Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-01-12

l
Between the spires of th tall trees, the
white sides of tent glimmer ii like the snowy
wings of bird in the distan@ and softly the
breeze whispered through th little valley. A
few stalwart figures moved y tn sprightly ges-
lures on the outside OF the tekt, and began to
unfasten the ends, preparasry to striking
their frail habitation.
'We have made but little gheadway to day,
Courtney said one. The Eauty of this par
adise is begailing. don't se why we should
60 much further Why not Icate hereabouts?'
'We have found SO little later as yet re-
piled the other; but proba,ly we are not far
from our destination. If VI have such night
as the last one, that and the cool Of the even
ing wilr help US on amaziIly'
There seems 10 be a STANCE oppression of
the atmosphere. 1t would be nice Job for
ss, i,,I, s ssass . 8 Asg aass aAEs4dy, storm
BE easy. fneh sky as this seldom fore
tells storm. The heavens arc as deep and
brilliant hueks ever beheld. Where now.
Malcolm : he pntinued, addressing a spirited
looking young man, who was just emerging
from the tent, FIth a companion, each bearing
guns.
/ To have shot at some of those pretty
sky-ftyers,' hq' AID, pointing TO flock of wild
/ birds IN the dkance Henry and | are bound
for some spot
Don't 90 10 far cried Courtney, as the
young men qsappeared among a clump OF
trees; and lien, joined by others, they pro-
ceeded with tfeir task of taking down the tent.
The old Y'gon was brought out from its
shelter, the dmestIc utensils and implements
of labor pacEal snugly away, and all things
made ready Er departure.
This comHry OF emigrants from the North.
ern States hal, for the last month, iourneyed
in the mornhg and evening, and at times
when the wather was uncommonly sultry-
as long throt9h The night as the gentle moon
gave them b beams formost gorgeous were
the shadowlFss valleys at her zenith, and the
fair hills anf thick forests -,aeamed FURNISHED
with sTVer, oy = :. no u ---7.s:'-
forms wore an enhancing 5sAy
Illsly, how is it with you = asked tall
sinnewy fellow, with eyes black and flashing
'for myself can scarcely draw breath there's
a sitting kind of heat that embraces my nerve
and settles down strangely upon one--it beto
kens tempest
.What fierce little puff the wind gives nov
and them do you notice 2 said another toll
you we had better wait-this sky is deceitfu
if am any Judge; it is lowering already. an
5 there's moody red glare over the fields il
, stead Of open sunshine
Pooh men! come in; you're every one {
YOU false prophets; we'd better be stirrin!
:. I'm thinking, making the best of our way
! the hill wonder; we are losing time While W
idle here
: A singular ominous sound ratified over the
e heads even rs he spoke, like distant Whee
y twrnst4uveaaeh .sauseway; quick, sharp gus
i aud bits of gf5Tss along their path. 4 Whihif
like the tapping wings of birds, sounded thr
the trees the heavens darkened, the low, mu
Il terng deepened to the hoarse cadence Of hea,
) thunder, and clap after clap broke upon Il
e stiffness. Slowly, steadily the whole surfa
5, Of the sky oiackened, until it was one ma
le of gloomy clouds, Walling up, as it were, Il
10 pleasant blle Of the armament, except when
- fash Of rel lightning struck them asunde
opening to itself passage of fire.
}" This kawful-terrible,' muttered Illsly,
e !; the partySSood undecided how to proceed.
OF Anothefurious blast swept on and bent t
X trees till he whole forest quivered like Il
as man thing Heavy drops Of rain began to ia
cd the wind;ame bowling from its caves-t
h. atmospIre grew grey, then dark; anotl
~ momenand torrents of driving rain pour
~ down, permitted by terrific peals, and blu
en leaping ghtning.
ng sWebhalI be wet to the skim mutter
anotbesS6shly searching about the wag
to to strike shes tent; what shall we do: ma
bor for the hfl or stay where we are!
&c I'VE Il safest here said Illsly, this op
III 10 space is definitely better than any other;
o'o to the ra, we are used to that. My only fl
yer is for tbapoor boys they are now perhi
liar among te trees-they will be struck-w
did we ut foresee this, and keep them ba
for Howevesit is best to keep an easy mind
,or are soakd now and cannot better oursel
80 in that rspect My only concern is for
, ,o' poor bds-God kelp them-I wish |
: obeyed ny first impulse and detained then
Tor if they 4nder on and lose the track, it will
lrn- impossi!e to recover them
: so Mearyhile the horses eyes had been b!i
ling ed that hey might not be frightened by
mas incessab flashes of lightning, the men had
nss folded te tent-cloth, and provided temp
~ ry shel.r under which most of them hudd
'on 1t WE fast growing darker-evening
ear comingin, yet the tempest increased in f
u Here ws dismal prospect, that OF pas:
the nid in this unprotected manner, chi
eart with ndlight-h listening only to the fur
dis driyino5f the storm, and sometimes dis
snad crash lit betokened the fall Of giant
IA of the Rest. While specializing on the p
~ able fac of the absent striplings, voice
; ne far otfshouted lopd and earnestly. The
ID to Crantsstarted to their feet with beating hei
D act they Recognized the tones, and through
and creeDio shades bgheld MaIcom and his
], de- panid, the wet dipping from their caps
cost disonered clothes, their guns upon their 81
on,o ders. nd in each lstt hand brace of fat
O'no tridfs hanging lieless and discolored
Good news shouted one, as they
neal. their cheeks flushed hotly with the
eisaand their GARMENTS smoking.
cod be thanked said IIlsly, fervently
haJ, been in greet fear on ysur accou
whit news have yau!
ome- {We have seena cabir,' replied the y
agsion anl aot far from here | assure you
cherglight from Is little windows shone
or ouryery hearts, and seemed precious
q tho BET ef tnan gold. Turn your horses hea
III Is = Wal pilot YOU Be he Christian or 3;
1an.T urI Io ives there he certainly will not den
: md Vkhted travellers shelter.
: here TT will do sore eyes good to see a h
hung lnb;rtion ofce more,' said one who app
of no roncher thin the rest, but how are '
-rnnksl Ieather this tarnal storm till we get t
vh;}ss- s-so0nxf how the lightning blinds my
,,ns oeI - old Dobbin-lend iIaiiu UI mn
o.s at: - ,;oht-there-off with you, rat;le'r'
euMes isa5 us into the woods