The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-03-16
@elrftrh Cubs.
From tho Southern Ladies' Book.
A NIGHT ON THE MISSISSIPPI

y" ue ittn OF February, 1874,
cold and cheerless night as ever fell up.
on this sorrow-clouded earth. On the
we't streached out the broad, internina-
bio forests Of Arkansas !; on the east the
fertile S:ate Of Mississippi between, with
tawney name, and wild terrific roar. the
mighty lion river rushed in solemn gran.
deur to the Ocean.
oppressed by the weight Of accunula-
ted sorrows, l had left my home, to find,
II were possible, amid the pleasing vicisi.
thdes OF travel, some Lethean Draupbt.
some blest nepenthe for the anguish prev
ing so relentlessly on my spirits. With
all the chambers Of my soul hung Will,
the sable paraphrenalia of grief, I mixed
with the denizens Of other climes-"smono
them but not Of them,"-a silent but ol,.
servant spectator Of their actions and emo
tiOns.
a large and merry crowd Of passengers
Were assembled in the spacious saloon Of
one OF those first class s,eemers which nIv
nIon the waters Of the yellow Mississipp;;.
Giittesing chandeliers swung their crvsiaI
l"ndants, 7" and waved their wings uI i.gmr
over y scene Of almost Persian splendor
and ,nagniiicence. Damask diyans and
graceful ottomans were scattered around
in rich profusien an opu!ence Of array,
frightened in effect by multiplied rehec.
I'nn from the costly mirrors, lining the
whole length Of the room. A handsome
rose wood piano stood on one side, cover
cd with scattered music, and supporting
forsaken guitar; for the services Of two
celebrated harpists, fellow travellers, to-
gether with those Of vagrant fiddler, hav-
ing been brought in reauisition for the
evening, It required not prophet to pre-
dict that there was to be-
mo sleep ill morn, when youth and beauty
--. meet, .... .....'u.
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet"
Lonely and apart leaned against the
stern Of the boat, partially shaded by
hangings Of brochetelIe, musing upon the
folly and vanity Of short-sighted men,
Within, gay. saloon, the viol's cherry
strain-the joyous dance-without the
P'tchy clouds, the rearing winds, the rest.
less wave. l sought with straining
eye to penetrate the outer world ofgIoom,
the whole sky, liks an immense wall Of
starless gloom, doomed up with seeming
threat Of instant destruction: every timber
Of our vessel cseaked and shook beneath
the pressure Of steam with which she met
the foaming waves and the fitful gust {;
while between the gaspings Of that strange
mysterious genius Of Gre and water could
distinctly hear the sullen roar Of the tur-
bid food beneath--that dark, broad inter
minable grave othapless humanity which
never cries ut is enough. d.
How soon, thnught I. these fair and
graceful forms, pale and fragile as white
water Elies. may be borne along this wild
and turbid current, in all the heiplessness
=. ,ns. lestiis ;.Sw ssoe he r:,=A of giant
, waves may quenci, the bsilliancy Of these
dazzling lights! how soon the lnxurioua
layishment Of missoss and rosewood may
sink beneath the silence Of the rivers
slime, and Of our stately steamer, the requi.
iium boz ,s,,, ,.,E.....4 ga ls.H
q e -sss weed b In her palace halls, Z.
q & She rides The surge no more"
!. The twisted trunk Of some old forest tree
.Sooiea amid the sands beneath, may sud.
Ideally pisrcs that slepder plank, which il
our sole division from Eternity. The
tNchannel lost In thls impenetrable darknes,
I'VE msy dash 10 piscea on The melancholy
J sshofe, or fate 'ssfl NOSE terrible, 20 rapid
q down, out IN tlss midst of this broad
, 6saalriver, IN Wild colsissioa with . fellow
/, spilesim, 'da its deathsai food.isi ~ y I
= II wss q source OF tlnnkfalneaa with sl,a
late ls,psnted Henry clsy, thathis Csea
ytos haa, given him q soul ipcspeble Of icsv
from the wrath Of any being bus bimsslf
and Il The wrath ofthe Deity be evidsnc
ed IN ffowning skies, the, voice Of shouting
wABaa and de Isshing together Of angsy
WAVES, h secnied % ne ihat then ant
there, even thai brave and loiy spih
t'might lave stood nben ssd veiled, whil'
F,fhS AAlmights's . form vss glsssisg Itself i
saempestsF As Cos snysslf fnot Nhh iea
"A vas filed with . deep and aolsihn' aae
end, my mind aluscss unconcionsly beesi
I sevolv;nG the chances q essspe, n case 9
any esnerreacy. i looked out ;ths cloud
alated not ;n intensity, nor the winjs 4
violence. Il was bitterly cold. Alaa, 4