The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-11-15
BY-WAYs OF STATE HISTORY
Whence Came and Where Goes the
Read That Runs Over
the Hills?

DR.. j. w. Daniel in Southern Chris
tian Advocate.
Last night we were talking about
these old roads and l have been think
ing about them all the while since we
awoke. Did you ever think something
like this: If there is anything that
can awake thought in dull brain it is
AN old road winding in and out among
HE hills as one stands on high hill
and traces it into the unknown coun-
try beyond? Or travels It over the
hill tops and through thesverdant val
leys to Somewhere? I have just open
ed my mail and find this beautiful
poem by Ada NJ Clotfelter of the
Illinois Woman's college, on "The
Road That Runs Over the HILL"
sour hills lie wrapped in blush haze,
&0urJvaiiey's asleep in thssun,
For autumn has come with her
dreamy days.
And Indian summers begun.
Like state ships the clouds sail high
In wide-arched sea of blue;;
Broad fields below, as the clouds
drift by,
Are quiet and peaceful, too;
But ] look far off and wonder still
What becomes of the road that runs
over the hill.
The silver ribbons of little streams
Go s-winding lazily;
Faint, pink smoke, pungent with
dreams,
Hangs over them hazily.
O, our valley IS gorgeous with autumn
trees,
Scarlet and green and gold,
And over it all broods tranquil ease:
Drowsy with peace untold.
But look far off and I wonder still
What becomes of the road that leads
overfthe hill.
Over my head swallow flies
And a promise of freedom >fulfills;
For it's lost where yender the unseen
lies,
The land inst over the hill.
@, athe road IS wide and the road is
good,
And it leads to an unknown world;
The valley may sleep in the sun if it
would,
With banner of mist unfurfed,
But look far off and wonder still
What becomes of the road that runs
over the hill.
But whence came the Foads That
Run Over the Hills? Will some poet
: write q counter part of the poem /
have Just read? I wish some Carolina
poet would write it and send it to me ).
/ would record it in these By-ways of
State History. i had a thought just
new-I have one once in while
that road, as little as we may think
Of 1T, would be the most instructive
and the most wonderful thing in the
world if it had just two things,
memory and tongue. Think of the
things that have passed over these old
roads and trails, they have seen the
varied costumes and customs of the
people for one hundred and fifty
years, witnessed the farees and TRACE
dies that have occurred. They have
witnessed battles, murders, Ynobs, fist
icuffs, herse-races, cock-fghts, pa
troles, nustefs, armies victorious and
armies defeated, files of white-gowned
Kn Klux and see, lgly interrinable
lines of Redzshired cavalry in a cause
as just as that for which the patriots
of NC fought. Seventy and then
another century marked nigh noon on
the dial of time Seventy-six. What
tragedies gathered around these Gen.
tury mile posts! First victory out of
poverty and rags, secondly glorious
victory out of%defeat under the lead
ership of the brave Confederate Gen
esal Wade Hampton. O Carolinians!
You are as mute as the roads and
have forgotten the heroic deeds of
goar worthy fathers. Much of the
ordnance of the Confederate govern
Hent, fleeing in defeat, passed along
the road at the foot of the hill on
which we camp. I saw it, and the
ragged fellows who marched with it,
sat on the knees of some of these
brave old soldiers while my mother
cooked them dinner, sainted for many
49,. roool1 Tho c,,oi1o of