The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-06-14

exceeding far their widest dreams.
As they walked beneath the overshld-
owing and interlocked branches and
among the tall, straight pines, spots
of sylvan beauty bedside silver springs
gurglng from the white sand, sug-
gesled homes OF happiness and un-
earthly lovelineSSs. Others suggested
vast fields of golden grain and vine
yards laden with generous Intoxicating
purple whilst still others, beside deep
rivers and beautiful bays, told ottowns
and cities yet to be, and thronglng
multitudes busy with commerce and
civilization"
DlADENS OF ARBORESCENT GLORY.
Looking westward to the headwaters
OF her rivers, he gives this graphic pic
ture Of her magnificent forests:
1.-The very widest mountains are
densely wooded to their SUBMITS,
which, with the exception of an occa-
sional prairie, are crowned with bril-
liant diadems of aboresCent glory.
Indeed, this is the case with almost
the entire State. Out of the $4,000
square miles which our area covers,
| but 10000 nave been stripped of their
forests and reduced to cultivation.
Full 10000 square miles-an area
quite as large as the present limits OF
Virginia-are still in virgin wilder
ness, waiting to become the homes of
our children. And whilst it indicates
that we have increased in numbers
slowly, and are behind our sisters in
wealth and population in some degree,
yet in many respects this vast store
Of reserved riches is to me a high
source of congratulation and pleasure.
Should our population grow in the
future at the same rate as it has in the
past, our descendants will have ample
room for a thousand years to come.
The effect of our forest upon our eli
mate, and the regular, unfalling flow
OF our streams, must necessarily be
beneficial. In the course of my life
| can remember but one drought which
seriously affected the crops, which hap
pcned in IS45 and the distress caused
by this was confined within very mar
row limits Doubtless the shel,erlng
canopy of our vast forests have much
to do with these results. The char
aCter of the trees varies with the soil
and elvation. About I2o different
species are found in the State, of which
nineteen are oaks alone and nine are
pines. The rich soils of the noun
tain cnves produce the most splendid
spccln-ns OF timber trees in the
United States. In truth, after dill
gent inquiry and careful reading, | am
prepared to assert that this Appala
chan region of North Carolina IS the
most fertile and bountlfully wooded
mountain range in the world nor
are their bosoms less rich than their
surfaces"
But higher up in this I" Land of the
Skies his pen seemed to catch new
inspiration, in describing
THE MOUNTAINS AT SUNRISE.
CHOW, if that mountain be due
East nf you, and if you will rise next
morning in time to see the sun come |
forth as a bridegroom from his cham
ber, you will see picture such as no
man in this world has seen surpassed,
and such as might have been in the |
mind Of the vision wrapped Apostle,
when fitted before him the sublmo |
semblanCe of the rainbow of emerald |
enclosing the throne of shining gold in
the midst of the crystal sea The storm |
has disappeared, the winds are mute,
the heavens have assumed their deep,
solemn azure. Sharp pointed spears
of golden fire come up from the East
and dart among and through the
translucent warp Of that silver bridal
veil which covers the mountain top
with its ineffable glorles. AS the God
of Day mounts higher and higher to-
ward his throne, showers of simmer
ing radiance are scattered IN whirling
waves over the outstretChed arms of
the giant oaks and upon the emerald
cones OF the pines, leaplng from
branch to branch until their rays meet
and minglc in a crown of corruscating
glory. Aud then maze Of wonder
and delight which IS almost agony,
you icel that you are gazing upon the
Crystal Palace OF God, whose splendors
mortal man may be happy that hc can
see and live and that ten thousand
polished diamonds, the larges, and
the brightest that ever glittered IN a
monarch's dladem, would not com
pare with the glory which IS made
manifest in single tree on that noun
tain top wherewlth it is clothed"
HIS IDEAL SUNSET.
Oh, ye dwellers within cities and