Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-01-17
From The Knick.rbacker, or .Ntu York .Ns,o
Monthly Magazine
A RAMBLE IN THE WOODS ON
SUNDAY.
.4rlI arhnk a. and hn.rd IhcrH
una chdt the trrifer sd,c ana heard u
[Py j X. Paulding.l

frequently spend a sabbath morning IN
The country rambling alone In the melancho.
| y woods. sometimes resting myself against
! the rough bark OF a time worn tree; some
| tunes lingering on the woody nights looking
far over the surrounding world; and al others
| reclining listestly by the side of some clear
hrook, over whose ripping way the branches
| meet, and from natures choicest canopy.
| Here indulge my memory aud imagination
| in thousand devious wanderlhgs; | recall
| he distant shadows OF departed time that
| nave by degrees faded almost into oblivion,
| aud send my mind on errands to the iuiare;
| a thousand recoleetions melancholy, yet ex
| quisitely touching, throng about my heart,
aud thousand anticipations beckon me on
| ward in the path am pursuing through this
| Maynard world At times become so com,
| pIetely distracted from the scenes around, IA
to forget where am, | ponder. and
| dream.
On one ofthese occasions. about the mid
| lie OF the sutry month Of August. when the
| Jog star RACES, and all nature sinks into a
| sort of luxurious repose, had become soule
| what tired with a ramble longer than usual,
and laid myself listcssly along the margin Of
| a little twittering stream that stole its win
ding way among the deep ohscurities of the
wood. II was Sunday, and it seemed as if
nature partook in its holy abstraction from
| world, thoughts and worldly occupations:
| The voice OF the ploughthan cheering or
Gliding his team: the rafting ofthe sonorous
| wagon over the rough mountain road; the e,
choes Of the woodman's axe; the explosion of
| the hunters gun, and all the customary
sounds that gave life and animation 10 rural
sports and rural occupations had ceased
Al, ~, 4, IN hroh
! al intervals on the hallowed quiet OF tile day
| seemed TO come over me with q soiteneh,
uetowed tone, as If fearful of disturbing lie
repose, and awed by the solcmnity Of univer-
sal silence Through the arched canopy Of
foliage that oyeraung the little siream,
conld see it conrsing lis way on either hand
amoog messy rocks, glitterng as fifty moon.
light aud disappearing after a thousand
meanierings. Is it impossible - at least with
me il ia ippossibie-to resist the influence
of such IA scene. Rejecting begins like our.
selves, sink into a scot ni mela ,choly revere
and even the sptighEn SIS of chll4hood is re-
pressed, by the baowed quiet that reigns
all around Giilt awakes FROM ITS long o
biyion, and innocence becomes saddened
with the stiffness # nature
As thus lay. stretched in languhl iistiess
ness along the stream, AS qnet as the leaves
that brcathcd not whisper above me, and
gradually sinking inio almost nnconciousncss
of the world and all Il hods--tbe little birds
sported about careless OF my presence, and
the incessant turmoil. winch seems never 20
cease. until winter lays bis icy letters on all
nature, and drives them into then fnscrufa
BILE hiding places There IS a lapse in the
recollection of the current OF my thoughts at
le 8 moment. "a short period of forge,inlness.
from which was reused by hoarse croak
ing voice, excianing:
"Cruel savage monster, what dose he
hereP"
looked all around, and could see only q
hawk seated on the limb Of tree, eyelnS
me as glanced with peculiar expression
of hostility. In few moments lagain relaP
sed into profound revere, from which
was awakened once more by snail squea-
king whisper.
Il dare say tie blood thirsty villain has
been setting traps for u.s. .. H.,
looked again. and at first could sec no.
thing from WHICH supposed the voice might
proceed, bat al the same time immasined
{ dis,ina uished sort of confused whisper,
IN many little voices seemed eommgied. Ny
curiosity was awakened and peeplng about
quietly, ! found il proceeded from col'ec-
ton Of animals, and birds, and insects ga
thered together for some unaccountable pur.
pose fbey seemed very much excited, and
withal in great passion about something,
all talking at once ~ Listening attentwely,
could Distinguish one from the other. !;
.Let us poupce upon the tyrant, and kill
him in his Sleep" cried bald eagle, "ior he
grudges me miserable little lamb now and
then, though don't require one above once
week See where he wounded me IN the
wing. 90, that can hardly get an honest lIv-
ing. 10y prey" .s1 ..
'Let mo scrach his eyes out" screamed
hawk, "lor he will not allow me peaceably to
carry offa chicken from his barn yard. though
am dying Of hunger. and come IN open day
TO claim my natural, indelesabie right"
save, ave." barked fox, che lnfeFferes
in the same base manner with my privileges,
though visit the hen roost 10 the night, that
may not disturb him.
Agreed, Kissed rattle seake, 'for ne wont
| let me bite him, though he knows 1t Is my
nature, and kills me according to scripture
and thereupon he ratified his tail. eurled
| himself in sp:tsl voIums and darted his
| tongue at me in most fearful manner
Agreed said great Fat spider. who sat
| in his net, surrounded by the dead bodies of
half dozen insects agreed, Tor the bloody
minded savage takes delight in destroying
the fruits oi my honest labours, on all occa-
! SONS
BY all MEANS buzzed great blue bottle
| az cnr he will not LET me tickle his nose OF a