The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-12-31

anguor steals over our senses, as we recall 10 nina
the silent, balmy, incense breathing morn when
first we trod the nowery shades of that enchant
ing spot. Armed as we were 10 the teeth, and bent
on slaughter, we felt as If we prolancd the scene
by our unhallowed presence. 1t seemed TO us the
abode of peace and innocence; place for young
lovers to walk hand in hand, culling the golden
fruit, and twning into bridal wreaths the snow
white blossoms, which made the very air love-
sick with their fragrance. 1t was not for such as
we-the Ud-sained, weatherbeaten hunter
Such were the thoughts which fitted through
our brain as we wended our solitary way through
this wilderness of sweets. And were it not at the
foot of an orangc-trce we discovered the mangled
carcass of the deer with the fresh foot prints Of
tiger leading therelrom, there is a fearful proba-
bily that the Old Forest Ranger might, in the
soliness of his heart, have thrown aside his rifle,
bclaken himself TO straw hat and pastoral crook,
fastened punches fgreen ribbon to his knees, and
devoted the remainder of his life to piping loyelorn
dcs in praise of some cruel, stoney hearted
shepherdess But the well-known print Of the IL
gers royal paw recalled our manhood, and res
cucd Us from the pulling life of an Arcadlan shep-
herd. We were once more in our element. We
Rugged our lrusty rifle, thanking our good stars
that it was 10 pastoral crook And as we loosen
ed our hunting knife in its sheath, we felt that we
had right to explore lis beauties with the free
step aud rowing eye Of a hunter.
ii was at the lower end Of this beautiful valley
which derives It's name from the dense jungle Of
wild orange and lime trees with which it is clothed
that the party from Oolacamund had pitched their
tents. Ii was late on the previous evening before
they he'd reached their ground; the march had been
a rough and weary one; AID although the eastern
Sky was fast Frightening, and the jung crow
ing mcrriy, there were not as yet any signs ollie
within the camp The canvass walls hung damp
and heavy with the dews of night, The wearied
horses stood doing at their pcIets, carefully en-
yelopcd in thick, wOollCn clothing, which oTened-
dcd over the head aud cats in the form OF II hood
The deer, as they descended the hillside 10 seek
their fragrant bed among the orange groves, stop
ned TO aa2e on the unwon,ed sight Of human habit
aons; and the prowIing tiger, Us he returned with
sulky steps to his solitary lain, cast many visit
lul glgncc toward the hag.asa--bn'Iock from
Which he had been scared durirk tho r,ghl hy ,hn
smell Of ire and the ucghhOrhood Of man. The
cry orthc great, black monkey was heard among
the woods like the voice OF Il laughing satyr; and
the wnking owl, like Il drowsy rcycller returning
from his nightly carousc, answered with II boot Of
drunken mcrrimCnt rs in derisOn OF his early -r-
spo ncirhbor. The industrious wo0dpeckcr, Ike
a sober mechanic, piled his noisy trade. The hun-
ury yulture, anticipating Il feast which before sun
! sci. would be prepared for him by the hand oIm1n
wheeled about over the camp III s!r"toW, me
ioyous paroqucts-- y-coaled, lght-hearIcd var
| ieis. daItcd about on rapid wlag, screaming WIN
dc}jahl at the prospect ri Il new day OF thought
les, merrmcni All nature was in motion, save the
sleeping inmates of the hunters camp,
Charles who, loycr-like, had slept but litllc,w
first aJot and his impatient summons speedily
called forth host Of yawnlng native sefNahl',IooN
inc wocrully ont of their element in the cold, bra
cing air of the hills, and creeping about WIN IL sof,
of para!ytic motion, like mll-io>el HES III ihe emu
of autumn. The carp fires, however, were soon
repenished; and by the time the Doctor nae mn
i,hed his toilet. his natural good appetite had been
whc,ted to pitch OF woli-Iike kcenneSs by Tue
snvory s,cams OF curry and ragou which were walt
ed TO his ten, and on the wings Of the sharp morning
all. In les, than an hour the gentlemen OF the par
~ had discussed hearty breakfast, and were as
sembled in the front OF the mess-tent, snoaking
cheroots, and examining their weapons TO see iha
all was in good order Tor grand feld-day. Inc
borses were ACQUIRED, the beaers assembled, and
old Ishma,l already in the saddle, smiling compla
Gently and demonstrating with his impatient MOUNDS
IA band of veterans, Scared with many glorl-
ops wound-which crowded around him gazing
IN in his face, and whining as II to reProacll theI
venerable leader with his usual want OF activity
But there was one tent larger and more comno
J;ors than the others, the curtain of which had no
vet been withdrawn; II horsekecpcr, bearing II
Lis hand n syer-lnounted chowrie, was leading VI
and dawn. in front of it, n handsome ambllng At
cbecn pony. nccoulred with a sldc-saddle; and OF
this tent Charles kept his eyes fixed with all tn
: devotion of good Mussunan gazing on the toni
Of the Prophet
The patience of old Iorlmer was well-nlgh cx
haus,cd, and even Mansfield was beginning 10 &C.
Gdrety, when the canvass-door oil the the tent wa
G at length drawn aside by smiling .1ydh, aud lh
hloomipr Kate, in all the pride of youthful lowell
ness. came bounding forward TO crave forgiveness
Of her father for her unusual want OF punclualIity
There was beaming smile of happiness on he
voung face, look Of coniiding love in her deel
bIue eve, which would nave melted far s,erne
heart ihan that Of her fond father. The medliaie
words of rcproof died upon his lips, the irown van
6 ished from his brow as cloud upon the blll-sld
meI,s before the rising sun. He kissed his dnus'l
ter's check aflec;onnieiy, and ealing her ia2
monkey desired her TO jump upon her poney.
& Need it be said with what alacrity Charles has
tened TO help his fair cousin TO her saddle; how u
gently squeezed her hand in doing so; how clos
j., he rode by her side and how often he diSmOunle
= in the drlicst paris of the road 10 lead her pom
u over difficult pass, or stony watcrcourse! No
The discerning reader will imagine all this And
were we 10 inform him of the very kindly manne
in which all these little alterations were receive
hy the gentle Kate we rather think he would ngic
u with us that the Doctor was not very Ear from til
= truth, when he remarked 10 Mansfield, that ''io
loon was garrn' the bit lassie's heart 10 thaw III,
snow aft a dyke"
iG They had nearly reached the head of the vale,
- when Kate was reused from pleasing rcycric, b
hearing the distant sound Other fathers bugle cal
inc together the siraglers; and she became avail
that. during an interesting discussion with her COT
D in, they had fallen nearly half mile IN the rci
Of their companions. A conscious blush snlius'
her cheek and without waiting for another woT'
che oppIied the whip smarty to the flank Of h
willing pony, who, M, being accustomed to sue