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They were rarely enviable folk, those pio- 

 neers. For the most part they left behind 

 the pine and sand of the seaboard for this 

 rich in-lying valley. A true land of prom- 

 ise, flowing with milk and honey, it must 

 have seemed to them. No wonder when 

 the first venturous spirits went back over 

 the mountains the fame of it lured a-many 

 to enter in and possess. 



What crystal clearness of streams, whose 

 banks bore never a furrow what spread of 

 forest, unmarred by axe or fire what ver- 

 durous glades what wealth of vine, and 

 flower, and nut, and fruit ? Beyond all, the 

 cane so tall, so thick, so slender whisper- 

 ing to every babbling wind all the promise, 

 the fulness, of the rich soil at its root. It 

 is the gracefulest plant alive. Do but close 

 your eyes and try to see all adown this long, 

 long furrow a myriad ghosts standing thick 

 and tall, all slender and glistening, breaking 

 out in sharp green leaves along their taper 

 length, tremulous, sighing, all ashiver at the 

 wind's least touch. What harmony sighs 

 through it ! Here is your true Pan's pipe. 

 Syrinx is not dead, nor shall be forgotten. 

 While one of these green things endures' 

 the myth shall have power. Life, reading 

 its riddle, shall understand that out of the 



