The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-20

shaken the foundations Of old earth. 1t wa
nearing the approach of the morn. At three
o'clock the clouds began to clear away, alt
the moon, surrounded by million dancing
stars, began to peep forth to light up tht
dreary world, The summer storm was over
| My eyes were largely fixed on the low. wooded
hills which now slept in the moonlight; my
nostrlls drank greedily the fragrant air which
scent Of a thousand flowers; my ears vel
coined as a grateful change from the monoto
nous roar Of the storm. the hum of the noun
the of Of the T9g i
fill night with noisy life. Slowly and
Weariy broke the dawn on such day as
often follows heavy thunder.storms. felt
like eXclaiming as The Immortal bard OF old:
"Hail, holy Light, offspring of heaven, first.
horn, Or Of the Eternal co-eternal beam; May
express the unblaned?"
So on we went, where the immense wall oi
granite cliff, which forms the Western side ol
the mountain. ends sheer In a precipice OF
some three hundred feet, topped by "a pile OF
snow white rocks, bespangled with golden
MOSES. AS we approached, screech owl
which sat upon the topmost stone, tapped
lazily away, shaking the rain from Its eath.
ers. and sinking into the abyss as II IL scented
the approach of my oncoming engine. IL was
a glorious sight. upon glorious day, Now
and then, In the distance, could discern
some far.of cattle farm, while I crashed like
lightning over the crossing of some old
mountain road which led from Knox Vile
down toward tle COaSC
1t was dead calm. There was not bI cath
to stir a blade Of grass; And yet the air was
full OF sounds, low deep roar which hover
ed over lawn and wood. intermingled with
the chirping Of birds and insects. Th9 ar
was full OF perfume, the dainty scent of the
mountain flowers. / was now nearing q
q piece of straight, level track, ten miles In
length. Here the track follows stream down
through q mountain pasture. l had been
wont TO make this run from curve TO curve
during good weather in nine minutes. The
track was bad to-day, but | resolved to t;y II.
shortened the stroke Of my drivers and
ward like tiger. Far down on the TRACK, as
far as my eyes could see, | could discern a
white speck which seemed shaking to and
fro. AS / approached the object became
tne by the light breeze which now begun TO
stir soon told me that 1t was the form Of a
newborn lamb. shivering and drying Itself 10
the sun. l used my whistle all / could. 1t
move. Each stroke of the drivers brought
me nearer and nearer this feeble form. What
should 1 do? l was now nearing the end OF
this ten mile run. / had seen time In my
younger days as an engineer when woulo az q
lamb and seeing how high l could knock IT,.
But somehow my heart failed me now, and
could not bear the thought OF killing the little
creature. Quick as flash nv engine was re.
versed q second time and by the aid OF my
air.brakes succeeded in stopping ,her In ten
wards OF the bleating lamb. got down from
my engine. picked the kid up gently and
placed II Off the track. l was now standing
on the curve at the end OF the straight run
and could look around 1t for several yards.
raised my eyes. What did I see Was 1t a
dream One OF the largest poplar trees that
grows upon the mountain-side had been
blown down and now lay at right angles
across the track. Twenty yards farther and
we would all have been hurled into eternity.
George Marshall Moore.