The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-08-30

it. and gathered tie sleeves at the
top. and. Of course, got the collar too
large. Those kinds Of shirts are US
uallv picturesque, you Know
made too Of homespun' when
scratched horribly land ornamented
with variegsted fringe. a PAIR oil
m occasins are on his feet. lie receiV-
es You with blunt, honest welcome
and as he gives you his hand his hear'
goes with it." No wonder It's pos
sible that the the whole family was
standing around open-mouthed to see
pap shake hands with the "ciiihed
stranger, and hoping he'd do 1t ngh'.
For dinner. the wife prepares not
corn bread, meat, and vegetables II
i ;s in the simmer. Then she can
have plenty of onions There are
still people in this enlightened South
west Virginia that can eat onions
and fat meat for breakfast! 1t she Is
clean about the cooking, the meal Il,
good and wholesome. The host will
sometimes ask blessing, and the
hostess will offer you bitter, black
coffee. which has been boiling all the
time she was getting the other things
ready, and places cream and maple
sugar, or honey, at your disposal.
"The host bids you help yourself, and,
if not soueamish, Won fall to" and
eniov that plain substantial neal
If he would only stop here We
know he has better meals-maybe-
obetter than YOU ever did dinner at
Astor's." He ought to know that
not many of us eat dinner at Astor's
more than once Il week, and we don't
believe he eats there that often.
After dinner he again grows poeticaI
"Now mount your nag and be OFT J!
He's clear forgotten to tell the family,
even the rosy blooming daughters,
goodbye.
"As you descend the mountain
path family discerned before you, and
breathe the pure, fresh air of the
hills, cast your eyes upon the most
impressive of scenes, for nature is
there in all her glory. Far down in
the valley, to the right, winds a love-
" stream. There, hid by the foliage
overarching its bright waterS-anon
it appears in clearing-again' con-
ceaed by the sweep Of the mountain
YOU are descending-still beyond it
seems diminished to a silvery thread.
70 the tight and front is huge
mountain in luxuriant verdure at
places curving far into the plain-and
at those points, and at the SUBMITS,
bathed in sea of golden light-at
others, receding, thrown into dark,
sombre, forbiddirg shades.
Beyond, are mountains piled on
mountains" remember this is prim-
tive Southwestern, Va, he is dcs-
cribing. our own dear mountains.
One might write this way even now
from the summit Of High Knob, for
instance) like an uptosScd sea OF
ridges until they melt away in the
distance, and imagination fancies
others still farther on. High in blue
ether floats clouds OF snowy white.
and far above them j n majestic flight
sails the bird Of the mountains, with
an air as wild and free as the spirit
of liberty. How everything Is re-
loicing all around. Now fast losing
the scene You are entering the dark,
solemn forest densely matted above
with vines almost excluding the light
Of day. You are soon at the base OF
the mountains. From the copse be-
fore you starts ont deer. The
graceful animal pricks its ears, dis
tends It's nostriIs in fear, and, gather
ing its slender limbs ready for a
spring, bounds away over hills and
through rayines and is seen no more.
The stream, broad and shallow, is
vending its way across your road with
gentle murmurings,-splashl splash
goes your horses feet into the water
Forty times in ten miles does it cross