The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-12
From the Journal Of Commerce.
Frosted Trees.

REVUsc0 Ifeo0e
or Winds Inc hcs, o,aads e; ia the treasured
az SsSmng Keen eastern breeze arose
ANA the descending rain unsullied froze
TIa ,sss g sne sasn' snades of night Withdrew,
Inc lace OF nature in a rich disguise
And frightened every object to INV evas
For every shrub, and every blade of prnss
Aod every pointed thorn seemed wrought In glass -
Since Sunday, we have had presented TO our
view, the beautiful phenomenon of FRosTEn
TREES, the most astonishing and brilliant tha,
| ever remember TO have noticed. The prey;.
Gus storm aud mist had thickly covered every
exposed object, the lofiiest trees, the minutest
blade, hill and dale, with the icy garment
This transparency was most perfect, defining
every form and ramifcation into exact models
Of the entire body, branch or limb. Dwellings
and barns were incrusted by the chilling va
por. 1t hung upon the names of the cattle,
and decorated wherever seen, the humble grass,
which appeared bending, like threads of crys-
tai. The small bushes were indescribably
beautiful, and seemed as il chiseled out of the
whitest marble.
AS far as the eye could extend, over brooks,
fields and woods, the same striking and s:ngu-
lar sight was universal. could not remain
contented in the house, and towards sunset
hastened away, where the view might be free
and uninterrupted. Here the scene, If possible,
was scarcely breath of air, and the general
silence was only interrupted by the occasional
fight OF some winter bird, who, alighting on
some limb, would shake down thousand
feathery showers, until he seemed frightened
at the unusual sound. The forest trees made
truly majestic appearance, with their naked,
giant arms and messy branches intersectng
each other, and fast bound by the frozen bar
rers. shall not attempt TO describe the brill
lin nff fha do
upon whose limbs hung delicate frosting, like
unwrought silver, nor the crimson glow Of the
holly. berries through their transparent and lev
covering,-al all was dazzling and splendid
winter array,
"That buries wide
The works of man.
1t brought TO my mind some of the Eastern
fairy tales, and their gardens ornamented with
shrubs and plants of sparkling crystals.
Inc exposed sides of the rocks and fences
were completely iced over not the smallest
particle escaping the penetrating and CONCEAL
ed ether. 1t was truly astonishing to examine
Its thickness. On some twigs, not larger than
| wheat straw, the ice measured half an inch
| through. Few imagine what an immense weight
OF the frozen mass tree will sustain, before il
| breaks under the unusual load. Many branches
were bent SO low that could reach them with
| my hands; and shaking off their frosted barks,
| 0s
Every now and then was startled by the rat
tling noise of these falling icicles from some
nelghboring tree or grove. -
Just when the sun went down, there was not
single cloud to be seen in the horizon, and
his cold bright setting rays brought out on
every hand frozen gems, diamonds, rubies, and
sapphires, in every possible prismatic beauty,
wherever his departing beams fell. Presently
the moon bathed the whitened earth, and every
| an Iron r,.h hor ,~ft L.
with dazzling icy brilliancy trees, dwellings
and streams. am an ardent lover of nature
and her scenery, and have often, delighted,
gaZed upon the Queen Of Night; but never did
| l behold such brilliant moonlight night as
this wintry one. Who could help bringing TO
mind the sublimties of Job and of David
4 he hoary frost of heaven, who hath engen-
deredit! The waters are hid, as witfra stone,
and the face of the deep is frozen,"-"By the
tn breath of the Eighty God, ice is produced, and
the waters which were spread on all sides, are
held in chains" (Job.J The Psalmist says
| 'He giveth the snow, like wool, he scattereih
the hoar frost like ashes. Wash me, and
shall be whittier than now."-Well may poets
look to the falling snow fake for their images
of purity and innocence, ere it receives the
stain of earth. know of no filter emblem.
Such winters night and the skies! the
skies! So resplendent in brightness are the
| nosts vi hed'eh at tbls moment, thdt they
should be contemplated by every lover and
student of the works of God. Their numbers
who can count-their twinkling beauty who
can describe, as onward they roll in the deep
blue ofmidnight! In their contemplation are
inspired Thoughts that wander through etefni-
ty," with an elevation Of feeling, as if we were
separated from the tolls and tumults of earth,
and exalted into higher state of being than
that in which we toiled through the day =
| These heavens tell us of WISDOM and Pow
Err we cannot search or estimate. There we
seem to stand more Immediately in the veiled
presence Of the Infinite Majesty, who "laid the
| foundations of the earth, when the morning
stars sang together, and all the sons of God
shouted for joy" A. HUGUENOT.
The GLOVE, STATEN ISLAND, Feb. A, 1852.
GREAT LAND CASE DECIDED-DIFFICuLrY