The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-11-19

capped with his life. With much solemnity he
averred that after swimming thrice around his
tent, and diving as often for his musket, he had
swan up tree! where he roasted guard until the
waters were abated. another cOmpmented him
self, in high terms, on his sagacty in making and
proftng by the discovery, that it did not rain half
so fast in the open air, as in his tent. Blazing
camp fires soon dried our drenched garments, and
the dscomfors of the night were soon forgotten in
the pleasures of the day.
Just as the first faint pencil of light, trembling in
the eastern horizon heraded the morn, the twenty
six tongued thunder Of the heavy ordnance pro-
claimed the birth of the sixty -tith year of Amer-
can Independence.
1t was the sacred Sabbath of the christian wor-
shipper, as well as the Great Day of Freedom, A
thousand men, in the panopy Of wal were drawn
up around the humble stand of the messenger of
mercy, and many gllstCnng eye and glowing
countenance, told that the pearls of his gushing
eloquence fell in fruitful places. The voice of fer
vent suppication assembled to the throne of that
Being, who directs armies, rules battles, and holds
the fate of nations in the palm of his hand, II ask
ed that his rich merces might be continued to a
greatful nation; that the gorgeous banner waving
above, might never know an unrighteous cause nor
unsaned standard of an enlightened, a just, and
christian people.
A thousand thrilled hearts responded to the
prayer.
The merry dance was giving out to the evening
air, its sounds of harmony and gee. 1t was the
last night of Camp Oakland, and one of rare en-
joyment. The brilliant adornments CT the joyous
soldier, were eclipsed by the lustrous eyes Of the
graceful belle; and the sweet strains Of the vio,
brought forth by no rude hand, were more than
rivalled by the brd-like carol of soiioned voices,
In watching the Macy eyolutions of the dance, the
eye became bewildered as it was caught and lost
by smiling faces, gay uniforms, bright plumes of
every hue. The gentle moon lent her soft radiance
to the scene, and the venerable old gentleman, who
so per,inacousy peers from her orb, seemed I'M
usually interested in the innocent festivities of our
camp. A dance on the green, reminded him, per-
haps, of the odcn time, when one half of earth S
inhabitants were not employed in connecting por-
tons TO poison the other moiely; when labor and
exercise were not suspected 10 shorten the dura-
ton Of human life, and, Of course when the ladies
had neither discovered the wondrcus sensibiity of
their nerves, nor the miserable fact that their lungs
are of such remarkable deicacy of texture, as alb.
solutcly to be rendered useless for all healihiul
purpose, by few limitations of the fresh breeze.
wandered from the gladstone throng and at
last, iagued, threw myself on the grass in the
shade of a branching tree, to dream and rest. The
canvass city, its inhabitants cleaning in the light
like miniature pyramids ST snow, and the strains OF
distant music dying away in delicious cudences
awoke all the romance of my nature. Imagination
began to rear her airy structures. beheId a cru
sader's camp in holy Palestine, Richard, the glo-
rious Cnur de Lion, and minstrel Blondel, and
trains Of stately danes and stalwar; knights, were
again, to my minds eye, in life, when two happy
fellows, with arms from the shrine of Bacchus
achieved victory the swarlhy Saraccn NIGH have
enved, by putting my host to instant and nglo-
rous flight.
| "Wcll, most noble corn cracker, we beat Il re-
treat in good time from friend Ms trimming
Inequalities. am in love with old Kentuck-suel
girls, such hoys-truy she may be proud of them
worthy descendants us they are, of ancestors whom
the poet saith were
| Men who nc'er their lineage shamed
| The iron-ncrvcd the brayey good,
Who neither spared nor avshcd blood
Aye ready, morn, or night or Moons
| Fleet IN the race, firm In the field,
| Their sinew arms their only shield
Courage TO death alone to yield,
| The men Of Daniel Boom"
| "Stop, STOP my dear fellow, your Buckley,
bard is chanting of the great West, and not o
Ruukee in particular. lie says, aud by the mem
DRY of dauness Boon himself, I'll make the mar
eat dirt who dares gansay him
Land Of the west! beneath the heaven
| There's not iairer, oyclicr cline;
| Nor one to which was ever given
| destiny more hiel sublime.
| From Aleghany's base, to where
| Our western Andes prop the sky
| The home of Freedoms hearts is there,
| And DER II Freedoms eagles fly,
| And herc-should eer C0umbias land
BE rent with fierce intestine ieud,-
| Shall Freedoms latest cohorts stand
| Till Freedoms eagles sink in blood,
| And quenchcd are all the stars that now her ban
ners stud"
"Encore!" wickedy exclaimed.
"Thundcr there's fellow in the grass'
"Good evening, gentlemen
eco to the-good evening, sir"
The discomposed pair sauniered away in silence
but the mercury soon rose, their voices raised il
song, and the last heard Of them
"IIe led us down to Cypress swamp,
The ground was low aud muCky-
| There stood John Bull in martial pomp,
| But here stood old Kentucky,
| Oh, Kentucky, &C."
Ny retirement was again interrupted. A you'll
and maiden came with slow and lettering STEP
They were the rcscuer and rescucd--lhe galnn
soldier and the lovely heroine Of his adventure
Her beauty was indeed peerless. Geni-ke eye
lit up countenance coouress under the moon
RAYS as the snow-wrea,h that mets upon the mar
bic ridge, and ccnlrasled with trcsses which
| -" to shame might bring,
The plumage Of the ravens wing"
became an involuntary listener to a converse
ton. certainly not intended to reach ears prolane
will not disclose all heard, but ! felt humble
for having accused the lady of ingratude and cold
ness towards the handsome gallant at her side.
Ioon ,onod voico hrpat,pd plonupn nrntp alton