The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-12-08
A Night in the Pine Woods al
ChafSWnrth

ChatSWOrth.
: Above the dark feathering pine tops
the stars shimmered with soft radianct
and the moon peeped from behind ar
occasional cloud. When the moon shont
the whippoorwill sang, and sweet it is
when woods are still, the lullaby o.
whippoorwill
A beaten pathway, winding through
the huclkleberry, laurel and Other
growths, led to the place we had selected
for our nights repose. 1t was an elevat.
ed ridge thicklv carpeted with fallen
pine needles but clear of underground
where in early spring the ground was
lover-run with the rose-tinged flowers Of
the trailing arbutus, where a little later
the one-f1owered pyrola and spotted pip
scissewa bloomed in all their dainty
beauty and the shinleaf unfolded its
pale blossoms, where the pixie moss
spread its green carpet starred with
myriads of tiny flowers.
The air was fresh and cool, the planets
swinging overhead the moon bright
without glimpse of cloud. The pines
protected and sheltered the spot. Here
we spread our blankets and arranged a
cushion for our heads. We had taken
our dog 'Bonny" with us for company,
and when we lay down with the pine
needles heaped about us and the clean
air dwelling fragrantly in our nostrils,
the dog curled up at our feet with a deep
sigh of satisfaction.
But now wind had arisen that sighed
eerily in the tops Of the pines; the weird
murmurs made me wakeful and in the
ghostly glimmer of the moon my ina
gination peopled the woods around with
dark, creeping shapes. The mournful
] of tnht hir1 I
felt myself devoutly thankful that these
were not the old days of Indian warfare,
when one was liable to be tomahawked
while sleeping. My daytime dreams of
the picturesque savage threading these
pine forests with stealthy moccasined
tread and culver full of arrows ceased to
enchant me when | could not see what
was yonder in the darkness nor know
what sounds they were the wind was
bringing to my ears. | could only RELY
on my practicality, which bravely bat
tied with my phantasies.
Finally fell asleep, and, as thought,
moment afterwards, was fully awake
A faint glow was in the sky, and | sat
there on the soft cushion of pine needles
watching the rose, pearl and opal of the
sunrise, and the lights filtering through
the pines.
Benny was jumping about and bark
ing at the prospect of a return to home
and breakfast, and now came the most
delightful hour of our sojourn in the
wood. The sunrise was beautiful, the
air fresh and invigorating, the woods
seemed no longer lonesome but teeming
with life and interest; each had caught a
glimpse of his lost heritage, and the
near retrospect was like thirst half
quenched, which wonders when it will
get another draft from the old, worn
cocoanut she'll on the sweet, damp shelf
of the well house. Blue Jaws clamored
all about us, and followed us with curl
GUS insistence. Little rabbits scurried
out of the underbrush and bobhed across
our pathway. We nibbled the winter
green berries and deeply inhaled the
ozone OF the pine-laden atmosphere. To
come upon patch of dead brown leaves
dotted over with the vivid red of the
wintergreen, is pretty sight, and one
welcome to scores of hungry birds as
well as humans in search of flavor new
The quail, grouse and partridge will
seek beneath the snow the deliciousy
piquant berry which hangs on the plant
till the following spring, kind provision
of nature.
Nature loves her trees, loves to orna-
ment and bless the earth with them, SO
she sees to it that they multiply and in
crease. The winds, waters, birds and
animals are her clever and industrious
assistants and carry the seeds far and
wide at her bidding. She places delicate
wings upon some of them, and when
the hour is ripe they fly, with the wind
as guide, far away from the parent
tree, nestle in some nook of the winds
choosing, and grow according to the
dictates of their own heart, true to the
traditions of their kind, never looking
about aping the life of their neighbours |
Some seeds are caught by courier waters
and borne to new homes; some are hid |
den in bright berries which swiftly fly
ing birds carry afar and deposit in new
fields. Squirrels gather some from top
most branches and energetically bury
them with quick working little hands in |
distant pastures.
Trees are more beloved than flowers bv
many people because of their perman-
ency and the associations that invari- |
ably cling about them, the memories |
that are ever being awakened by sight |
OF trees OF like nature. They give i'm
mense character to every landscape; they |
proclaim in unmistakable words the |
quality of the ground, the climate, the |
civilization of every locality. Trees are
beautiful in winter when they have
given all their leaves for the protection
of the little tender growing things at |
their feet, and the delicate tracery of |
their branches is revealed They are
beautiful in summer, when in silhouette
against the night sky, and when spring |
bids them announce her return, and in |
the fall, when they pass to their winters |
sleep in sunset colors of summers day. |
When man remembers the fragrant |
pine he rested under at the edge ofthe |
furrow, and the one at the entrance of |
the grove as he broke trail through the |
deep snow in search of firewOod stored |
In the summer against this very season g |
need, he recalls also how he guided the |
old horse around fallen tree, in and out |
through the ranks of them, lodging a |
sapllng that it be not crushed, and the |
wordless, whispered counsel that the |
pine gave him as he rested the painting |
Old horse, stayed with him through life, |
for some way it conveyed to him the |
secret OF individuality, of greatness; it |
baptized him into an understanding of |
all that goes to make up a worthwhile |
life. The pine grows from within out |
ward, looking neither here nor there for |
inspiration, expecting neitherl admira- |
ton nor praise, and some way a man
catches these Elusive teachings of a tree
and holds fast to them.
''Who liveth by the rugged pine
Foundeth heroic line;
Who liveth in the palace hall
Waneth fast and spendeth all.