
indulgent cha erones who give a long O
to their charges.
While | write | hear peals of merry laugh
ter from the young folks in the large hail
where we gather In the mornings and dance
in the evenings, and from the ten pin alley
come sounds of mirthful voices mingled
with the rolling balls. Cosy groups of more
sober whist players can be found in quiet
corners, and now and then we run into a
hilarious party shouting and laughing over
the noisy and disreputable game of arab.
The wee small children patter around with
their pretty little pink feet, making us envy
their liberty OF dress and undress. While
all along the hillside, under the trees that
whisper so lovingly overhead, there SIT Jp
tuOs, just as tender whisperers beneath their
stretching arms, (the trees arms [ mean.
If ever the little blind God gets into a bust
ling, busy, real frisky fit, it is at the Springs.
He is In a fair way to empty his culver here
and he does SO much mischief and shoots Sc
at random, his mother ought to spank him
and put him to bed for shame.
Messrs. Editors, there is the dinner bell
and you know Owen Meredith says we car
live without everything in the world-but-
dining.
l assure you the chef de cuisine is no un.
important parsonage in our community, fol
such appetites as we have would threaten 3
famine anywhere but in this bountiful lane
flowing with milk and honey, where the cat