Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-09-25

Z y
ance Of the sunset attracted his attention
to an unusual degree, and he quickened
his pace to reach the house to call Julia
out to enjoy it with him. He was glad
in his heart that it had occurred, for altho'
he was rapidly approaching the house, he
could not, from the restless condition of
his mind, imagine words which would be
satisfactory to him, that there would not
be an abruptness or an awkward manner
of introducing himself to her in a more ten
der and familiar attitude than he hitherto
had done. Although he had passed thro'
the years allotted to the young man, and
the sober years of middle age claimed him
for their votary, still his heart never hay
| ing been touched by coal from the altar
lot love, was yet susceptible to its sweetest
influences; and hence, there was that I'M
quiet, tremulous condition which almost
always accompanies one when the heart
and its sacred precincts are about to be APP
preached, and its hidden world about to be
revealed.
In a moment he had her by his side pa
zing with rapt wonder at the splendor OF
the dazzling scene.
"See, seep p she cried with great ANNA
ton, "that enormous cloud which proudly
rears its head far above the surrounding
ones; see, just below those sturdy ones on
each side, reach up just far enough to form
massive shoulders to this misty Titan; his
face like a surface of polished silver, and
his crown of molten liquid gold
"Julia," interrupted Rosenburgh, "such
glorious scenes as this, teach us a solemn
lesson Of the feebleness of man. Many a
time | have, on just such an evening as
this, heard men boasting of their strength,
skill and superiority, and while they were
recounting feats of valor or prowess, of
which they seemed proud; but which were
IN fact, but sports Of children, compared to
mine, / have felt an inward rising to relate
mine, until a glance at the setting sun, and
its attendant glories, would seal my lips
and shrivel my heart. It told me 1 was
but weak man, powerless and frail." =
Although Julia said nothing while Rosen-
burgh was speaking, she heard what he
said, but being SO completely absorbed
with the sight, she did not reply directly,
but continued as he closed the last remark,
GLOW beautiful that horizontal cloud
which is just below the range of miniature
mountains; its upper edge is tinged with
a bright yellow which fades gently and al
most imperceptibly towards the center UNI
til it becomes transparent, through
which the deep sapphire blue of the sky
beyond, half struggles and forms q rich,
soft, mellow green, while along its lower
I border, s5reaKs OF bright orange Seem TO
stretch out and form huge massive bars of
gold. Oh! it is unsurpassed in its beauty.
Isn't it, Mr.. Rosenburgh? 2"
eyes, julia" responded the Captain,
somewhat abstractedly; for during the last
animated comments upon the brilliant
| scene, her countenance had lit up with a
warm enthusiastic glow which was deepen
ed by the reflection Of the sky, until she
really appeared most hcauttiiffu. being,
and his gaze had wandered from the sky
to her. upon whom it became so earnestly
fixed, that it absorbed his whole soul, I'M
til her question brought him again to him
SELF
II have" he continued, soften thought
that the sterner lessons Of life, those teach
ing the more solemn lessons and sinking
deeper IN the soul, are to be found oftener
in the grand and sublime in nature, and
producing still deeper impression when
they combine the beautiful with them than
all others. To the contemplating mind it
most assuredly does To the pure in tho't,
and to those who possess a nobleness of
soul by obeying the inane law of their lives,
the modest flower which opens its leaves
away out on the prairies, far from human
habitation, teaches a lesson Of deeper and
more subtle character than all the human
] fame and renown that ever clustered a.
round the brow of the mightiest captain OF
the earth. Nature is suggestive of social
life. She Is associative in all her appoint
ments. She teaches man to be communi-
cative, and seek out others to whom be
can impart the 'veried language which she
has uttered in his soul. She proclainas all
over her broad fields, among her valleys,
up amid her mountains, and along her
streams, in her animated groves, made vo-
cal by the songs of her birds, that man
should not be alone. I heed her teach
ings, and wish to obey her behests. Shall
I, can do it, Julia?''
Julia was not wholly unprepared at any
time for Rosenburgh to give her some evi-
dence Of the affection which she knew he
had for her, but the time and the manner
he did it, were really unexpected by her
still she was not wholly displeased How
to reply just at that time and under those
circumstances as became woman, she did
not know, and in consequence, confusion
and embarrassment seized upon her, which
he, perceiving, turned away for moment
advanced few steps and plucked the mo
dest gentian which, late in the season
when the chill frosts of autumn, faint type
Of the stern winter approaching, have laid
their cold hands upon the vegetable world
and it has shrunk away and died, reared UP
its head smiling amid the wreck, to show
man that still, when all around was gloom
and despair, ray of hope was left to com
fort him.
''Thou waitest late and com'st alone.
When woods are bare and birds are flown
And frosts and shortening days portend
The aged year is near its end.