The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-06-22
The QueSt0f the River.

| 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
urending torrent of the falls. Among
the giant boulders at its base swirled
ebon floods, mingling their tumult
with the mighty roa of the falls, so
that never, at any hour of the year,
in that place, was there silence,
wherein a 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
lodges, where here and there a slen-
der tree found foothold. Here was
the w~eather-worn steep owe 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, %intractable child Of the hills.
And the torrent said: '"Lo, here is
mystery and solitude and grandeur,
and in the deep solitude, a voice that
calls to me; and in my heart there is
a deep unrest, a desire born Of my
strength to DE 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 aad untamed turbt-
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 a heart that
exults in the glory and greatness of
youth.
Then the clamorous voice of the
torrent became as a 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 fringing grasses.
And still the eager waters flowed
onward with laughter and song until
the mountain solitudes were lost in
the shadows which were 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-
fected in the clear waters, and a
silence fell, wherein the Tilt 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: "Lo, here is
the valley of peace, where strife and
tumult cannot enter. Here in the
warm sunshine, under the yelling
grasses would I abide awhile, save
that from the starlight depths OF the
darkness and owe the meadows there
steals to my heart the echo of a voice
which calls me onward, and in my
heart there is not rest"
For the river was as 4 soul on the
journey of life, knowing not the be-
ginning nor the end thereof, yet fol-
lowing with imperfect obedience the
irresistible voice of the Infinite.
And on the silence arose the sound
of a 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 and the
ripping stream were mingled into
one, as the hearts of two who have
sought each other are brought to-
gether and made one in love. And
there vas a deeper note in the voice
of the river and an added joy in his
song, soft and sweet as the cadence
that voices the joy of love. the only
true JOY of the world.
Then the great forests threw their
shadows owe the murmuring waters
and over the seeding grasses swung
the gossamer blue OF hairbells. For.
at the rivers feet, and in the green