The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-12-17

| WOOu crowned nils, ana Tree, magnln-
cent waters-had some effect upon the
souls of those who enjoyed this profu-
sion of her riches.
September, October, and November
drifted by in long, unbroken shower of
golden sunshine, giving the new settlers
good time to prepare for winter.
Mr.. Fielding was not altogether idle
during that time. He had his canvas
house boarded up, and many little COM
forts added to it; and sent east for a
store of books with which to begule the
winter evenings.
Hunting and fishing was his principal
occupations.
Such serene enjoyment had not been
his for several years as through that glo-
lrious autumn. He was lover of the
beautiful in nature as we'll as in art.
While his physical powers were exercis-
ed and invigorated by his out-of-doors
life, his spiritual nature was fed with
the very honey of existence. Cloudless
skies, serene and deep, hung over water
and land; rich and purple mists hung at
morning around the horizon, but at mid
day it was changed to belt of gold;
every few days the prairies change their
hues, now gorgeous with crimson, and
anon with yellow, and again with scarlet
! flowers. 1t was not so much to startle
the partridge out of the long grass or to
chase the deer to the cover of the wood
that he slung his gun upon his shoulder,
although he kept the house we'll suppli-
ed with the choicest game, as it was to
be out alone in the midst of boundless
and ever-varying beauty, free to dream
aud to think, while breathing in life of
body aud liberty of soul.
!, Sometimes his excursions were several
days in length; but yearning after the
sweet smils aud prattle of little Myrtle
always brought him home sooner than
he anticipated.
Her joyous cry, as she bounded to
his arms, was his reward; and he full
ly believed the declaration Of Mrs. Mug
gins that tie child always 'paled and
| pined" in his absence.
She had learned to cali him "papa;"
and Mr.. Fielding sometimes faug ned
aloud in his solitude while fancying the
astouishnIent of his friends in various
parts of the worldwide had given him
up as an incorrigible bachelor; which he
| intended still to remain-could they
have peep at him in his cabin with his
old lady housekeeper and his adopted
daughter But he was happier than he
had been in their frivolous society.
Prairie fires, cleaning in the distance
and sweeping near, illuminating the
nights with ftful radiance, began to be
a feature of the scenery, after the No
vember frosts had parched the grass to
the likeness of rustling sea of jasper
Mr. Fielding had an Imagination
which was not proofagainst splendor and
novelty combined; and, upon one occa-
sicn, when the lonely night found him
wandering over hill with his gun in
his hand, and one of these fires sprang
from distant wood and ran over the
prairie until extinguished by contact
with the lower edge of the lake, he was
guilty of some lines like these
-ag a.. THE RED HUNTERS. .....
| Out of the wood at midnight .E
a The swift red hunters came;
The prairie was their hunting-ground;
The bisons was their game;
Their spears were of glittering silver,
Their chests Were of blue and gold;
Driven by the painting winds of heaven
Their shining chariots rolled
Over the level racing course
Oh, what strife was there!
What shouting! what threatening cryi
Whit murmur upon the air
Their garments over the glowing wheels
Strenmed backward red and far.
They foaIed their purple banners
In the face of each pale star.
Under their tread the autumn flowers
BY millions whitening lay:
, Poor things that from those golden wheel:
Could nowhere shrink awayi
Close, and crashing together,
The envious chariots rolled;
While anon, before his followed
Leaped out some hunter bold.
Their black hair, thick and lowering,
About their wild eyes hung.
And about their frowning foreheads
Like wre,rths of night-shade clung.
THE bisons, 10, the bisonsl'
. They cried and answered back.
5 The frightened creatures stood aghast
To see them on their track.
D With weary numbering swiftness
They seek the rivers side,
Driven by those hunters from their sleep
j Into lis chilling tide
Some face the foe, with anguish
Dilating their mute eyes,
Til the spears of silver strike them low,
And dead each suppliant lies.
: Now, by the Frightening liver.
= The red hunters stand at bay
Vain their appalling splenIor-- -...
The water shields their prey - ..
I Into its waves with baffled rage
They leapin deaths despite
Y The golden wheels roll roaring in,
D Leaving the withered night.
: While Mr.. Fielding was copying thi
: cffusion the next afternoon, some ladie
/; called to see him; or rather, they sait
they had come to see Myrtle; but, wheI
|, young women walk two miles to call a
S house where there is a pretty chill.
and rich and handsome old bachelor
l. people are at liberty to draw their owl
=, ,l,a;on. n. 80 xvbiob - tho rroofa n