Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-25
NEW SERIES WULo saaNOo 1907


ally long vista, opening far back into the to-
rest, suffers the eye to roam OH and refresh II
self with the calm beauty Of distant perspec-
tive.
The traveller, as he rides along these smaller
praires, finds his eve continually attracted to the
edges of the forest, and his imagination employ
ed in tracing the beautiful outline. and in finding
out resemhances between these wild scenes and
the most highly embellished productions OF art.
The fairest pleasure grounds, the noblest parks
Of European princes, where millions have been
expended TO captivate the fancy with elysan
scenes. are but mimic representations OF the beau
ties which are here spread by nature; for here
are cumps. and lawns, and avenues, and groves;
the tangled thicket, and the solitary tree; and
Ill the varieties of scenic attraction; but on
scale so extensive, to offer an endless success
ion of changes to the eye. Were is an air OF CT
vilization here, that wins the heart-even here,
where no human residence IS seen, where no loot
intruLes, and where not an axe has ever tres.
passed on the beautiful domain. So different is
this feeling from any thing inspired by mountain,
or woodland scenery, that, the instant the travel
Ter emerges from the forest INTO the prairie, he
no longer feels solitary. The consciousness that
he is travelling alone, and in a wilderness. es.
capes him; and he INDUCES the same pleasing
sensations which are enjoy ell by one. who, hav.
ing becH lost among the abyrinths of a savage
mountain, suddenly descends into rich and high
" cultivated fields. The gay landscape charms
him. He is surrounded BY the refreshing sweet.
ness and graceful beauty of the rural scene; and
recognises at every step some well remembered
spot, enlarged and beautitied, and, as it were,
e-touched by natures hand. The clusters OF
trees SO faacitully arranged, seem to have been
disposed by the hand Of taste; aud so complete
is the hand of deluson, that it is difficult to dis
pei the belief, that each avenue leads to a vii
lage, and each grove cOEceaIs splendid man.
sion.
Widely different was the prospect exhibited in
the more northern praries Vast in extent, the
distant forest was hardly discoverable in the
shaprIess outline =: b'ne. family lmD Tessed OH
the horizon. Here and there a solitary t,ee, torn
by The wind, sto9d alone, like dIsmantled mast
in the ocean. As followed my guide through
this desolate region, my sensations were similar
to those of the vovager, when his bark is launch
ed into the ocean Alone, IN a wide waste, with
my faithful pilot only, was dependent on him
for support, guidance, and protection. With
little to diversity the path, and less to please the
eye, sense of drearness crept over ma desc.
lation and whitening of the spirit, as when the
heart, left painfully alone, finds nothing to love,
nothing to admire, nothing from which toreap in
struction or amusement. But these are feelings
which, like Che sea-sickness Of the young mari
ner, are soon dispeled. i
began to find pleasure in gazing over this i'm
mense, unbrOken waste: in watching the horizon
IN the vague hope of meeting traveller, and IN
following the deer with my ewes. as they gaop-
ed off-their forms growing smaller and smaller,
as they receded, until they faded gradually from
the sight. Sometimes deserted dark spot at
an immense distance. and pointed it out to my
companion with joy. like that of the seaman,
who discovers distant sail, in the spcck which
floats on the ocean. When such an object hap
pened to be in the direction Of our path. watch
ed it as it rose and enlarged upon the vision sup
posing it one moment to be man-and at ano-
Their buffalo-unti!, after it had seemed TO APP
proach for hours, found it to be a tree.
Reptihs. The present season has been remar-
kable for the abundance of venenous reptiles,
which are to be found in the pastures and fields
in many Of the towns in this vicinity. Many OF
the oldps. Inhabitants aver that this increase IS
beyond all they can recoliect. gentleman at
Manchester. week since. being in the pastures
with small child, his attention was called to an
object uhi1h seemed TO interest the child much;
the Cntd WAS gazing 'h'el'iy vi ''' ~ '>.'''S
snake, wound into coil and having its head
erect On the approach OF the gentleman the
snake ran under stone in the wall and finally
made IFS escape The stone was turned over,
and clutinous bag Of the size Of the gentleman's
two hands was found. viii, h contained eighty six
Young Rattlesnakes, from one to SIX inches IN
length, in perfect life and animation. Many OF
them we're killed, and the remainder on being
exposed To the heat OF the sun soon became ma
inmate. - Salem Register.
70 Rent.