The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-01-31
Vol, 9, No. %. Whole No. 444.

were only in blossom. OF game, also, there
was plenty, both fur and feather, but had
no gun, and nothing appeared more probable
than that should die from hunger, although
surrounded by food, and in one the most
fruitful countries in the world. This thought
flashed suddenly across me, and for mo-
nent my heart sunk within me, as first per-
ceived the real danger of my position. tl
After a time, however, other ideas came 10
console me. i had been already in the coun-
try four weeks, and had ridden over n large
slice oft, in every direction, always through
prairies, and never had found any difficulty
in finding my way. True, utthen ] had al
ways had compass. and been in company.
! 1t was this thought of oyer-confdencc and
feeling ofsecurity, that had made me adven-
turc so rashy, aud spite of all warning, in
pursuit of the mustang. had not waited to
reflect, that little more than four weeks eX-
perience was necessary to make one acquHmt
ed with the bearings ofa district three times
as big as New York State. Still thought it
impossible that should have got so far out of
| the right lack, as not 10 be able 10 find the
house before nightlall, which was now, how
ever, rapidly approaching. Indeed the first
shades ofeveniug strange rs it may seem, gave
this persuasion increased strength. Home
! bred and gently nurtured MS | was, my life
before coming 10 Texas had been by no means
one of adventure, and was so used 10 sleep
with n roof over my head, that when | saw ii
| getting dusk, | felt certain | could not be far
from the house The idea fixed itself so
strongly upon my mind, that | Involuntary
spurrcd my mustang, and trottcd ON, pceriug
ont through the fast gathering gloom, in eX-
pectation ofseeing light. Several times ]
iancied heard the barking of the dogs, the
cattle lowing or the merry laugh of tie chill
drcp.
"iiurrah there is the house at last see
the lights in the parlor Windows"
urged my horse on, but wien | came
near the house, it proved to he an island of
trees. What had taken for candles, were
fre-fies, that now issued IN swarns from ont
the darkness of the islands, and spread them
selves over the prairie, durtng about in every
direction, their small blue lights literally light
ing up the plain, and making il appear as if
| were surrounded with a sea Of Bengal fire.
II is impossible To- conceive anything more
bcwildcring then such ride as mine, on a
warm March night, through the intorminable
never varying prairie. Over head the deep
blue armament, with its host Of bright stars;
at my feet and ali around, an ocean of magi-
col light, myriads of iire-hies floating upon
the soft still air. TO me it wasu scene of en-
chanment. ] codld distinguish every blade
of grass, every flower, each leaf of the trees,
hut all in a strange unnatural sort of light,
and in oItorcd rolnrs Tuboroscs and osters
uroirio rosns and oaronirups dnLlioa and vino
branches, began 10 wave aud move, and 10
range themselves in ranks and rows. The
whole vegetable world around me seemed to
dance, as the swarms OF living lights passed
over it. ....
Suddcnlv ont nCfhc sca of air sounded n
IIouJ md Iong-,Ir,,,,n ,,otc Ist,unod listen
cJ rnzcd aronnd INC. II WIS NOT repeatcd.
midi rode on. Again the sotno souud, but
Ills t;nc the codcncc WAS sad md uI,,iutiyc
Amin mndc n haItund listened. II was re-
nentcL - ,I,ird limo i'm - yer more melancholy
! tore md ! ,ncor,iyed If rs The CRY ofo ,ybi,i-
noor-wiIl Presently il was answered from
n neinhhorir,r islund hv II latydid. Nv heart
leaned for ioy Mt hearing fhe note ofthis bird.
tho u,ti,o minstrel ot',rv own Jaor MARYLAND
In nm instant the Lmisr where I WAS born
! stood before the eyesiglt of my imagination.
There were ,bc moro huts. the gnrdeu. the
Inlonta,;on every tEil,c t>octlv ms Ind left
Il So ro,vcrfil WAS Tho Illusion tbnt gnve
my horse the spur. uers,nded Tim, my. f;,ther's
hGusc law hoinrn me Thc isI,ud 700 Itook
| a., tL,, n.a,,,o ,L.t s,,,.,oI,,,oG orr house
| On rc,cl,;ng ire horJo, literally dismo,mt-
cd ,rL sbontod ont {o,. (boron Fanny =
,rhoro ,,ns stro,, -, r,,n,,i,a tlro,,nh n,vftb-
er,s nIort.,;on wh;cl, for nine months ON
of tba t,velvr. was only Dossable nv mems of
y f,rr, and tbe oId rcgro who offic;nteJ ms
! c,r.,,,,,,n WINS irdcbteJ tn mo FIR rho above
/ niss;cnI corno,,er I believe called
,,,;cc nav thron times but no Charon Tom
,,,, ors,,,crod.. ,,nJ .v,ol,c nc f.on1 - nlnos-
a,,t d,,,,,, 'sor,o,,h,t ashamed ot'tLc Innutl,
70 ,yj'ich nv, excted fnorimotion Ind burried
,,,o - -"
,,,, C,,t so ,vco,.y ond exhausted 60
- 1T. 'I ;,l;,ii 49,. ,,;l 49,,