The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-11-19
From the Western Lady's Magazine.
CHANCES AT CAMP OAKLAND.
BY AN ARTILLEUR.

" Whose are the gilded tents that crowd the way,
Where all was lone and silent yesterday ?"
ON the first of July last, seventeen companies
of the very flower of the Western chivalry, pitch
ed their tents in the midst of one of the oveliest
spots ever beaut6ed by the hand of Nature A
mere pen and ink sketch cannot convey a 1.-THE of
the beauties of Oakland and its environs-the pen
Gil of Allston could alone do justice to the scenery,
| No cloud-hattling mountains, with beeting crags
and dizzy precipices, are there thrilling the soul
with sublime emotions nor silver lakes their sheen
glowing in the distance, as if the molten treasures
OF earth's centre had gushed to upper light But,
without even these, all is beauty. There is broad
and noble lawn, its surface varied BY gentle I'M
dulation, and studded, here and there, with giant
oaks, whose grand end towering forms, crowned,
chaplet upon chaplet, by winged centuries, pro-
claim them 10 have been monarchs Of the forest
that once waved around. lhe. colossal shades
no longer darken the matted bowers of a wilder
ness, but rest upon robe of natures most simple,
yet elegant livery, the velvet grass and fragrant
buds. TO the right and to the left, entering upon
this lawn, its area fit for the celebration of the
Olympic games, the eye wanders over smiling
country, diversified by romantic openings, magnii-
cent groves,
| "Of coolest foliage, musical with BIRDS
| anu iusttlul WINS, anu ulstuHt lOTeSlS
Bursts of martial music, and the concise en-
phatic commands of military discipline, awoke the
echoes from wood and dale, as the proud array its
arms and spendor flashing back the rays of the
noon-day sun, moved, with measured tread to the
lines marking out the site and order of an encump-
ment.
| will not dilate upon the generous hospitality
and genuine courtesy, with which the officers and
men OF the Louisville Legion, received their mill
tary visants. The character of sold Rain-tuck"
is too well established on these points, TO need
word, either by way of comment or illustration,
from my humble PEN The social virtues are part
ola keniuckian's growth. and are equally to be
found in the polished denizen of the drawing room
who receives you la chesterfield, and in the
rugged hunter, who boasts TO his cherished guest
that he is "death on barr
| The thunder of piece of artillery shook the
feld-a pair ofblooded sieeds, attached to FASH
ionable carriage, broke with (righfu speed through
the terrified and fleeing crowd, The sudden star,
tossed the driver from his seat; and now the only
occupant of the vehicle was lady, young, and Of
surprising beauty. She evinccd great presence of
mind, making no attempt to escape from her dan
gerous situation, by the perious resort Of sprngng
to the ground. Neither did she add TO the alarm
of the bounding animals by useless shreks
"By heayens!' exclaimed noble looking fell
low, in light infantry uniform, leaning on the arm
ola brother soldier, " by heavens! she is calm and
death-ike as a statute. Oh, we're but within the
reach of those snorling devils-they turn-lhey
rush this way-that tree.-thank God It's miss
ed-now" And away sprang the speaker like an
arrow from the bow, to the rescue Of youth and
beauty in Distress
The furious bru,cs were brought to stand
tboir nh fan n,
flames, they seemed to dread the strong and deter
mined hand that had arrested their wild career.
The lady was clasped in the arms of her grey
haired father, who, on foot, had beheld her peril in
helpless anguish.
"Sir," said the father to the soldier, " sir words
cannot express the thousandh part Of the gratitude
gratitude, it's too cold tcrln--ake all have
your fearless risk of life for my child cannot re-
ceive too great reward
The rescued maiden hardly threw a single look
towards her gallant deliverer, nor did her tongue
syllable word Of thanks. She seemed as self
possessed and Indifferent, nothing unusual and
exciting had occurred. What a contrast-thc ia
iher, all gratitude and warm feeling; the daughter,
speeches., and ligid as an cIce.
"Cam as n statute" | repeated, the soldiers
{ exclamation recurring to my mind, eyes, and quite
as unsuscepiible Of generous impressions. She has
pered his existence TO save her from cruel injury
perhaps, from a miserable death"
e turned away, with mingled feelings Of con-
tempt and indignation and-went TO mess.
At sunset, in an open carriage, in company will
$ B., and n, and B., 4 gay trio of Columbus
guards, visited the city Of" fair women and brave
men," The hours sped with rosy winks. Louis
u vile is charming pace--the Louisville llOte! /:
Just what it ought to be. We passed the chain Of
sen,inels and returned to camp, long after Taps.
-, would have been willing 10 have voucled, that
: when fairly couched on my comfort, neither "Ser-
geant of the Guard, Number Fourteen!' nor any
a other noisy number, or thing, could have disturbed
, my slumbers. But water did that, which noise
could not have effected. do not think it rained
an entirely new method was adopted of watering
: the world. wonder if Lake Superior was at home
and in his bed, that night, as all orderly lakes ant
o folks should have been ! have my suspicious
The thunder growled its hoarsest base, the WING
d sung altissmo, the lightning was as busy as if un
i der contract by the job, and willing TO forget tia
lie old Ben Franklin had ever laid salt on its risky
I tail.
/! Did you ever watch rabbits deserving their war
= rem, when encroached upon by an unc,il food
Or rats crawling forth, wet, draggec, and droop
Ing, from their abodes beneath the old warehouse
r. when rising river dispatches muddy avaunt cou
riers hro' its banks warning their ratshps TO qui
" forthwith! Thus it was at reyeie on that IN
lie comfortable morning. We did not, however, a
is we emerged from our dripping quarters, look a
- fearful as the pussies. suky the long tae,
> gentry, 10 portion Of whose troubles have allu
ded. Jokes, witicisms. and railery were abundan
Or with all, excepting, possibly, one or two weaklipg
Of in mind, not body-who committed a most bit