100 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
LETTEE V. 
Dallas, June 16th, 18 — . 
I AM just returned from a pleasant ride to 
Caliawba ; it was solitary indeed, but not the less 
pleasant for that. Human society that is not con- 
genial is a greater bore than a total want of it ; 
but nature is always congenial, and always con- 
versible. The first part of the way lay through 
the forest, with nothing to be seen but tall pines 
on this side, and tall pines on that side. I quickly 
cantered Ooroiigh this, and came to the banks of 
Mush Creek, the sarnm little stream that surrounds 
the school, but several miles nearer its outlet. The 
banks were high, but they had been cut away for 
the road to cross ; most of the “ creeks” have to be 
forded, few bridges being yet erected. When 
they are flooded by the winter rains, this is often 
an unpleasant, and sometimes a dangerous business, 
especially for ladies, as they are frequently so high 
that it is necessary to swim the horse ; and to keep 
the saddle when the beast’s back is entirely sub- 
merged, amidst his struggles with the foaming 
rushing flood, is by no means an easy thing. 
However, I had nothing of this sort to encounter, 
the water scarce reaching the stirrups. 
The steep banks of this rivulet were ornamented 
with a very handsome shrub, the Oak-leafed 
Hydrangea [Hydrangea quercifolia)^ whose large 
sinuous leaves of dark green were admirably set 
