We hope, we aspire, we resolve, we pray, And we think that we mount the air on wings, Beyond the recall of sensual things, While our feet still cling to the heavy clay. Wings for the angels, but feet for the men, We may borrow the wings to find the way, We may hope and aspire and resolve and pray, But our feet must rise or we’ll fall again. Only in dreams is a ladder thrown From the weary earth to the sapphire walls; But the dreams depart and the vision falls, And the sleeper awakes on his pillow of stone. Heaven is not reached at a single bound, But we build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, And we mount to the summit round by round. —_J. G. Holland._ A FABLE. The mountain and the squirrel Had a quarrel; And the former called the latter “Little Prig.” Bun replied, “You are doubtless very big; But all sorts of things and weather Must be taken in together, To make up a year And a sphere. And I think it no disgrace To occupy my place. And if I’m not so large as you, You are not so small as I, And not half so spry! I’ll not deny you make A very pretty squirrel track; Talents differ; all is well and wisely put; If I cannot carry forests on my back, Neither can you crack a nut.” —_Ralph Waldo Emerson._ DICKSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE By W. O. Thomas Probably there is no county in the state that is attracting as much attention at the present time as the County of Dickson. It lies on the meridial line that clearly defines the mineral and gas belt forming one of the earth’s great arteries connecting the oil fields of Pennsylvania with the oil fields of Texas, and is rich in every constituent that contributes to the material wants of mankind. [Illustration: BUSINESS SECTION OF DICKSON] Dickson County contains an area of 650 square miles. The county forms a great watershed, draining into the Cumberland river on the north and the Duck river on the south. It is watered by many confluents of these streams. Thus the county is cut up into innumerable rich and productive valleys, fringed by fruitful uplands that are in turn crowned by great forests of virgin timber. Talk to any lumberman and he will lament the decadence of the timber production. Yet it is a fact that nature’s storehouse still contains a vast reserve supply of this product, and that the present generation will not live to see it exhausted.