Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-01-06
A RURAL BEAUTY.
rRETRAGEDY OF A QUIET LIFE
IN THE TENNESSEE
HIGHLANDS.
NASHVILLE American.

States-its resemblance to a MAN.
moth bird's nest perhaps suggesting
tine appellation and although fer
tile and healthful as the famous
BLUEGRASS region of Kentucky, 1t is
almost unknown to the rest of the
world hut lies back here in the
mountains as quiet as a gem IN the
bottom of the ocean. Its lame mas
never gone out like that or ltaiy or
Scotland, and yet it rivals eihther
for picturesqueness. Its lEnaDlt-
ants are agricultors. kind, simple
aud generally well-tO-do, but unen-
terprising. In the hundred and
more years which have gllded by
since their ancestors settled here, on
Iy one of all the number who
have sprung into life and sunk
again into death has made
national reputation. IN
politics, war, science, painting,
music or poetry; and that one was
Percivale Hill, who sang out his
life amongst us, while the ecnoes
continue to roll-sang out his LIE
as a bird sings out its life in the
forest. The seemy to be content 10
let the ages wear by, AMBITIOUS
alone to keep the even tenor OF
their way. From their mothers
first kisses until they took their last
upon the earth, scarcely wish ever
intrudes urging them to seek a
higher, grander life than they nave
known; for they love this spot with
| a love as strong as Tells for SWltz-
erIand. as Emmet's for Ireland, as
Kossuth's for Hungary. Some of
the wealthiest, indeed, go down to
the city occasionally, not 0ftener
than twice a year, and then they DO
not tarry long.
Yes, it is hardly ever thought OF
by the balance of mankind /; l real
Iy have no idea that the place IS
designated on the map. Yet, had
the old masters ever heard OF its
beauties think they would have
hastened across the deep waters
with their easels and brushes and
canvas for the purpose OF gazing on
them and embodying them In Lnelr
great paintings. How L wish tney
had heard Of the Arcadia In TINS
ssnew world, which is the old" ioi
then they might have seen Its
Pride, Agnes Parton, and painted
her and given her limned face tC
fnture generations as the old blino
poet has given Helen of Troy tt
fame.
Agnes Parton! Ay, she was 8
woman worth seeing. Though
beautiful maidens are plentiful II
Southland as morning-glories in TIT
corn fields. or daisies skirting neg
Iected roadsides, or lark-spurs II
the glebe, she was the chief-d'9uVr'
of the Divine sculptor's skill. Rear
ed amongst us there was still some
thing in her appearance Whlcl
seemed to raise her far above al
fine other virgins in the Nest.
, NAV have been her superior educa
e ton, or her fathers broad acres
but am prone to consider IL ina
which compelled Anthony to ooI
his knee to Cleopatra and Petrarcl
To lose his heart to Laura; for beau
tv exalts even the lilies of the field
She has been gone from ou
midst several years, and we Zee
verv sad and lonely over her los
when we think of it, but we try t
believe that God was instruments
In sending her out into fashionabl
life life. not wishing to lei her hlOOr
unseen like a rose in some dar
ravine or the eddelweis on an a
nine height, and we have faith thu
He will watch over her.
We hardly knew when she al
rived at womanhood, she grew u
an 0uietIv. Like a rosebud ST
hurst into full-blown woman SUI
denly. and gave Percivale Hill IN
A lover from childhood) some doub
y ahOut being able to prevent n
wonderful beauty from drawing
worthier suitOr to her ieet. he ns
long considered her his by diVll
allotment, for they had played |
gether like Annie Lee ana Emo
Arden, and planned and dream'
as only children can plan ar
@ dream. d,
ciyale began to experience sol
Jealous pangs. On one OF her Wis
10 the city Agnes had met wall
strong. who, attracted by her "a
face and forln, had ever since spe
his leisure hours in the mountai
in her society.
He had come well recommend
and rumor was afioat in the nele
bOrhood to the effect he could ia
q bride to q home of luxury. III
hid of gossip made Percivale all
more despondent and hopeless,
his own poverty and the advel
q c;reu instances of his birth, he
lieved. would derogate his chan
of success. His mother hau Ut
a pretty, buxom country lass, q
had been betrayed by a young !
ist who came to that region ana
ried there few weeks for the o
eft of his health. When her
was only two years old, she
died and left him to the charl'
- of a not very charitable Worid. :,
The little fellow, though OF q
cate health, was always pretty
cheerful. and did not lac K frier
e Charles Dickens says it is harder
the poor to be good than the n
and Madam de la Rame decls
that we are more liable TO DE
astrav when we have no one to /
or kiss US; but the waif OF
sketch somehow managed TO OF
An exceptionally good character
snite of poverty and 0rphapage.
In verv early life he formed
passion for books, and evlnce
love for nature, which love
nrobably inherited from his fat
When in his adopted home he
always seen with volume OF 81
kind in his hands, and when v
dering through the WOODS or 81 q
lanes he would listen with inn
delight to the birds songs ana
lullaby of the wind through
foliage. and the rustling of the
. blades. and the reapers' songs,
the drag of scythes through
golden grain. And his prect
has done more to convince me
noets are born, not made, thar
of POe's reasoning to the eontr
After awhile, as he grew o
o.,. he began-instinetively, we tho
TO scribble verses, which 'divel
ne continued to practice unit
had become, at the age of nine
1882 o valued contributor to the
OAe 1,ooazines of the land. | hav
ofo tor wondered when he rece
572 |ietters lott from the editors, pra
ooS hiS contributions, whether they
ever imagined who he was
whether they would treat nj
223 kindly ff they knew that ne W
oo0 ilIeeitimate rustic, struggling
'aoz through the poor jostlings OF {
Ono oo,,sA live cheaply i