The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-02-25
By KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN.
Author OF "RebeCca OF SunnybrOOk Farm"

wet SklnS upon ltS SnOIe anu tue
brown deer came down to quench his
thirst at its brink. while Mt twilight
the stealthy forms Of bear and panther
ard -olf were mirrored in Its CLASSY
surface.
Time sped. Men chained the rivers
turbulent forces and ordered II to
grind at the mill. Then houses and
barns appeared along its banks.
bridges were built. orchards planted,
forests changed into farms. white
painted meeting houses CLEANED
through the trees. and distant bells
rang from their steeples on quiet sun.
day mornings
All NJ once myriads of great hewn
logs vexed its downward course. slen-
der logs linked together In long RATS
and huge logs drifting down singly or
In pairs. Men appeared. running hith-
er and thither like ants and going
through mysterious operations the rea-
son for which the river could never
guess. But the mill wheels turned.
the great saws buzzed. the smoke from
tavern chimneys rose in the air. and
the rattle and clatter of stagecoaches
resOunded along the road.
Now children padded with bare feet
In the rivers sandy coves and shall
lows. and lovers sat on its alder shaded
banks and exchanged their vows just
where the shutting bear was wont to
come down and drink.
The Saco could remember the "cold
year." when there was black frost
every month of the twelve, and.
though almost all the corn along its
shores shriveled on the stalk, there
were two farms where the vapor from
the river saved the crops. and all the
seed for the next season came from the
favored spot. to be known as Egypt"
from that day henceforward.
Strange. complex things now began
to happen. and the river played its own
part In some Of these. for there were
disastrous freshets. the sudden break
ing up OF great jams of logs and the
drowning OF men who were engulfed
In the dark whirlpool below the rapids.
Caravans, with menagerles OF wild
beasts, crossed the bridge now every
year An Infatuated elephant lifted the
side of the old EdgewoOd tavern barn.
and the wild laughter OF the FOSTERING
rum drinkers who were tantalizlng the
animals hoated down TO the rivers
edge. The roar Of a lion. tearing and
chewing the arm OF one of the by
ISLANDERS, and the cheers OF the throng
when a plucky captain OF the local
militia thrust stake down the beasts
throat-these sounds displaced the for
mer warwhoop of the Indians and the
ring Of the ak In the virgin forests
along the shores.
There were days and moonlight
nights, too, when strange sights and
sounds of quite another nature could
have been noted by the river as 1t
flowed under the bridge that united
the two little villages.
Issuing from the door OF the River
boro townhouse and winding down the
hill through the long row OF teams and
/ carriages that lined the roadside, came
a procession of singing men and sing
ing women. Convinced OF sin. but en-
tranced with promised pardon. spiritu-
ally int pxicated by the glowing elo-
quence OF the latter day prophet they
were worshiping. the band OF 'Coch-
ranites" marched down the dusty road
and across the bridge. dancing. sway
ing. waving handkerchlefs and shout
ing hOsannas.
God watched and listened. knowing
that there would be other prophets.
true and false, In the days to come.
and other professions following them.
And the river watched and listened.
too, as II hurried on toward the sea
with It's story Of the present that was
souc tlme u - the hlStorS- OF the-.2st
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