United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
Glen's first tremors upon crossing the Ohio subsided so as to
permit him to thoroughly enjoy the beauties of the scenery, and
the pleasures of out-door life in a region so attractive at that
season of the year.
The turnpike, hard and smooth as a city pavement, wound over
and around romantic hills--hills crowned with cedar and evergreen
laurel, and scarred with cliffs and caverns. It passed through
forests, aromatic with ripening nuts and changing leaves, and glorious
in the colors of early Autumn. Then its course would traverse farms
of gracefully undulating acres, bounded by substantial stone-walls,
marked by winding streams of pure spring water, centering around
great roomy houses, with huge outside chimneys, and broad piazzas,
and with a train of humble negro cabins in the rear. The horses
were proud stepping thoroughbreds, the women comely and spirited,
the men dignified and athletic, and all seemed well-fed and
comfortable. The names of the places along the route recalled to
Harry's memory all he had ever read of the desperate battles and
massacres and single-handed encounters of Daniel Boone and his
associates, with the Indians in the early history of the country.
“This certainly seems an ideal pastoral land--a place where one
would naturally locate a charming idyl or bucolic love-story!”
he said one evening, to Surgeon Paul Denslow, after descanting at
length upon the beauties of the country which they were “redeeming”
from the hands of the Rebels.
“Yes, answered Dr. Denslow, “and it's as dull and sleepy and
non-progressive as all those places are where they locate what you
call your idyls and pastorals! These people haven't got an idea
belonging to this century, nor do they want one. They know how to
raise handsome girls, distil good whisky, and breed fast horses.
This they esteem the end of all human knowledge and understanding.
Anything moer is to them vanity and useless vexation of spirit.”
At last the regiment halted under the grand old beeches and hickories
of teh famous Camp Dick Robinson, in the heart of the Blue Grass
Region. In this most picturesque part of the lovely Kentucky River
Valley they spent the bright days of October very delightfully.
Nature is as kindly and gracious in Central Kentucky as in any part
of the globe upon which her sun shines, and she seemed to be on
her best behavior, that she might duly impress the Northern visitors.
The orchards were loaded with fruit, and the forest trees showered
nuts upon the ground. In every field were groups of persimmon trees,
their branches bendingunder a burden of luscious fruit, which the
frost had coated with sheeny purple outside, and made sweeter than
fine wine within. Over all bent softly brilliant skies, and the
bland, bracing air was charged with the electricity of life and
happiness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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