The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-11-08
THE PICTURESQUE YOUGH.

al d around the large boulders of i'm
mense rock where the bass are cap
tured.
With our canvass tent arranged and
our beds provided for the night, my
companions divided, part going up
the river, the others down. | remain
ed at the camp. | appreciated the
fact that l would not have to go far
before | might be attacked by ven
omous rattlesnake, and this realiza-
ton afforded no pleasant outlook for
me.
Whilst the shadows of evening were
deepening and falling down the sides
of the mountains like death-shades
creeping over an old mans soul, and as
the evening star had gone upon its
watch, all returned, the camp fire was
kindled and soon such woodland ban
quet these mountain men witnessed.
The menu consisted of coffee, biscuit
and bread, butter, fried and boiled
chicken, honey, jellies, pies, choco-
late, cakes and apples.
With supper oyer, the veil of night
drawn, an hour was spent in pleasant
conversation. AS | sat silent lis
tener, | could but think how weak
are words to paint a picture such as
met my eyes. An artists brush might
depict the blue sky, the golden sun
light, the old grey church, the whisp-
ering trees, the soft thick grass. A
poet might describe the song of birds,
the murmur of the summer wind, the
color of the blooming flowers, the
music of the old church chimes, but
as | sat there, longing with my heart
on fire to give some idea of the dark
and weird beauty, that enveloped
me, | realized my utter inability to
do SO. The lurid flames from the fire,
the fantastic shadows the trees threw
on the grass and occasionally the
giant trunks of huge old forest mon
archs, denuded of bark, foliage and
branches standing like some grim
giant OF past age, whose old hearts
held out against the utter extinguish-
ment of all hope, must be seen. To
undertake to describe them, one
might as we'll argue with the wander
ing winds or the sweeping waves.
By ten o'clock all had retired, the
murmuring stream, the thousand and
one voices which steal through the
forests at night and the whispering
of the leaves soon lulled all into sweet
and dreamless repose. At four o'clock
all hands were called and at dawn
sat down woods fashion to breakfast,
which was counterpart of the even
ing meal with the addition of some
of the finest country-cured ham |
ever tasted. Madam Archie Dewitt
cut some raw slices of one of her old
hams. This was cooked at the camp
fire after the Indian style. Pronged
sticks were cut and on the prongs
were placed the pieces of ham and
held before the fire and roasted. With |
this mode of cooking the meat retains
its natural flavor, juice and taste.
Such ham | never put in my mouth. |
have eaten ham boiled in cham
payne, ham half boiled, then baked |
and toasted with wines, but this ex-
celled them all, The fish are cooked
after the same style, with the addi- |
ton of small piece of fat meat fas-
tened on the topmost prong, which |
as it melts the juice falls on the roast |
ing fish, which makes it!delicious eat
ing. Such delicious camp cooking
and repast as we had was grand.
AT full daylight the party again |
returning at nine o'clock.
Half an hour was spent in hitching |
up and packing and by one o'clock |
we reached home. Madam Dewitt |
soon had most charming dinner,
including some more of her elegant |
ham aud plate of nicely fried bass.
Thus ended my nights outing on
the picturesque Yough river, which |
will long remain a green spot in my
memory. WIN. KILGoUR.