The Somerset reporter., 1895-02-28
\ MOUNTAIN GIRL.

\ MOt \ / AN NlhII
"Whoa''
Tha command WAS unnecessary, for
both horse and dTAyer were willing to
stop aud rest under the shade of the
oaks AID poplar> that hot July noon.
From early morn, when the dew was on
the erAs: ratil now, when the sun WAS
overhead Mr.. George ,slade had driven
his faiGiul horse over the wild, rough
mountain roads # the Blue Ridge and
the pd." wa, too inviting for him 10
pass rs.
NJ Sladc WAS a sehoolteachcr and
his academy, Is 1t was called stood un-
der the shadow Of Mount Lopatelsa.
one of the tallest peaks Of the Blue
Ridge. H. was, at the time of which
we speak, returning to his home from
the nearest railroad town, 30 miles
away Some years az, warned 10y ap-
proaehng disease, he had left his native
home IN Massachusetts fer warmer
cline Attracted hy the WI al mountain
scenery and the bdlmy air, which seem
el to Danish his pulmonary troubles, he
had made his home among these hardy
and hospitable mountaineers. Ho had
again entered upon bis old occupation,
which he had followed i'll his early man
hood in his New England home, aud WAS
now at the head of Furnishing school
in this secluded country. His habits
were simple, and his slender income was
sufficient to satisfy his wants. He was
alone in the world and ho had long ago
decided to make his permanent home
! here among the mountains. 1t was not
long before he became attached to these
hardy mountainous, and he readily &C
/ commodatcd himself to the primitive
/ style of living Although man Of
northern birth and one who had worn
tho blue, he gave full credit to those
who had worn the gray for honesty of
purpose In return he stood high III 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 dovotedly attached to the pa
tient, white haired old man. twas but
seldom that he went out in the busy
world which lay beyond the mountains
eneircling the lovely valley where he
had made his home. On this occasion
he was returning to his home by IA 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.
\ lovelier spot to spend the MONDAY
hour could not have been found. Hard
by was bold spring, gushing out from
the foot Of the mountain at the head Of
a valley which sloped gently uorthward
toward the Tennessee. The little stream
formed hy the spring went dashing down
the hillside, winding its way among the
bowlders, now flowing smoothly along
over its pebbly bed, then turning with
swift current around some steep dccliy-
ity, soon to roappear as it fell foaming
and sparkling i'll the sunshine over a
rocky ledge and again stretching OFT
like band Of siiVered ribbon until II
was lost in the distance, around, on al
most every side, tho everlasting noun
tains, reaching up to the cloudlcsS sky
clothed at this season of tho year in
greenest vcrlure, with their wooded
crests and the deep hlne ether back
grounds appearing like the gently roll
ing waves of the sea. Nestled among
the jutting cliffs at the mountain ba,a
stood "a humble log cabin, and across
the road in tho little field on the hillside
in the growing corn could be seen an OK
harnpsscd to pillow and toiling up the
incline, and behind the pillow, holding
on with all her strength to the handle,
was half grown girl. The attention Of
Mr. Shade, who had embarrassed his
horse and was preparing to lead the AMI.
NAL to the ford of the little brook boloW
the spring, was attracted. He 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 noontido had
come, she quickly leased the little spot
ted OK from his trappings. 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 =
soon rs 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 aud then dipping up the wa
ter IN her open palms hathed her face,
rosy with the heat, and brushed back
her tangled hair Her toilet was finish.
ed
What a pictured
Standing in the running brook, under
the blossomiug branches Of bending
mountain ivy, with its white and crim-
son flowers touching her hair, now re
leased from its homespun covering
where the sunlight aud shadow mot and
mingled, her cheeks aglow from the
mornings toll, and her eyes, hluo ~ the
ether above, turned toward the hum
Bile home on the hMside, she was in
deed a child of natlye--a true type Of
the mountain girl.
Good morning, miss. said Mr..