The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-05-02
sY JAMES M. GLENN.

It was some years ago, as the writ
er was making ifteen-mile trip
through the country. having been met
by an accommodating friend at . rail-
way station reached by the. train just
before sunset.
The railroad has since been extend
ed to the place sought, and many 9TH
err settlers have come In. while prog
ress has made its appearance on every
hand: The whistle OF the locomotive.
SO long so far distant. sounds through
the hills and valleys; and the niagnin-
cent forests are rapidly melting away
before the rapacious saw. but at that
time. matters were very different. The
giant pines lowered aloft. and for
miles innumerable formed one OF the
most magnificent fields of timber the
world ever saw, and which. but await
ed an outlet to market. AS one trav-
elled mile after mile the grandeur OF
the forest irresistibly attracted him.
and IL required no prophetic eye to
read the future. Nature was simply
hoIdiuiy her splendid offering in force,
The sun had gone down. and the
star-gemmed night had come, but with
such SURROUNDINGS and with an intel-
lectual and gifted companion, the time
sped swiftly. and with the railway
and busting commercial life left tar
behind one felt almost as though
passing through some forest prlmeval.
as a blooded animal left mile after
mile behind.
AZ last. close TO the road. but with
nd house visible, clearing was
reached, and the surrounding oaks
showed that once house mad STOOD
mon, the spot One oak In particular
attracted the attention of the traveller,
ana with that was connected q history
known to but limited circle, YET con-
tanning a touch of romance. OF pa
triotism and of tragedy that rtoucnes
the heart strings and fingers IN mem lem
rnrt "a those concerned have often
5lazoned the pages Of history. and
firured Ia widely known story and
song.
mentioned. and e family resided there.
II was before the war. between the
states at the time Of which we speak
and among others residing there was
n Young lady OF the family. some ais
lance away resided young man, ana
hetween these two there existed an
slIeaiance of affection which teach ex-
pected TO end In a union Of lives.
IT was far away from the great ar
teries of business and commercial life.
hut before their marriage. the south
was stirred by the thought Of North
ern aggression. Not for retention
OF slavery was great part OF the
South preparing to fight. forsthe great
err part Of the South owned no slaves.
but because OF what they considered
an invasion of sacred rights and the
snIrit Of 1919, oft1776, OF the very days
Of Hastings itself, was stirring the
blood of the South. that extended back
.hevond those days.
prompt to the call of Alabama to
bar sons TO 20 to the front, this young
man went. laying his life upon the
sacred altar Of his country No con-
alteration OF life or love restrained
him from answering the call, and back
amid the pines aching hearts marked
his going. Marching or nghtinE. the
time passed more swiftly 70 him than
to those back at home. where contin-
ual apprehension sat enthroned. News
travelled but slowly, even 10 the cities
at times. and amid the pines COM
munication, was even more difneut.