Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-06-17
The luestof theRiVer,


Vast walls of rock, with irregular
peaks. dark against the radiance Of
morning skies, and in the wall of
rock a deep cleft. over the brink of
which in sheer silver descended the
unending torrent of the falls. Among
the giant boulders at its base swirled
ebon floods, mingling their tumult
with the mighty roar of the falls, so
that never, at ny hour of the year,
in that place, @as there silence,
wherein birds song might be heard
or the voice of the wandering wind be
audible.
This was the mountain home of the
river. Here was the green gloom Of
lichened rocks, the gray of dizzy
ledges. where here and there slen-
der tree found foothold. Here was
the weather-worn steep over whose
jagged edges the white clouds sailed,
seemingly SO close that from the sum
nit one might almost think to touch
their luminous folds. Here rioted the
rain and the sunshine, the winds and
the winter storm; and Graded in the
heart of these lay the torrent, the
wild, lntractable child of the hills.
And the torrent said. aLo, here Is
mystery and solitude and grandeur,
and in the deep solitude, voice that
calls to me; and in my heart there is
deep unrest, a desire born of my
strength to be off and away over the
world
For the torrent in its eagerness was
as the heart OF youth fretting against
the barriers, and was fain to be free.
And with wild and untamed turbu-
lence the waters rushed over the
boulders. broke through the masses
of rock, and swept down from the
rugged heights with echoing riot and
roar, in brown tumbling volumes and
silver yelling of foam, as heart that
exults in the glory and greatness Of
youth.
Then the clamorous voice of the
torrent became as voice forgotten.
The gray rocks were left behind, and
among the messy boulders were lay
ers of golden sand The wild roar of
the water became as the glad, low
sound of laughter, and over the rip
pies and sparkling eddies fell the
soft shadow of f nging grasses.
And still " waters flowed
onward with nd song until
the mountain ere lost in
the SHADOWS wnfvs. as mists
on past years. Beyond lay the unex-
plored region of valley lands.
In the vivid green of the grass shy
flowers opened. and down upon the
wide levels the blue sky shed its
serenity. BY night the golden stars
looked down and saw themselves re-
fiected in the clear waters, and
silence fell. wherein the lit Of the
river grew wistful and soft and ap-
pealing, as the joy note that voices
the heart of love and of longing.
And the river said: 10, here is
the valley OF peace. where strife and
tumult cannot enter. Here in the
warm sunshine. under the yelling
grasses would | abide awhile, save
that from the starlight depths OF the
darkness and over the meadows there
steals to my heart the echo of voice
which calls me onward, and in my
heart there is not rest.
For the river was as soul on the
journey of life, knowing not the he
ginning Ror the end thereof, yet fol-
lowing witt imperfect obedience the
Irresistible voice of the Infinite.
And on the silence arose the sound
of song, lifting and joyous as the
echo of the rivers mountain song,
and the river rushed onward with
outstretched arms; and, with the glad
laughter and hurry of his native
wilds, there bounds into his embrace
a swift. impetuous stream. And the
tides of the growing river ar
ripping stream weva n
one, as the 80
sought e~ 80 to-
get I'VE. And
he voice
fr-- 10