Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-03-21
A MOUNTAIN GIRL.
BY S. D. Bradwell.
BY S. D. Bradwell.

Il" The command was unnecessa
fAt ry, for both horse and drivs
|" were willing to stop and res
under the shade of the oaks ant
poplars that hot July noon. From
early morn, when the dew was on th'
grass, until now. when the sun was ove1
head, Mr.. George Slade had driven his
faithful horse oyer tho wild, rough
mountain roads Of the Blue Ridge, and
the place was too inviting for him tt
pass by.
Mr.. Slade was a schoolteacher, and
his academy. as it was called, stood un'
der the shadow of Mount Lopate ka, one
of the tallest peaks of the Blue Ridge
he was, at the time Of which we speak
returning to his home from the nearest
railroad town, 80 miles away. Some
years ago, warned by approaching dis
ease, he had left his native home in
Massachusetts for warmer climate
Attracted by the wild mountain scenery
and the balmy air, which seemed to
Danish his pulmonary troubles, he had
made his home among these hardy and
hospitable mountaineers. He had again
entered upon his old occupation, which
he had followed in his early manhood
in bis New England home, and was now
at the head of a fourishing school in
this secluded country. His habits were
simple. and his slender income was suf
6cient to satisfy his wants. He was
alouo in the world, and he had long ago
decided to make his permanent home
here among the mountains. 1t was not
long before he became attached to these
hardy mountaineers, and he readily &C
commodated himself to the primitive
style Of living. Although a man Of
northern birth and one who had worn
the blue, he gave full credit tc those
who had worn the gray for honesty Of
purpose. In return he stood high in the
esteem of all who knew him. His work
in the schoolroom was making its i'm
press on the community, and the chill
dren were devotedly attached to the pa
tient, white haired old man. 1t was but
seldom that he went out in the busy
world which lay beyond the mountains
encircling the lovely valley where he
had made his home. On this occasion
he was returning to his home by route
which was new to him, and the pictur-
esque beauty Of this Switzerland of the
south had never before made such deep
impression upon him.
A lovlier spot to spend the MONDAY
hour could not haYe been found. Hard
by was a bold spring, gushing out from
the foot of the mountain at the head Of
a valley which sloped gently northward
toward the Tennessee. The little stream
formed by the spring went dashing down
the hillside, winding its way among the
powders, now flowing smoothly along
oyer its pebbly bed, then turning with
swift current around some steep decliv-
ity, soon to reappear as it fell foaming
and sparkling in the sunshine oyer a
rocky ledge and again stretching out
like band of silvered ribbon until it
was lost in the distance around, on al.
most every side, the everlasting noun
tains, reaching up to the cloudless sky.
clothed at this season of the year in
greenest vendure, with thir wooded
crests and the deey blue ether back
grounds appearing like the gently roll
ing waves of the sea. Nestled among
the jutting cliff at the mountain base
stood humble log cabin, and across
the road in the little field on the hillside
in the growing corn could be seen an OK
barnessed to plow and toilipg up the
incline, and behind the plow, holding
on with all her strength to the handles,
was a halfgrown girl. The attention Of
| Mr.. Slade, who had embarrassed his
horse and was preparing to lead the ami
NAL to the ford of the little brook below
the spring, was attracted. lie saw her,
as the OK reached the end of the row,
stop. and shading her eyes with one hand
look up at the sun.
AS if satisfied that the noontide had
come, she quickly released the 1Iittle spot
ted OK from his trapplngs. The OK need
ed no word of command, but turned and
made his way rapidly down the slope
to the brook to quench his thirst. The
girl followed and reached the stream as
soon as the OK had stuck his head to the
running water. She stood for several
moments with her bare feet in the clear,
cold water; then, throwing back her
homespun bonnet until it rested on her
shoulders,she stopped down and washed
her hands, and then dipping up the wa.
Tow IN bor o,o, ,olnoo hathod har face