The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-08-29

seen me before. Had not been prepared
for Old Dominion mountain--hospitaiify,
should have asked, perhaps, If there were
no mistake. The warmest place by the
fire ON the broad, Kitchen hearth, was i'm
mediately rendered, and having seen my
horse, the genial host did not hesitate 10
offer coincidence on my rough trip over
wishing he might have been able to show
me better way than that through "Buck-
eve hollow" But he did not dwell on
"heaviness oerpast." Soon the table was
literally crowded with mountain viands,
and any unfnmiliarity on my part with the
mode of cooking, Was far more than
atoncd for by my hosts wealth of genial.
ity, touched with not little original
humor. After supper, We adjourned to the
best room, where blazing fire was made
against the great backlog. Here, in the
Pickering light, JEFF" told some OF his
best stories, revealing an untutored power
of thought not soon to he forgotten. /
remember one striking illustration he
made. speaking of the conformation OF the
Gap. "If," he said, you can imagine
time when the hills about Big Stone Gap
were all one heap of white flour, and an
enormous turkey came along, planting its
foot on the heap, the Gap itself would be
the impress of its heel, while the creeks
running into the Gap, would be marked
out bv its toes For woodsman or
mountaincer, this would, doubtless, be a
much more effective description than the
finest map.
Among other local touches JEFF" spoke
of the difficulty no had experienced in
convincing some Of the mountain people
that 'frcc trade" was not some outlandisl,
African animal about to be imported into
this country.
The rare, quaint flavor of these noun
tain qu:ps fades at secondhand; but
through the memory of them all, touched
by the Pickering light of that wood fire, l
can hear clearly yet the hearty, ringing
laughter of my host, az, at the suggestion
of his son, something especially rich would
touch his fancy. Across the months |
could reach hand Of gratitude for most
CHEEKY oasis made that night on road
not <pl ally adapted for unfamiliar feet.
At intervals that night and in the MORN
ing Of III ~ie | was especially struck by
the f. Il musical murmur of the noun
tain brook, which sang its plantivc, UNI
ceasing melody just beyond the house.
After an early breakfast, with Mr..
Dillon sson as guide, we were soon far
up on the mountain.
Here, in spots, traces of now fingered,
though the soil was warm and soft in the
valley. Excepting one or two grand, far
reaching prospects, the ride that day was
IL Il A. ii
After crossing the moutain pushed on
alone; and, by few futile inquiries, find
ing that the Gap receded further away
each time, kept ahead with the blind
faith that | should reach it eventually;
although | almost dcspaired when my
horse, (Which, the livcryman afterwards in
formed me, had carried distinguished
Confederate general, (practically collapsed
in the mud about mile outside the Gap.
By more or less pulling he was brought
through the last few sloughs, and most
welcome, rs we rounded the last hill, APP
pcarcd the rough board houses, just visible
through the trees. Ncver-should it sur
pass the dreams of the most ardcnt-could
this mountain city seem more beautiful to
me than it did that day, stretched out be-
meath the slanting rays Of the afternoon
sun. 1t is something to have enjoyed
such an Introduction, making it kind of
refuge for wcaricd memories. Though IL
suggestion of mud remained in the atmos-
pherc, and even in the food, for IL week or
more thereafter, | have since been heartily
glad that | could have known the Gap in
those primitive days, before the getting
into it had lost those peculiar features so
remote from the commonplace, though
seldom longed or sought for second
time, imagine, by those who had known
them once W H. BEcKFoRp.