Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-07-21
SPRING MORNING ON THE PRA
From Mrs. Farnam's Life in Prairie Land"

Spring morning on the prairies! wish
could find language that would convey
TO the mind OF the reader an adequate idea
of the deep joy which the soul drinks IN
from every feature of this wonderful scene!
Ii he could stand where have stood, when
tho rosy clouds were piled against the cas-
tern sky, and the soft tremulous light was
streaming aslant the dewy grass, while not
q sound OF lie broke on the ear, save the
wild note OF he prairie cock, so much in
IN harmony with the whole Of visible ma.
lure, he would feel oae OF the charms
which bind The hearts Of The sons and
daughters Of this land.
We are within the borders of little
grove. Before US stretches prairie; bound.
less on the on the south and cast, and
frnged on the north by liae of forest, the
green top OF which is just visible ia dark
waving line between the tender hue of he
growing grass aud the golden sky. South
and east as Tar as The eye can stretch the
plain is unhreken save one '.ione tree"
which from time immemorlal, has been the
compass Of the red man and his white
brotder The light creeps slowly up the
sky; for tw light is long on these Savan-
nahs. The heavy dews which the cool
nigh, has deposited gis,en on the leaves
and spires OF grass, and occasionally ming
ling, are borne by their own weight 10 he
earth. The slight blade on which they
hung RECEIVERS then its natural curve, with
a quick but emile motion, that imparts an
> nHp ypa of To hot
before the wind has laid his hand on the
pulseless sea beyond A vast ocean team
ing with life, redolent of sweet odors Ii
yields no sound save the one which first
arrested ou- attention, and this is uttered
without ceasing. 1t is not the prolonged
note OF one, but The steady succession OF
nnumerable voices. 1t comes up near
you and travels on, ringing more aud more
alntly on the ear, till ii is returned by an
other line of respondents, and comes swell.
ling in full chorus, stronger and nearer,
till the last seems 10 be uttered directly al
your feet.
But the light is gaining upon the gray
dawn. Birds awaken IN the woods behind
US, and salute each other from the swing
ing Branches. Insects begin their busy
hum And now, the sun has just crowded
his rim above bank of gorgeous clouds,
and pours flood OF dazzling light across
the main. Each blade becomes a chain
of gems, and, as the lgtt increases, and
the breath Of morning shakes them, they
bend, and flash, and change their hues, I'LL
the whole space seeIfs sprinkied with dia-
monds, rubies, emera!ds, ameihysts, and
all precious stones. Nothing can be con-
ceised more beautiful and joyous than such
a scene at that hour. The contiguous
wood conveys an idea of home, such as you
have borne from the lorest-clad states OF
the east. 1t is refuge from the vasiness
which Cypress the mind, because it can
never wholly compass il. You rejoice;
you exult in the friendly presence OF the
trees not because they afford you CRATE
fu. retreat from The ardent sun; not be-
cause they adorn yoar rude dwelling; not
because they promote the growth OF fruit
and flowers; not even because they congre.
gate the dear little birds about your home,
but because they afford the natural and IA
mIliar alternative, 10 which the mind re-
ours when il is weary OF the majesty which
lies beyond them. You have sat under
them in childhood; you have swept the
fragment. from the little spaces among their
roots, carpeied them With moss. and Toasted
near. You have peopled these magic pal
aces with fairies, aad Eel, & Joy which words
can never tell, in dreaming how happy the
little beings might be where nothing IS
/ slslble 10 their tiny eyes but requ site
beauty, and no sourd falls on their small
ears bat The melody CT growing life. You
have listened TO The wind signing plain
lively through The boughs, and tell your
soul grow fiji for comPanionship with all
thugs whatsoever that are beautiful and
lovely. And now yoar heart surus fondly
TO these tail tenants OF The plain as to ell
de. brothers, and for a moment you look
coidly on the naked expanse beyond
but stop. the sun is fairly up. The fash
ing gems have faded from the grass tops;