The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-09-12
A MOUNTAIN STORM.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OLA THRILLING
EXPERIENCE.
In the Midst of Thunder and Light
ming and Rain on Top of q fountain
Beautiful Word Painting by
Master Artist.

!" TIC nioSt OF lnunder and Light
ming and Rain on Top of nountais
beautiful Word Painting by /.
Master Artist.
Edward Gillian. in Reidsville Review
l remember as sleeper drowsily
awakens from the delights OF some dim
delicious dream few days l spen,
several years ago in the lovely noun.
tain town Of North Wilkesboro. l,
was in the glorious midsummer time
and such days and nights Curtained
by the clouds and almost touching the
ceiling Of the sky We rested amid the
crags and eyries Of vast natural am
phitheatre. We breathed the elixir ol
an other which was less of earth than
heaven and the rarefied and clarefed
atmosphere of our aerial home brought
every sound and object closer within
our ken. From our Alpine altitude
we beheld the changing witcheries of
the day. We rose early and from our
windows watched the opalescent vapors
OF the dawn skirting the long line OF
horizon. Slowly the deep shadows
softened and sunk into the earth and
at last the crimson orb of the day with
all the splendors Of the Orient opened
the sombre portals and stretched a
suspension bridge of gold across the
abysmal deep straight into our room.
| With the true instincts of a strategic
warrior the day god wheels in his fam
ing chariot and sweeps in a view of the
field. First, he throws out his skirm-
ishers of light. Next he reaches with a
detachment ofscintillant glory lonely
peak which stands like colossus amid
the encircling gloom. Then he hanks
with food-tide Of flame a hillside
where the dusk has encamped and
clothes its turrets with a corruscatinq
blaze. Flushed with victory he con-
tinues his triumphal march until the
emerald dome of every frondous tree
top is conquered by his legions of light.
Occupying every vantage ground, his
torches kindled upon every crest of the
crags, he descends upon the receding
hosts Of darkness and with his glittering
lances drives them in confusion through
the aisles of the forest solitudes, chases
them down the long vistas of the valley,
across marsh and river and meadow
land, at last capturing the myrmidons
Of night and confined them in the
mountain caves. Never firing of the
days changing phases we have watched
the burning disc in his full MONDAY
splendor flaming like a bonfire. We
have looked out through sea of fine
spun gold, the glittering valley below
our feet and the cleaning vault of
heaven above our heads. The Yadkin,
like mighty serpent of the tropics
slnuous, slumberous, sensuous, winds
its wondrous way amid the assures of
the mountain fastnesses and stretches
itself across the shining pebbles of its
pathway down the verdant valley, its
Shiny back cleaning like a tiara of
diamonds. We have beheld the broad
and brilliant prospect spread out before
us for leagues and leagues and marveled
at the beauty of natures groupings.
The mountains were just far enough
distant for their angles 10 be softened
in the mellow lustre of the soft summer
haze. The thick outrageous forests
stretched out like dark, billowy wastes
of the sea. The foliage quivered with
the sheen of the sunshine upon its
crest as if afraid its sylvan secrets might
be sought. In the valley a level land
scape lay like gorgeous parterre.
And as the sun weary of its Journey
across the empyrean, left the zenith
and fastened to the western horizon
we have watched him as he set, CLINT
ing, gliding and tEanshguring the hills
and even after he has put up the bars
and closed the gateway Of the day we
have seen his expiring rays after he
has sunk from view glorifying the sky.
And the night ! What a myracle of
splendor The crepuscular darkness
crept from its hiding places in the hills
and the shadows silently stole through
the trembling aisles Of the forest,
down the green and gentle slopes, by
the side Of the murmuring and me-
andering river and presently-ere the
change can be noted-a volume of
voluptuous darkness has swep, all else
before it. A moment ago, every sound
was hushed, but now the transformation
is complete and chorus of birds ard
insects voice the universal harmony of
animate and inanimate nature. Al
honey -colored crescent stands out from
the inky blackness of the sky, studded
with a constellation of stars. The
darkness has hidden the blossoms of
the earth from our view, but for every
one there is flaming flower in the fir
manent before our ravished eyes. The
brooding night, throbbing with earnes,
life, the spectral softness and symmetry
Of every shape around US and the air
laden with an aroma OF subtle summer
sweets sleeps our senses in intoxication.
Exalted above the common cares Of
the world, forgetful of the past and
careless of the future, we hold COM
munion with the gods, having whis-
pered into our ears condolences which
can never come to those upon whom
there rests ausht of mortal interests.
But to change the scene: Upon
perfect Sunday afternoon we mo mat
ter who "we" were made up a party
10 ride up into the mountains to secure
some Of the nectarious peaches which
can be found only above the "fros,
line" up the mountains in the estate
Of Wilkes The day was an ideal
one-heaven- born, cloudless and serene
scarcely a film Of shredded gossamer