The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-25

u sHi'laha anu solbeNhu random blow
trnn Richard, were dancing up and dowa
with That ominons movement that threa-
t''ds sudden aud uncomfortable start, and
pressing backward instead of going into
the quarry. The youth gave the leaders
a powerful jerk, and they plunged sils by
the path they had irosiden themscl, es, and
re-entered the road in the position in which
they We're first halted. The sleigh was
whlrled from its dangerous position, and
upset with its runners nitwards. Tha
German aud the divine, were thrown IA
ther unrerenioniously, II is true, inlO the
highway, but without danger IN their
bones. Richard appeared in tie air, for a
moment, describing the segment of cir
Gle, of which the reigns were the radius
aud was landed at the distance of some
fifteen feet, in that SHOW bank which the
horses had dreaded, right end upprrinost
Here as he lnstnctlvely grasped the reins
as drowning men grasp at stfaws, he All.
mlrahy served the purpose of an anchor
to check the further career of his stceds.
The Frenchman who was on his legs in
the act Of springinS from the sleigh, took
AN aerial flight also, much in that attitude
which boys assume when they play leap
frog, and dying off In tangent to the cur
vature of his course, came into the SNOW
bank head foremost, where Inc remained
exhibiting two hthy legs on high, like
scarecrows waving IN IA cornlicld. MAJOR
Hartmann, whose self possession had been
admirably preserved during the whole cvo-
luton, was the first of the party that gain
ed his feet aud his VOICE
" Der tufel, kichart," he exclaimed, in
a Voice BALI serious, half comical, Put
you unloat your sleigh very hantiy. PIP.
48-5l.
The fifth chapter is SO minute in some
nj lis details, as to become somewhat tire
some, The author occasionally rrsts too
long, and dwells too much on matters OF
trlling importance, as If unwilling to leave
them, or 10 allow his readers to enter too
soon upon the view Of hat he has in store
for them. We have heard il remarked,
that our author is more happy in dcscrb-
Ing animate than lHanimaie nature. We
shall give specimens of his powers in both
departments, and also some of his humor-
Gus or comic sketches. Those who enter
tain the opinion above expressed, must be
difficult In please, if they are not suited
with the following -
"The dark foliage of the eycrgreens WAS
brilliantlyc ca trast't BY neg ec gwhlr.
ness Of the PLAIN, when exhibited, over the
tops of the trees, and through the v,stas
formed by the advancing points of the
bills single sheet Of lmspnlt.d snow, re-
lieved occasionally by few small dark
objects that were discovered, as they
were passing directly beneath the feet OF
| 81,
the plain, the mountains, though equally
high, were less precipitous, and as they
receeded, opened inio irregular valleys
: and glens, and were formed INTO 4 kind ol
terraces that admitted cultivation. Al
) though the evergreens still held dominion
, over many of the hills that rose on this
side of the valley, yet the undulatng out.
| lines of the distant mountains, covered
with forests of birch and maple, gave a re-
lief To the eye, and a promise OF kinder
soil. Occasionally spots Of white were
dlscoyerable amidst the forests Of The OPP
positc hills, that announced, by the smoke
. which curled over the tops of the trees
the habitations OF man, and the COM
mencemcnt of agriculture. These spots
were sometimes by the aid of united labor
enlaigcd into what were called settlements
: but more frequently were small and iGsnia-
, ted though go rapid were the changes
and so perseyering the labors Of those who
| had cast their fortunes on the success o
the enterprise, that itw not difficult l"l
the imagination of Elizabeth, to conceive
they were enlareing under her eye, whit
she was gazing, ia mute wonder, 1T the al
terations that few short years had mad'
in the aspect of the country. The points
ON the western side Of the plain were hotf
/ larger aud more numerous than those OI
, lis eastern, and one in particular, thrust It.
self forward in such manner, as to form
beautifully curved bays of snow ON eithel
side. On its extreme end "a mighty oah
stretched forward, as if IL osershadow
, with its branches, spot which lis roots
; were forbidden to enter. Ii had released
itself from the thraidom, that Il growth Of
centuries had imposed on the branches %
the surrounding forest trees, and threw It's
gnaried and fantastic arms abroad, ID al
. the wiiducss of unrcstraucd liberty. a
dark spot of "A few acres in extent at the
southern extremity Of this beautiful fiat
! and Immediately under the feet of our ira
. yellers, alone showed, by its ripping sur.
face, ana tue sapoFo WHICH tAldIcu lloH
it, that what nj first might seem PLAN
, was one of the mountain lakes, locked in
the frosts of winter. A narrow current
rushed mpctuously from its bosom at the
open place we have mentioned, and might
J be traced for IA few miles as II wound its
way towards the south through the rea
valley, by its borders of hemIock and pine
aud by the vapour which arose from It's
warmer surface into the chill atmosphere
of the hills. The banks Of tnis lovely ba-
! sin, at its outlet, or southern end, were
steep but not high, and in that direction
the land continued for many miles mar
...... h.li ll-,.l nlLin- .llnnm MhIch llE set.