Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-07-10
For the Free prcss.
A Journey IN thp West

Never did homo look moro attractive than when
we set our faces Westward on that second day
of June.
A Summer shower had called forth the foliage
and washed it until it glistened in emerald bright
ness in the morning sun. The steamer strobe ma
esticay out Of tho bay, and the city spread itself
before us like panorama, the mountains Just
wreathed by the light haze, rose in tho distance
and bank of Summer clouds was piled lazily
above them. Tho lake was tranquil and the
hills on either side mirrorcd themselves in the
waters.
How calm and coudlcss was the land
Anazure mist its only veil
Which made the Lake at morning pale,
Until Aurora's breezy hand
Over the watcry mirror passed
Then presently SO still and blue
Tho sky within the wave was glassed,
No ripple answered to breath
1t seemed as one descending through
Might sink to heaven unknown to Death"
Our voyage was coon over and the land and lake
we loved was hidden from our sight. Westward
have we set our faces, in search of fame and for
tune but for certain in search Of no loveier land
We had pleasant journey through Northern
New York, and took the boat at Ogdensburgh saw
the famed thousand islands over which hung
evening rainbow, but with all their boosted
beauty, their barren rocks and low river shores
have nothing of the beauty Of Champlain with its
headlands, its islands and mountain shores
stopped over Sunday at Toledo /; it must be a
place of largo amount of business, but has an ex.
ceedingly tumble ,dewn appearance, and judging
from the number Of low groggeries open and the
number of doctors,signs, must be very immoral and
unhealthy place. The business portion of the town
is long street extending for two miles or more
along the left bank of the river. Colerdge's des-
cription of Cologne would apply to the town in most
any quarter, There is general complaint of
tight times and stringency in money matters.
The Lake Shore and Southern Michigan Road
passes through some fine country and some very
| fourishing villages there seemed some want
Of the usual rush Of travel on this road, which We
were told was more than made up by the Michigan
Central road and the Fort Wayne route. At Chi
cago we took boat for Milwaukee, on board Of
which we're Ave hundred Norwegian We were
told that many as two thousand had landed
there. and that the emigration from Norway would
be as many as teen or twenty thousand this
Summer, strong, and intelligent elias, of people
the regular swarm from the Scandinavia hive that
dcuged Rome in times Of old, lineal descendant.
of the old Norsemen.
| We reached our destination in the midst Of q
rainstorm which has had no intermission for 6
week. Western city looks particularly inte est
ing under such circumstances. We ore still abov,
water, but the mud
" Where in the mucky road, man
(The road was built on Adams plan,
And not McAdam's y
Went down-down-down, one stormy night
And disappeared from human sight
All save his hat
1t is amusing to see tho elongated countenan
ces of several newly imported Vermonters. Crop
they say are looking rather BACKWARD and tn
Spring trade has not yet opened he rush ct spec
ulators is further West. Farmers produce bear.
and promises " bear the highest price during tn
season.
Times the whole are rather dull, but will
with change of weather and the emigration tina
is just beginning to reach here, brighten.
Yours, F,