Year: 1859

ened his pace and gave him hobbling gait The.
rude young man very unfeelingiy cried out, "Omy
rheumatism" The Doctor is proverbial for hiS
good nature, and hence no stone was hurled at the
youth. As he handed the ladies into the coach one
Of them accidentally placed her delicate little slipper
on his big boot, when he made an exclamation Of
pain; whereat the same impudent young man ejac-
ulated "goutr' The Doctor merely threatened the
youngster with dose of epicac if he got sick on the
way, which seemed to awaken some painful renifs.
iscences in the mind Of the young man, and he was
silent


But must 60 back little to speak Of the valley
Of the Swanannoa through which passed on my
upward journey, in the night time. Day dawned
upon us as we entered the valley. The fog hung
.hicky around us until the beams of the sun began
to dispel it. revealing the mountains on each side of
US like two walls, reminding one of the passage Of
the children of Israel throegh the Red Sea. As tho
sun arose the tops Of the peaks first laid bare,
bathed in the light Of the morning beams, while the
mist settled along their sides and bases like robe
If azure drapery. They looked like beautiful maid.
ems with low-necked dresses the head and bust re-
vealed to the delighted gaze, while floating mist
scarcely concealed the charms around which it 50
gracefully hung. The valley spread before us, now
widening, now contracting, and covered with luxu.
RANT corn, excellent grass, and grazing herds.


About o'clock we reached the summit of the
mountain. On this summit is a house, from the
Western caves Of which the water flows into the
Swanannoa and to the valley Of the Mississippi;
while that from its Eastern caves flows into the Ca
tawba and to the Atlantic. A short distance from
the summit is the head spring of the Catawba where
we all stopped and took drink One Of the ladies
had proposed that we should bring some water from
the Western side and mingle it with that on the
Eastern; but did not know but that it might brew
a storm upon the Atlantic at some future day, and
besides we had suitable vessel in which to bring
it-so we did not try the romantic experiment.


The road down the mountain is quite rough in
places, though on the whole, very fair mountain
road is about six miles from the top to the FOOT
and here the rude young man got after the Doctor
again. requesting him to look out for the big toe Of
the foot. His patience being somewhat exhausted,
he threatened surgical operation on the young
mans head, which silenced him.


Here the valley of the Catawba began to extend
and widen before us. 1t is difficult to determine
which is the more beautiful the valley Of the Swan.
annoa, OF that of the Catawba Both are very fer.
tile, and both contain of the finest farms in the
country. The crops upon them this year are excel
lent. Indeed, the corn crop throughout the noun
tain section probably better than it is this
yelr. We saw large quantities of the Chinese Su.
gar Cane along the roads we travelled looking re-
markably well.


About one o'clock we reached Col. Carson's, one
Of the prettest places in the world and at which
many travellers stop for days and weeks at a time.
Here we parted, with regret, with two of our lady
passengers who had contributed much to the enjoy.
ment of the company. For speed, give us a railroad
but for socability the old stage COACH antigua
tod and fast disappearing before the might Of steam
has no rival 1t brings strangers together and
makes them acquaintances; and where all unite, as
is usual, in trying to render each other happy the
old stage coach is an institution that will long be re.
membered with pleasure, even after it has been driv
en- out of use by the iron steed.


At Marion we took dinner, and with nothing worth
relating, arrived here to supper.


Morganton has improved some but does not pre-.
sent much appearance Of energy or enterprise The
railroad will probably be completed to this point du
ring the next year, which will no doubt give new
impetus to business of all kinds.


had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of
DR.. c. Happoldt here to-day. He was formerly ed.
ior Of the Medical Journal, published in Charleston,
S. c. and is now one of the board of Medical exam.
liners for this State He married in this place and
has settled here. He is young man of good ap.
pearance and fine attainments and has the repu-
tation Of being skilful physician His election as
one Of the board of medical examiners was a high,
bnt doubtless well-merited, compliment
l shall leave here tomorrow evening for home,
bringing my letters with me-thereby saving post
age and insuring dispatch. F. l. W.


At home again. Left Mo-, canton at o'clock on
Sunday evening" three of us aboard The evening
was stormy. and we expected a dark night. It was
very cloudy, neither moon nor stars visible; but
some phenomenon in the heavens made it bright
night. The sky was lurid at times and in different
places; while white streaks appeared through the
Clouds constantly changing their forms and shapes.
AT III 0 CLOCK couid see the hanuS on the 1ace OF
my watch. The driver did not light his lamps until
about II o'clock. 1 rode on the box with him TO
observe the skies. He was inclined to be fright.
ened-said he had been driving for many years, but
never saw such night as that. He very seriously
informed me that something was wrong up there. "
Thcwhi.e streaks were continually assuming and
fantastic shapes and his attention about equally
divided between his horses and the heavens. The
whole night was extraordinarily bright.


About daylight we reached the "head" of the
road, and at r. o'clock we were in Salisbury. Here
took breakfast then on board the cars of the N.
C. Railroad, and at o'clock I was at home.


was glad to see, among the visitors to the noun
tains, many people from the Eastern portion Of the
State. This is better than going North to be insu