Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-02-22

SPoRTlN THE CLoUDS--FUN IN THE RAIr
The BLACK Hills.
We made about ten miles on the after.
noon Of the Sd Of September, and then en-.
camped upon a pretty. timbered creek
beneath gorgeous canopy Of illuminated
clouds, that seemed like scenic reflection
of the vast desert we had been passing
over. PROSTATE upon our backs in the soft
grass, and pillowed upon our saddles, we
viewed with intense delight the magnifi.
cent panorama ofthe skies. There appear
ed among the floating and guided vapors,
the very Black Hills" over which we had
had just passed-in mid-heavens soar
ed the icy peaks of wind River"-low
IN the West we saw the RED Buttes"-
and the isolated lump Of granite, indie
pendencc Rock" Hosted in solitary ma
jesty above our heads in the Northern sky.
A translucent blue opening took the SEM
blance of "Stewart's Lake" and the wind
ings of "Sweetwater' and the platte
shaped themselves out to our fancy as we
gazed. II were as if heaven. knowing our
thought, ben; itself for moment 10 our
desire, and spread out for us an aerial man
OF the wild country We went to visit. We
lay and laughed and exchanged thought,
as the son and clouds seemed thus to play
fairy drama before us. Old Sol was still
plunging lower in the West and the vapors
We looked upon suddenly became enor-
nous masses Of gore. A tumbling ocean
of buffalo blood occupied the evening sky,
and with almost serious sensation of re-
pentance we thought of the many murders
we had committed among the poor brutes
Of the prairie. Imagination even led US
to sensation Of pain as the rolling masses
in the vast expanse grew still more fiery
red, until they seemed TO be tongues of
flame Kissing down vengeance upon us
from the sky.
The sun made golden set, but it did
not foretell fine weather for the next day.
We had just one fortnight of rain and driz-
zle after this date, and it was sort of mis-
cry that we got used to, so that we could
sit in the pluvious atmosphere perfectly at
ease, and laugh at our condition. One
morning, in the very middle of our march,
and quite out of reach OF any decent camp
ing ground, the clouds became more than
usually liberal, and brisk, cold wind
drove the drops with great fury in our
faces. A very droll scene ensued, if we
can draw it before the eye of our reader.
The horses and mules very resolutely
persisted in turning their tails to the storm,
and there we found ourselves at a halt in
the middle of the prairie, for not an ami
NAL would move step further. The rein
proved of no efficacy against the rain, for
our quadrupeds seemed quite determined
to bear the pelting Of the storm only with
their TANKS presented to it, and thus the
whole cavalcade turned round in most lu-
dicrous fashion, as If to contemplate the
country we were leaving. IT was like a
military movement, and the effect was SO
comical that We did nothing but sit still
and laugh at our own ridiculous condition.
Some looked sour, and many looked SOL
emn, while the mirthful spirits among US
were laughing, for we were all, really, in
doleful and melancholy situation. 1t
was so droll to see ourselves all standing in
moody contemplation in the middle of the
prairie, under furious castlgation of the
elements, with our backs turned TO the point
we were most anxious TO reach. In this
position. something that set even the graver
portion of the party laughing. occurred
One OF the vocalists, with his old broad
brimmed hat tied down with handker-
chief over his ears as he sat upon his mule,
with his back 10 the rain, struck up Moore S
famous bacchanalian--
Coward we journey-how pleasant
To pause and nhabit awhile
Those few sunny spots like the present,
That mid the dull wilderness smile!n
This set US all in roar of laughter, and
the singer continued, altering in impromp-
tn only one word Of the original song, 10
make it suit his facetious purpose
"But time, like pitess master,
Cries onward, and speeds the gay hours
All, never does Time travel faster
Than when his way lies among sho,eers ~
blowers
A turn of wit so happy set Us in good
humor again, and slight cessation on the
part OF the storm permitted us to resume
our march.
The vast region of wild elevations,
known as the Black Hills" commences
about the foot Of "Laramee Peak" and
stretches away Westward for miles yet un-
counted. The strong peculiarly about
these hills is that they are covered with a
dark growth of pine and cedar, giving them
the appearance from which they derive
their cognomen. Beautiful timhered
streams intersect them, and myriads OF
buffalo we're grazing all around that region
when we came over them on our way
home.
MANS LovE.-"And don't YOU think
that men can love as we'll as women ~
Sarah laughed outright.
"What can you mean, Sarah 7" asked
Margaret.
Il mean" she rrpi d, "tha, VIII, n a
man finds his house in disorder, and wants
somebody TO put it to rights, he calls this
love; when he is alone, too, and things
don't 90 DleasantIy and he wan,. ,orn.