Autumn Splendor

Last autumn, while on a trip, I decided to explore the Morgan-Monroe State Forest. This huge forest enriches the countryside not far from highway 37 and was a place where early settlers once attempted to farm the ridges, but were frustrated by the rocky soil unsuitable for agriculture. Little streams, ancient trees, shaded paths, and hidden places are some of the physical attributes which make the Morgan-Monroe State Forest an enchanting place.

I wandered leisurely along the shadowy paths, enjoying the peaceful surroundings. With only the songs of birds for company, I felt completely isolated from the crowds and traffic as I walked over the deep carpet of leaves. It had begun to rain a little when I first started my journey. However, small patches of sunshine soon began to filter through the giant oaks, promising that the rest of may day would be pleasant.

I first reached the part of the forest known as Stepp Cemetery. Colorful wildflowers were blooming in a patchwork of bright yellow, azure blue, deep rose, and dazzling orange. Stepp Cemetery was a memorizing place where, it is said, a mother's lullaby could be heard from time to time. Locals tell the sad story of a woman who tragically lost her newborn son in the mid-1930s, and had the baby buried in the nearby cemetery. She then became a recluse, spending most of her time at the cemetery, watching over her baby's grave, and singing to him. I lingered there for a while, listening to the gentle sound of a stream as it flowed over the rocks nearby. I also listened for her lullabies, but the mother did not sing for me.

I began to follow the meandering stream toward a strip of thick, rough grassland. It was covered with blackberry bushes heavy with large, ripe berries. I stopped there to feast on as many as I could eat. Nearby were the remains of a camp, which consisted of a ridge with a deep ditch around it.

I became more adventurous and made my way along the Low Gap Trail to a thickly wooded area of the forest. The dense growth of Gray Birch trees, White Poplar trees and tangled bushes made this part of the woods appear dark and mysterious. I pushed through the thick brush, disturbing some gray squirrels