A I'housand-Mik Walk 



estingly sculptured, far more so than the grand- 

 est architectural works of man. The finest of 

 the forests are usually found along their banks, 

 and in the multitude of falls and rapids the wil- 

 derness finds a voice. Such a river is the Hi- 

 wassee, with its surface broken to a thousand 

 sparkling gems, and its forest walls vine- 

 draped and flowery as Eden. And how fine the 

 songs it sings! 



In Murphy [North Carolina] I was hailed 

 by the sheriff who could not determine by my 

 colors and rigging to what country or craft I 

 belonged. Since the war, every other stranger 

 in these lonely parts is supposed to be a crimi- 

 nal, and all are objects of curiosity or appre- 

 hensive concern. After a few minutes' conver- 

 sation with this chief man of Murphy I was 

 pronounced harmless, and invited to his house, 

 where for the first time since leaving home I 

 found a house decked with flowers and vines, 

 clean within and without, and stamped with 

 the comforts of culture and refinement in all 

 its arrangements. Striking contrast to the un- 

 [42 J 



