The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-07-13

could be made very sefviceable in a country
oE6ce, and We will sell il at bargain.
-------a------.--..---
EdlIePIal Correspan emee.
In rms Country, July 9, 1857.
It's wasting hot hereabouts- Just exactly
the sort Of weather that's suited to the bu-
siness | am prosecuting so successfully at
present nothing. | never thought was
able to transact that kind Of business 50 sat
isfactorily before. am SO mercurial in nv
nature that always want to be employed at
something, il it 10 only mischief or nonsense.
Engagement in some way it always seemed
rs il must have. But contemplation in the
quiet haunts Of nature opens ones mind era-
dually to almost everything, even disclosing
to ones self more perfectly his own charsc-
ter and capacities. And the joint product
Of little experience and the reflection in
the mirror Of my mind has disclosed to my
consciousness a quality that had never e.
teemed myself as being in the possession OF,
viz the power Of con,entedly and assidiously
dcvoting myself to nothing--in particular.
am obliged, after all, to mortify nv vanity
little BY the single qualification, ..ir par,i-
culnr," for in spite Of myself and my capa-
cities in that direction, now and then some
thing or other will obtrude itself up into my
mind, commanding a moments observation
and reflection, like the rise Of an island
peak in a boundlesss ocean, that lazilv
breasts the pillows, dwells moment above
their surface, and then rolls over and loses
itself in the quiet deep. Perhaps it would
be speaking little more exactly TO say that
there is no purpose or continuity to my
thought and conduct. Strict regard for
truth would compel me to res, on that ex-
plantation, and 30 will do.
But in this state Of mind, with care and
all possible thought discharged from it, it is
surprising what tribes attract its attention
and engage its interest. The sun is Mt mid
day. sit by the open door, gazing out in
search OF nothing What seems like the vis-
lille presence of heat attracts my attention.
II is shimmering over the green fields. the
dusty road, and along the dry, bare rails, ss
il it were thirsting to scorch, blister and
consume everything above ground. All
abroad il hangs, like light, tremulous sea
Of aameless FIRE, rendered rercepi.ble by the
uncsasing CULVER. Blu, yonder comes a broad
white cloud smiling up the SKY in lazy pomp.
Now the edge OF it touches the sun. Now
j. passes entirely under the great Iuminary.
Old Sol don't allow himself to be hid for
nothing, and 80 he bnses himself with draw.
ing the shape Of the cloud upon the prairies
below, giving an exact description Of It's
track, as, swaying to and fro, Il moves slowly
forward, until the fierce snn CLEANS out
oncs more upon the parched AMI wilsed
earth. 1t is curious watching this cloud sha-
dow. Now tbs side Of !. sways coolly over
browsing calf; itcomcs upon him so CRATE.
fully that he looks up and around in search
OF his benefactor, and, when he sees no one,
bends his head again to the cloycr-tops.
Now il 10 just sliding OF the back Of u
horse, and can almost hear him skreech AZ
the sun shines over his sides, and the hot
rays glance about him.
But yonder jumps eat. What's in the
grass Something, surel For there goes
another, and another, till verify the whole
household troop Of felines are on trail for
the spot. 4 field mouse probably. And nc
wonder the whole host Of them march oul
s.for 10 see mouse is something OF !
sight, here, and considering their variety
and the delight with which the eyes OF cat.
hood gaze upon them, it is no wonder thai
they rush ia crowds whenever one is d.cov.
cariauslv wrought. hcads'' TO the .scircus. ?
when "sand, 4 Nathan" come to town
he cats that harbor here are SO numerous
that II isrcry uncomfortable for mice, All,
their .'sldr brethren" rats, to reside in tn
nelghbothood. Hence this felin. eagerness
Now they come marching back the vic,ori
Gus con9ueror hhead, with tail erect an,
flashing eyes, shaking his trophy in his laws
They are ail three ,--"6ilbert, AID ~ il, }
aud s.ihetwo eyed cat. and "the Llue ex,.'
and-and-- but can tell quickest by III
count. there. fifteen in all, and there's fl
tsen here, all looking and wondering an
sosling obout the big old fellow with III
ni9use in his teeth. Don't he fee. biz stru,
ting Oh as important as a grcranier With tn
head Of King III his head oal look Their,
A Wild pigeon has Ii, up in the locust tire