Year: 1876

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readers enjoy occasionally touch Of the


descriptive, as well as current matter, w


venture to claim small space in you


columns for the description Of the natura


scenery known as the Crooks of Dee


Creek" We must however ask the in


dulgence Of yourselves and readers, no


that we fear ungenerous criticism, but be


cause we feel our utter inability to ably
and justly perform the task before us


because we feel that no pen can do more
than sketch the skeleton of the natura
picture that now presents itself to oul


mind.


Amid the hills of southern Pennsylva
mia, the little stream of Deer Creek takes
rise in the form of a pure, bubbling
spring, whose clear bright waters gush oui
into the sunlight as if they knew of the
romance, that is to mark their future
journey to the Susquehanna. Making its
way among hills and meadows, receiving
now and then an addition to its threadlike
waters, Deer Creek grows into a brisk,
busy stream, measures the rick landscapes
of Pennsylvania lying south of its source
and flows across the dividing line Of
Mason and Dixon into Maryland. The
entire course Of this little stream is marked
with scenery of the ostromantic descrip-
tion, not sufficiently imposing to be called
grand, nor so highly picturesque as those
magic scenes around which poets delight
to throw the glow Of Heavenly beauty
but in every respect pleasing, because its
wildness makes no attempt to awaken
feelings of awe, but simply seems to soften
and modify such, into lively and pleas
ant admiration.


As the little stream threads its way
southward, and reaches the romantic hills
Of northern Hartford, the scenery gradually
assumes wilder aspect. Two ranges Of
lofty hills run parallel with the creek,
sometimes approaching and almost hiding
its waters as they silently follow the deep
and guarded path, nature seems so kindly
to point out to them.


Here and there the hills on each side
suddenly recede, and leave on each bank,
as if to let in the light, an unguarded
space, each Of which is shaded by the
spreading branches of the overhahging
trees, and these, as if still to deny the
creek a touch Of sunlight, spread their
foliage almost over it, and supply the
shadow Withdrawn by the receding hills.
But we will weary your patience by
dwelling upon the milder scenes of Deer
Greek, when my object is to present to
you one of its grander pictures.


The Rocks of Deer Creek are located
in the northern part of Hartford county,
about fourteen miles south of Pennsylva-
mia line, and twenty-five miles from the
source of the creek. As we have before
remarked, the entire course of the stream
is romantic and pleasing; but here nature
seems to mock the attempts of the hills
and rocks above to appear grand or rugged
Here, she rises suddenly into sublimity ;
here she gives evidence, that some fear.
ful hour Of the unpierced past has wit
messed throes that have reared high into
air mighty wall, and hurled into form
less heap numberless fragments of rock.
The features which have won for this
scenery its celebrity although not as
much as it deserves, are its wildness and
true natural grandeur.


Running almost at rightangles with the
stream, is high rocky range, called
Rock RIDGE" through which Deer Creek
finds its path. Here, where its waters
pass this natural barrier, are two gigantic
peaks, one on each side of the stream,
lifting their storm-beaten heads, far up
into the air, above the tops of the tallest
trees that grow round their bases. The
right-hand peak is particularly remarka-
BILE, as its bald, bare crest, standing almost
lost in its giddy height, jets far out over
its base, as if itwould span with its rugged
length the frightful space that yawns be-
tween it and its opposite peak. Standing
at this wild height, out on the projecting
point, and gazing down into the little
noisy stream made turbulent by the thou
sand boulders lying in confusion at the
Bottom, the mind is filled with strange
sensation of awe at the contemplation of
natures wonderful operations, strange
freaks, and fathomless mysteries. The
lofty range of hills here seems to have been
at some time in the distant past unbroken,
and what impresses the mind so deeply
while viewing these giant rocks, is the
inevitable conviction, that some tremen-
dous convulsion has laid open this massive
barrier, and at its sides, left standing wild
and baye, and alone, these solemn guar
dians of this gateless chasm that these
myriad fragments, piled and heaped 50
confusedly around, are but resting where
natures resistless forces relinquished them;
and that these pointed lodges that show to
the eye their torn and jagged sides, are
but memberless trunks whose limbs have
been torn away and hurled into disorder
below. The noisy creek viewed from these
elevated rocks, seems to flow quietly among
the thickly scattered obstacles, as if rest
ing from its triumphant struggle to find a
gateway through the ridge, and as the
pent up waters Of the reservoir sink down
to their passive level after bursting the
banks which confne them, it seems to be
seeking at the bottom of the chasm the
smoothest path for its restless wanderings.
Directing the eye from either height to
the opposite one, it spans frightful chasm
across which voices float like echoes, and
at times are almost lost in the depths of
the intervening space. Tall trees assume
the appearance Of saplings to the down.
ward gaze, and the proud head of one
grand old rock looks as if it would throw
out over the trees and smaller rocks clus-
tered at its foot, protecting shadow from
the burning flame that pours upon it, or
break the force of the storm that hurls it.
self against its unyielding and changeless
crest.


While it cannot be claimed for this
scenery that it possesses that imposing and
awe-exciting grandeur found in the noun
tain wonders of the world, yet these tow
ering rocks cannot be gazed upon without
experiencing the liveliest sensations of
wonder. The visitor is struck with the
romantic appearance of stream and rock,
and wonders what historic truths, could
they speak, would be revealed; what wild
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