IumuromySoutherhaheartfullofjoyousmemories.AsIrecallthatvisitNorthIamfilledwithwoheriessandvarietyoftheexperiehatclusteraboutit.Itseemstohavebeenthebeginningofeverything.Thetreasuresofanew,beautifulworldwerelaidatmyfeet,andItookinpleasureandinformationateveryturn.Ilivedmyselfintoallthings.Iwasillamoment;mylifewasasfullofmotionasthoselittleihatcrowdawholeexisteoonebriefday.Imetmanypeoplewhotalkedwithmebyspellingintomyhand,andthoughtinjoyoussympathyleapeduptomeetthought,andbehold,amiraclehadbeenwrought!Thebarrenplacesbetweenmymindandthemindsofothersblossomedliketherose.

    Ispeumnmonthswithmyfamilyatoursummercottage,onamountainaboutfourteenmilesfromTuscumbia.ItwascalledFernQuarry,becausetherewasalimestonequarry,longsinceabandoned.

    Threefrolielittlestreamsranthroughitfrsintherocksabove,leapinghereandtumblingthereinlaughingcascadeswherevertherockstriedtobartheirway.Theopeningwasfilledwithfernswhipletelycoveredthebedsoflimestoneandinplaceshidthestreams.Therestofthemountainwasthicklywooded.Hereweregreatoaksandsplendidevergreenswithtrunkslikemossypillars,fromthebranchesofwhiggarlandsofivyandmistletoe,andpersimmoheodourofwhichpervadedeverynookanderofthewood--anillusive,fragrantsomethingthatmadetheheartglad.Inplacesthewildmuseandscuppernongviretchedfromtreetotree,makingarbourswhichwerealwaysfullofbutterfliesandbuzzingis.Itwasdelightfultoloseourselvesinthegreenhollowsofthattangledwoodieafternoon,andtosmellthecool,deliciousodoursthatcameupfromtheearthatthecloseofday.