The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-09-16
A Mountain Trip.

eHlDoT 1870. Wnen WAS Cdlleu 10
make business tour through the
mountains of East Tennessee and
western N. c., a distance of about
81 miles from my home.
The cattle which | was sent to
purchase were to be sold at 10 A
M. Monday, making it necessary
for me to be somewhere in the sur
rounding community day before
hand.
For the same reason that Tom
McLin refused, when he was asked
to shout,-being "Presbyterian" l
dared not take SUNDAY to &c such
3 hard days riding. The rising sun
on Saturday morning, shone on me
as was winding my way through
the gap which nature left in the
ChilhoWee Mountains, to let Little
River pass through on. it's way
from the Great Smokes to its des-
tination in the Tennessee about IA
miles below Knoxville.
The morning was bright, the air
cool and my fresh gay horse impat-
iently tossing his head at the ap.
proach of single fly or starting at
the move of squirrel as the fall of
an acorn was almost unconsciously
carrying me at gait of about six
miles an hour.
The leaves had begun to fall and
now and then / could get a plain
view for some distance up the river
where the clear water was forcing
itself among the great rocks, as
pouring over some slight precipice,
or collecting itself into a "dead ed
dy" in a large basin, which had
been formed expressly for some
small boy to teach his pet pup to
swim. The high rugged mountain
came abruptly to a stop at the
banks on either side of the river,
thus completing The splendid seem
cry the very sight of which caused
my heart to leap with joy, and with
an almost audible voice seemed to
repeat: "The fool hath said in his
heart, there is no God.
Having crossed the Dry Valley
pressed over Cades' Cove Mountain;
and passed through the Spence
Flats | found myself leading my
horse, and with much difficulty as
cending the roug steep path which
leads up the side and across the top
of the Smoky Mountains. Now and
then | could see the pieces of dry
bones of snakes, Lizards and other
unfortunate creatures, which while
trying to scale the rocks sleeps, had
lost their footing and were hurled
away over the cliffs, and at least
lifted up their eyes in that far aw-
ay land from whence no sand-lap-
per can return.
Two hours later had gained the
top and crossed the line into the
"Pine Tree State" and I again
mounted my horse and began a
gradual decent.
The sun was low when I began to
see marks of civilization. I was
not at all sorry, for 1 was ready to
accept nights lodging as soon as a
respectable opportunity presents it.
self. Pretty soon house came to
view, at my approach about doz-
en- bowling dogs came from the
house, followed by about seven rag
ged dirty half wild children, the
biggest of whom was not big enough
to lift the least one off the ground.
All this did not favorably impress
me, so l rode on; only to witness a
similar scene at farm house a
mile further down the road. Rid
ing on for about a mile came to a
house which seemed only trife
more inviting than the other two,
but it was now dark and l was de-
termined to try it.
rode up to the fence and called
A middle aged man came out and
at once told my business. I got
the same greeting that one always
gets from citizen of those noun
famous countries. Said he, 1--WE are
poor and havn't got much room nor
much to eat, but We can put up
with it, We are welcome to such as
weave got" 1 assured him that
was all l could ask, and told him il
/ could get accommodation for my
horse, as for myself, if it were nec-
essary / could eat a piece of bread
and hang up on the gate-pin for the
night,
After seeing my horse safe in the
barn and well fed we walked into