The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-19


Nd be>a lacking dS4@ xpaaea ~ dey. nov
about e retipe, "a Wit ethee lands 70 look %
the woodsmaa Of Oregon, to hlsss with their
little light the mariner on the Pacific ssas, and
t. twinkle aeain Ia the twilight of China So
does the host Of heaven march it, perpetual
tround.
| There is sweet village in the interior Of
| Ohio, where once passed two years--the hap
piest Of my lifs My dwelling was in the out
skirts of the village, on the summit Of ridge
that ran east and west, forming two pretty val
leys on the north and south | had view OF
both these. That on the north was especially
lovely. The hillside sloped gently down to q
little plain, Cor prairie, as it is there termed,)
where, oil summers day, the cattle would be
seen quietly feeding, the drowsy sound of their
tinking bells being occasionally heard in the
distnncc. At the farther edge Of the prnirie WIS
a wild woodland stream, shallow, but often swift
and impetuous, and making rushing noise as
it foamed along among the rocks and trunks of
fallen trees. There was little vaingloriousness
in its look and sound, not altogether perhaps
without just cause, as it was sweeming along
to distinguished destiny; for little way be-
low the prairie, it comes among high cliffs and
precipices, where the scenery is not only pictur-
esque, but borders on the grand and through this,
for long distance the stream moves on with
an air OF conscious dignity, the shadows OF the
rocks dnrkening its surface. Beyond the prairie
and stream, again, were woods, wild woods,
with here and there little opening glade visible
in their midst. Az used to sit at my window,
ofa summers afternoon, looking over this lands
cape, what sweet and peaceful sensations would
fill my breast! 1t was most soothing and quiet
ing to the spirit to look down upon those peace
full fields, those silent shady woods, and over
their tops to the soft blue sky beyond. At such
moments the world, with its wearying tolls, its
harassing cares, its hardness and coldness, was
| forgotten; and felt myself only an inLabitnnt
of that elder world, the beautiful world of Gods
creation, before mems wickedness had furnished
and disturbed 1t. Blessings on the fresh woods
and the virgin soil of the west!-they bring
new life to the worn spirit.
Sweet, too, and rural was the other valley, on
the south side of the ridge, but quite different
| from the former. 1t WAS much narrower, and
its beauties more confined. Through this, too,
wound little stream, a bubbling, gurgling
brook, carrying freshness and life aongits course,
like the unostentatioua charities of the humble
good. A range Of willows for some distance
skrted its margin, giving what they could, their
cooling shade, in return for its refreshing boun-
ties. At length, as the valley widencd, the
little stream came out in the open plain, and
wound its way along till it reached the village,
where, being bent into new channel it turned
mill, thus performing good USE to man, as ii
had before done to nature, and setting an ex
ample, by doing good as it had opportunity
Beyond the brook ross pretty hillside, GOV.
cred with forest trees, with one or two neat cot
<o<.n v,,t H.,
solemn, retired walks, where often used to
stroll with volume Of Cowper or Thomson in
my hand, looking sometimes into the book, and
then at the scenery around me; reading alter
nately page of the poet, and then one in the
volume of nature, written by the great poet,
whose words are irorks, whose verse is the order
Of creation, and its rhythm of music of the
winds and waters, and the harmony of the
Spheres
But my favorite haunt in this valley, was an
ancient mound, one Of those curious structures
which are found scattered over the wide west
the work Of race that has passed away 1t
was regular and nearly conical in shape and rose
directly from the level plain, so that its artificial
character could not for a momen. be mistaken.
Here was fond of repairing at even-tide,"
when the studies and duties Of the dry were
over, and the shadows were beginning to gather
around Taking my station on its top. | loved
to watch the evening shades settling on the
landscape, and to note the stars, az they come
out one by one from their homes in the depths
of heaven First of all appeared Venus, queen
of beauty: long before the western light had
faded was her bright face seen beaming alone
in the twilight skies. By.and-by another star,
in distant part of the heavens, would appear,
stealing timidly forth and then another till, AZ
ha dnrt fha,r
many would come out together; and at length
the whole heaven was spangled, and the milk
way, with its star-dust," could be traced dis
tinctly throughout its course, while just above
the eastern horizon bright Sirius cleaned; and
higher up stood magnificent Orion, with his
glittering belt and starry sword girded on for
the night-watch. How would gaze and dream,
and gaze still into those bright heavens till ideas
of the grand and infinite filled my spirit, and
thoughts of universal love and good made nv
heart swell within me And then would i'm
ages Of great and good mon of past ages rise
before me: Howard, and Newton, and Milton,
and Washington; and there would spring the
hope of doing something also, in my time for
the benefit of my species, and then / would turn
toward the East-the East that old world,
and long TO visit those scenes marked with the
footsteps of antiquity, and look with my own
eyes upon those classic hills and venerable sto.
ried piles, where men have lived and acted,
meditated and worshipped, for hoary ages past.
" Yes" thought |; sand here now | am ! yes,
here am my wish Is granted"
Recovering myself, thus, from my dream of
home and by-gone days, | happened to turn my
eyes toward the left, when my attention was
attracted by faint light among the clouds
presently it grew stronger and brighter; it was
the rising moon, The orb itself was not vet
visible; hut the light on the clouds continued
to brighten and ncrease--a silvery light, beau.
tifully distinguished from the crimson or golden
light of the setting sun and it gradually spread
and extended along the horizon, till il reached
the cond that rested ON the head Of Xesnxins