The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-09-26
An Autumn Sunset.

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nor With the careless insouciancf of the
Ehabitual dreamer, that we took Glrusna
walk, a few evenings since. We were de
cidedly what in common parlance is calico
out of huImor, and from the Radical Phila
1delphia Convention down to the burr;
which beset our path, could see no good in
life. We stepped on defantly, as people
do who are defining their position, and
ours just then was as high as Chimborazo
for it was protest against the shams and
humbugs which were Grazing us ateyery
turn. What if we were humbug oursel
sometimes, as conscience maliciously sug.
gested, did it give us a less clear insight
Into the humbugs of other people? So we
went on, trampling down the golden Con
opsis which spread its glowing cloth Of
gold beneath cur feet, and viciously tear.
ing down tendrils Of the Tilandsia, wishing
we could as easily destroy the lacquered
falsehoods, at whose feet men were laying
down even the right of protest against
wrong and ill-doing.
Pelion on Ossa like, our thoughts piled
up history of human errors until it reach
ed the sky, and crowned it with the last
abortion of human infdelity, Remains
Life Of Christ" In the nimble squirrel
|leaping up thttrees in the busy house Of
the insect world at our feet, and the sud-
den whirr Of the disturbed cartridges, we
lonly saw and heard the old story-that
right and truth never walked hand in hand
with power. We were thoroughly jaun-
diced, and still watching the creeping sha-
dows, we stepped suddenly into a fairy cir
Gle of vivid green, bounded on three sides
by the forest, and in front the river wind
ing with rhythmic flow between its banks.
The whole fora of a Southern woodland
seemed lavished with endless profusion on
this sheltered spot-spring, Summer, and
Autumn had each their representatives,
and no trace ofthe dying year, not even a
withered leaf was there. But nothing in
the circle attracted more than momenta-
ry glance, for the panorama of a sunset lay
before US, whose gorgeous dyes arrested
and absorbed every faculty.
The very portals Of heaven seemed I'M
closed, and purple, golden and crimson pill
lars upheld an immense arch, through
which were visible shadowy forms of snowy
Wilderness, which foated slowly through the
arch, imperceptibly blending with a broad
band Of vivid crimson which lay on the
verge of the western horizon. Shafts Of
vivid light we're cast from the arch against
it, until suddenly the band was rent assun-
der, and like surging wave a great white
mountain arose, with purple-black at its
base and the rosy flush Of an eastern dawn
on it's summit. Breathlessly we watched
the gloomy cloud rising higher and higher
against the side of the mountain, dreadiug
to see the beautiful light gifts summit lost
in darkness, when the rosy radiance, like a
fash of lightning, swept down into the
midst Of the gloom, turning it into very
sheet of gold. And amidst 'purple and
crimson banners the regal day went down.
We stood watching the west until the
stars came out, one by one, and stood
above us, and we retraced our homeward
path, bordering higher moral than the
discomfort which sees evil in all things
AFTER all, We are in good hands" and we
had best leave ourselves there, nor ask our
selves questions which earth can never an
swer.- N. O. Times.