Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-08-24
JonN KING /.
For the Visitor.
REMINI s1;ENCEs.

-
|dicular rocks, lifting themselves high
above the surrounding level, exhibit
on their summit long rows Of that beau
tiful evergreen, the red cedar, which,
when waving in the autumnal breezes,
by the side Of the more lofty oak or su-
gar-tree, givesto the scene thatpeculiar,
lonely appearance which can never be
forgotten. Gentle reader, have you
overheard the wind signing through the
leafless boughs Of the trees, or beheld
the ssear and yellow leaf Of retiring
autumn, or the mists gathering on the
rocky hills, without feeling strange
spirit Of desolations creeping over your
spirit? To rue, it always brings up in
vivid colorstheperiod Of declining life,
or Malvina pouring her dirge for the
loss Of Oscar aThe spring will come
without reviving my vernal days" In
the valley below, thousands Of high CO.
lumns arise, sustaininga vast trembling
canopy Of yellow leaves. A few slen-
dor and delicate plants growing in the
shade, and wide running brook DASH
| ing over fragments that had fallen with
time from the precipices, make up al
| together the widest and most romantic
spot in the solitudes Of the forest.
It was in this secluded place, where
the footof man had seldom been heard,
that we were encamped in the latter
part Of October, in the first year Of the
settlement Of Du Buque. The limbs
about our rude cabin were lined with
the various trophies ofthe chase, such
as coons skins, vcnison, turkies, pleas
ants, and squirrels, and-in one corner
Of il sat large trough well stored with
wild honey.
One morning REPAIRED to the edge
of the thickets which skirt the prairie
at this place. 1t was at early dawn.
An occasional glimpse Of the bounding
deer, or the bowling Of a hungry troop
OF wolves hunting ON its trail, are ex-
ceptions to the usual stiffness of the
place. Even the birds arc in common
mute, or when they do break the ST.
lence, It is in q discordence that suits
the character Of their wild abode. I
was armed with rifle, tomahawk, and
butcher-knife, and stood gazing around
Tor an opportunity to display my skill
on some Of the wild animals Of the for
est, when from among the dark under
wood that clothed the ground, came Al
very large old bear and two cubs, but
at the time itappeared to my confused
imagination there could.beno less than
nifty. AS soon as they came out into
the open space before me, they all in
tultlyely raised and stood erect upon
their hind feet. The distance being
too great to risk a shot, remained mo-
tionless as possible, while they were
making this examination. AT last. as
if satisfied that no danger was lurking
about, they dropped down again and
commenced feeding the aeorns !
which were scattered over the ground
in wildprofusion. then began creep
ing along towards them, though / must
confess not without some serious mis-
givings as to the prudence of the mea-
sure. | thought Of our Old friend, Da-
vid Crockett, in the shakes, feeling a.
bout in the dark for his wounded anta-
gonist, and Of the famous Putnam Ie-
sccnding into the cave by rope around
his feet In short, fancy pictured the
victim struggling in the arms Of this
powerful animal, and greatly prefer
red more kindly embrace. Hope,
however, gained the ascendency; my
heart beat less violently, and the cir
culation was gradually returning to the
tranquil flow Of nature--I raised my
rifle. The aim was cool, long and ia
tai. AS the old one made afew. bounds
and tumbled down the high ledge off,
rocks which / have described, the
youngones sprungupa tree; but while
was elevating my gun, both of them
At the same instant released their hold
upon the limbs, and fell to the ground.
From the distance, / expected to see
them dashed to pieces; but on the con-
lrary, they loped off into the thickcts j
= y nothing had happened, conscious,
10 douDt, that man is every where a
destroyer. One Of these animals which
We Afterwards killed, was supposed toll
weigh, when dressed, between i've and Il
u hundred pounds. To relate how
q toasted on the spoils Of our hunt