The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-01-07
commencement; Of tn. nlnno.oti.n.

Negro Horaiity- --Indiaa summer---Winter
Scenes, &c.
NORFOLK, Dec. II, 1853.
Easterly winds !,-Yes Of the Western wilds
can form no idea of their almost human voices.
Now like a. banshcc,. screeching through tho
halls of air. gasping. sObbing, tOrmented,
long lamenting east wind Now waiting at
the easement gentle lullaby, now whispering
around the caves and sinking into fearful 81
lence-only to howl anew terrific bowlings and
supernatural shrieks.
How fancy goes wandering DER the Vastly
deep" on such night 1t is covered with
fraii barks, that dsceitful, placid, heaven-re-
hecting ocean,-nOw raging, foaming, and heav-
ing, as the waves lash with fury the rock-bound
shore. spreading ruin and desolation over sea
and land To my listening ear the cordsge
creaks. the sails flap, spars are spllntcred anu
masts fall heavily and above all, on the now
terrific gale, rises the shrek Of those doomed to
q watcry grave.
1t is midnight. Still lights beam from some
OF the windows near: dark forms obscure the
ray pale faces press against the glass fearful
eyes peer into the impenetrable darkness. One.
the form nearest to me- has a husband and son
midway on the ocean, between our coast and
the straits Of Gibraltar. Like me, she cannot
rest. But while mine is universal benevo-
lence of fear. hers is an intense heart-wearing
shadow OF unceasng sorrow and dread.
Christmas is coming" cries the curly head
ed school-boy, in the exuberance OF JOY dancing
a "cachucha on his stills. "Chrlstmas -
coming echoes the jetty shadow behind him,
his eyes keenly glstcning and his teeth shining
like ivory his cunning glance prognOstlcating
all that his knowing hand can do. In Norfolk
are no robbers. housc-brcakers. or petty thieves
generally but on this blessed. cOngenial sea.
son o! the year, every African family looks out
for a Christmas supper. The turkey and plumb
pudding Of the family (of which they always
partake) does not satisfy them. When othcrsre-
tire to sleep. they begin to aw AIKEN. and merry
and long are their fcasts--" stolen meats are
sweetest" For month beforehand they have
been covcrty preparing. Money has been
missed in families coats. caps, even bonnets
disappear from the hat-racks. Mysterious vi
sitors enter all open doors and commence 10
raging expedition all over the house. Apro-
pos of this "A lady brought home with her on
her marriage. u woman who had been her mad
from infancy. and who from her own wish be-
came cook in her mistress kitchen. For TWEEN
ty years she Was her fear and torment. For
the past five years the latiy had not dared to
enter her own kitchen. so impudcnt and high
spirited had the maid become. All correction
administered injured The lady more than the
servant. At length. despairlng, she was ne
ccssitated to sell her : and on overlooking her
chest in room above the kitchen, she found
Ten marines blue cloth jackets; eight broad
cloth cloaks six par OF linen pants seventeen
silk umbrellas. The use Of these objects prob
ably never entered the mind of the hoardcr.
But this is not by any means an isolated case.
Our Indian summer has but just passed away.
Those days O. crimson haze. when the atmos-
phcrc borrows lis prsmat:e hucs from the va
ried leaves o.! the forest trees: when the sun
rises in -colorcd clouds and sets in bank
of violcts when the moons are golden cups and
the mornings and evenings edged with silver.
Days dreamy as the heart. calling upon pro-
cress to pause aud reflect upon the mind to
put off cares of worldly oppression and wander
hand and hand with the memories of gone
years: drinking inspiration from their calm,
quiet bcauty.-strength from the communion
with holy things, and gratitude for the manifold
/ blessings of the past season. Now the crimson
has vergcd into Il clear silver hue. The sky is
bright and pale. As We walk beneath the pines
! the wind goes signing through their branches,
and their boushS clash d!scordantly, music en-
| b!ematical of winter.
We have two Norfolk3--the summer and win
ter cities The summer Norfolk is n dcsoiatc
dull, quiet. common place town full Of closed
houses and idle servants. who are excepting
house in the streets. Tulips roses and lilies.
costly. even magnificent. are never enjoyed by
their possessors. Some families have dubious
roots 10 the amount Of hundreds of dollars and
still have never yet seen them in bloom. What
example could be more APPLY quoted ION the
times than this everyday occurrence But
: the winter Norfolk is quite another affair The
port IS !uli o.masts vessels come in daily, seek
ing winter quarters. Life is running up Main
street and vitality commenced in the harbor
crowds are lostlin- and GLOWING each other on
the sidewalks. Navy uniforms cnlivcn every
group and bright huttons fash at every turn
ing. beautiful faces elccm from petite hats
and bright eyes shine from beneath brilliant
pinm"s. lllusivc views are already drawing
tull houses. and concerts. lectures and weddings
are on the taps. beautiful. very beautiful. i,
Norfolk in this outer life. In its magnifcenee
ana luNury. dazzling in It's opulent Incidence.
IKE oriental fables. But my heart i. clnging
to The summer toWn--to the pictures of sky.
ealth and Sea,-to the golden dreams rot more
cphemcral than those of the croNd,-to the
views not more Elusive than those now draw
ing them. Ad:cu.
JEANNE DEANS.