A "Thousand- Mile Walk 



with the trees in the one great bedroom of the 

 open night. 



September 12. Awoke drenched with moun- 

 tain mist, which made a grand show, as it 

 moved away before the hot sun. Passed Mont- 

 gomery, a shabby village at the head of the 

 east slope of the Cumberland Mountains. Ob- 

 tained breakfast in a clean house and began the 

 descent of the mountains. Obtained fine views 

 of a wide, open country, and distant flanking 

 ridges and spurs. Crossed a wide cool stream 

 [Emory River], a branch of the Clinch River. 

 There is nothing more eloquent in Nature than 

 a mountain stream, and this is the first I ever 

 saw. Its banks are luxuriantly peopled with 

 rare and lovely flowers and overarching trees, 

 making one of Nature's coolest and most hos- 

 pitable places. Every tree, every flower, every 

 ripple and eddy of this lovely stream seemed 

 solemnly to feel the presence of the great Cre- 

 ator. Lingered in this sanctuary a long time 

 thanking the Lord with all my heart for his 

 goodness in allowing me to enter and enjoy it. 

 [30] 



