Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-07-22
Il II + CT r D l. II OF FIRE,
EY PEr:CIE III. SELTON.

The lower counties of New Jersey are
proverbially barren, being covered with i'm
mcnsc forests of pine, intcrspcrscd with CO.
dar swamps. Daring the dry summer months,
these latter become parched to an extent
that is incredible, and the accidental con,a-
gion of hre-brand often wraps immense
tracts of country in flames. The rapiditv
with which the connagraion, when once kin
died, spreads through these swamps can
scarcely be credited except by those who
know how thoroughly the moss and twips
are dried up by the heat of an August sun.
Indeed, scarcely spot can be pointed out
in West Jersey, which has not, at one time
or another, been ravagcd by connagratiou.
1t was but few years since, that an i'm
mcnse tract of these pine barrcns was on fire.
and the citizens Of Philadelphia can recol-
lect the lurld appearance of the sky at night,
seen at the distance of thirty or even forty
miles from the scene of conf lgration. The
legendary history of these wild counties is
lull of daring deed and har.breadrh escapes
which have been witnessed during such times
of peril. One Of these lradilionarv stories
it is our parpose TO relate. The period of
our tale dates far back into the early history
of the sister state, when the country was even
more thinly settled than at present.
1T was sunny morning in midsummer,
when gay party was assembled at the door
OF a neat house in one of the lower counties
of New jersey. Foremost in the group stood
a tall manly youth, whose frank counlcnance
attracted the eye. By ms side was bright
young creature, apparently about eighteen
If ,pboe, unII,,,
fit type of the sunny beauty of her counte-
nance. Blu! now her soft blue ewes were
dim with tears, and she leaned on the Shout
der OF her molhcr,who was apparently equal
ly affected. The dress of the daughter, and
her attitude of leave-laking, told that sh,
was bride, going forth from the home O
her childhood, to enter on new and untriet
sphere of life The other members of IN,
group were composed Of her father, he
brothers and sisters, and the brdemen an,
bridemads.
God bless you, my daughter, and hav
yon in his holy Keeping, said the father, a
he gave her his last embrace, and now fare
well -
The last kiss was given, the last par,in
word Wa. said, the last long look had bee
taken, and now the brida party was being
whirled through the forest on one of TN
sweetest mornings Of the sweet month {
July.
1t was indeed a lovely day. Their wa
lay through an old road which was so rarel
travelled that it had become overgrown wit
grass, among which the thick dew-dron
gttering in the morning sun, we're scatiere
like jewels on monarch's mantle. Tn
birds sang merrily in the trees, or skippr
gaily from branch to branch, while the gen
tie signing of the wind, and the occasiona
murmur OF brook crossing the road. adde
to the eShilirating influences of the bo,p
The travellers were all young and happy
and so they gradually forgot the sadness {
the parting hour, and ere they had traverse
many miles the green arcades of that Lowell
old forest we're ringing with merry laughte
Suddenly, however, the bride paused IN he
innocent mlrth, and while shade of pale
ness overSpread Ter cheek, called the atter
ton of her husband to dark black clou,
far of on the horizon, and yet gloonier an
denser than the darkest thunder cloud.
The forest is on fire - was his ins,a,
ejaculation, 'think you not so, Charnley
and he turned to his groomsman.
'Yes but the wind is not towards us. m
the fire must be miles from our course
There is no need for alarm, Elem said h
Turning 10 the bride, his sister,