The Cecil Whig., 1885-12-12
4 DECEMBER EVENING,
y Commentary, Not or the New Testa-
Inent, But ON Old Elkton.

\ Commentary, Not or the New Testa-
nent, But on Old Elkton.
'There is a world of natural lovliness
in the country surrounding Elkton,"
said local philosopher to a WIG re-
porter on one of the crisp, cool evenings
that have waned so beautifully this
week. "A world of lovllness, indeed"'
'Forests, and hills, and valleys, and the
level planes that stretch from east to
west and north to south make a remark
able landscape and one which the eye of
art and the eye Of nature oan both look
upon without unfavorable criticism"
The WIG mans opinion was abso-
iately in accordance with that of the
local philosopher, and they plunged
ahead on their ascent Of Red Hill an
xlors to catch glimpse of the sun be-
fore his form became obscured
i'll the heavy clouds that friuged the
western horizon. Red Hill and Gray's
Hill little beyond it are two points con-
tanning many remarkable features as the
back ground ef :. magnificent landscape.
There is an atmosphere of primevality
about the immediate vicinity of them,
when one glanccs into the forests at the
right and left, but this delusion vanishes
when the eye seeks the country to the
westward again and the busy mills of
toll with their tall chimney 5 belchingforth
the vapors of the furnaces loom up be-
fore the vision. The formation of tie
country permits of much of its natural
beauty, aud the fact of its having been
the haunt of numerous Indian tribe, is
sufficient to endow It W;ith ali the COM
plimeLts that may be bestowed. The
indian instinct never faltered in it's Sc
lection of what was grand and beautiful
III nature. It knew well, too how to
appreciate tbs 1uyliness that hand of
man had not created, and we can imac-
lne their surprised JOY when they stood
upon the summit OF Gray's Hill and saw
the ilk, like a silver serpent or the
heightened shadow OF q cloud, winding
away in the distance towards the then
undiscovered regions of the mighty
Chesapeake. Gray's seems to be the
central Hill of the many that are not
iceabe III this vicinity. Around !. they
all sweep IN wavering .i.io of majestic
proportions, G:i,s at this season of the
yeai when they are all disrobed of their
foliage the resemblance ta Lingliness is
intensified. 4 ssrb Of snow would
make them immaculate, but they are
almost SO even low wher the embers of
the sky as c"2ninG approaches wells them
with mingled gold and purple and Grim
son. ~ on may search far in our. ma
tive and foreign lands" said the local
philosopher land then fail to find : pic
ture Of nature much moro enchanting
than this is. | knoW not what strange
power 1t IS that taxes hold Of nee always
when enaeayor to loose myself in these
! hills and forests about Elkton. The
cares that infest the day are taken from
me and | see simple meaninrlessness
in this temporal life 2f cars that makes
1t shuddcI With insignifcance when
compared with the life of this dumb na-
ture that has coursed tarough these
great mounds oi earth and these leafless
trees Tor centuries. The month of De-
cember the evening Of the year, and the
evening of a bright: Gay, are too much
| for me at once, and | am powcrless to
more than contemplate in silence the
grandeur of Gods ways. l am always
thankful for the appreciated. / am able
to feel for his wonderful works. I bathe
IN the sha,ioW of these oaks and pines as
! one would who felt new life eoursing
through his veins and feared lest the
sunlight ahoald Wither its freshness and
perennial beauty. My whole nature be-
comes asiow with the glory of these
| radiant shafts that are sent through the
forests here from the chariot of Day to
plant farewell kiss or the mossy cheek
of the hlll.' The local philosophers
tongue grew eloquent, indeed, as he ex-
pressed his impression IF the scene.
Bat there is ne mortal elo4uenee that
can do justice TO su h landscape on
December evening. It does not surround
| the heart with gloom, but rather imbues
it with serene and hopeful g,a;sness
and upholds it in strcG.. and steadfast
| faith i'll the n-cv iuential laws of life. 1t
J is almost sinful to live and move among
such glorious nature as tl.p vicinity of
| Elkton contains. wit4oi.t all ranks, all
| conditions. iearnlng to observe with
! proper appreciation the blessing their
own natures receive from daily contact
| with the ioviiness we have described.