The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-05-26

ares hlear and gloomy as the brow Of Time, u
aiandslike grand but silent record OF the nigh
~ Past. Deep seams arc now worn into liz mas
sivo front by little streams that triekle down the
side and dash themselves 70 thin mist long before
they reach lhe bottom. Here and there some am-
bilious vine striking lie roots into shallow crew
ice Of the rock, climbs up to the very crest, IN
line Of green and graceful pendants.
Between tho foot OF the blun and the waters
edge, there Is barely space enough for long
rank Of cord wood and q narrow foot path, tol-
lowing the windings OF the tortuous river
Over the highest point Of the blun, a wood
man. has constructed a ''shute," (which Is q
simple trough Of heavy plank, for sliding wood
down TO the river bank, TO be sold TO steamers
for fuel. Wood Is the principal fuel used by riv-
CT steamers for generating steam. Men who own
timber land bordering on the river, cut and haul
Il along the bank where boats can run up at any
time aud take a supply on board. The "WaF
Eagle burns about rs cords Ia ~ hours run
ming, besides some coal, 40 that We stop TO "wood
/ up several times every day. Most Of the tim
her along the Missouri is cottonwood, which u
very light aud not worth much for fuel. IL sells
for about $500 per cord, while good, hard oak
brings as much rs $500.
The customary signals were given by the pilot
as We approached the blulf, aud the huge boat
slowly swung In TO the shore aud was tied mp "a
a tree by stout rope. The plank was run Oui
and the deck hands set TO, carrying ON wood from
/ a long rank on the shore. While this was going
/ on, most ~ the passengers went ON shore Il
'sircich their limbs" Some amused theunsslvci
/ gathering wild flowers or cutting canes from III,
sappy nndcrbrush around the foot OF the hlufi,
1 while a few more vigorous aud ambitious fount
= deep seam 10 the rock and boldly climbed I,
the top. Richly did II repay the effort. The In
dams In the old picture, accustomed To the viii
derncss Of nature and highly susceptible Of Ia
impressions could No, have been more deepl,
moved by the magnificent grandeur aud striking
beauty Of the sccne, than was the little Compan,
that stood there in the glow o. that bright Sun
day morning. Admiration for the works Of ma
tufc IN the Indian was mingled with sorrow
and revenge, as he looked upon the steamboat
pioneering civilization into his native haunts.
u hctukoncd the usurIiaiioa OF bis favOriie hunt
ing grounds hy the hated white man. aud drov
his little canoe farther back toward the source q
tue great river. To us Il was not only an evi
icncc Of the greatness and goodness OF the CrcA
tor, but 81 the skill aud ingenuity Of man. 4,
applying and developing the vast RESOURCES O
nature and thus making them contribute To hu
mnn happiness.
Directly beneath our feet Law the WAR Eagle
her huge engines NJ rest and the smoke from hel
BLACK chimneys rixing lazily toward the sky
, The Big Muddy" rolled its dark mass Of earil
and water along the blun now kissing its vet,
Z base, then turning abruptly away aud losing
itself Ia sight amid the deep-grcen forests tina
lined It's hanks. The opposite side receded Ia
graceful variations u hill aud plain, heavily cov
erred with timber aud undcrbrush, amid which
/ ~ intervals, the smoke Of a settlers cabin curl
cd gracefully upward browning the iree-toTa
with a blue aud hazy wreath Near the middl,
OF the stream, an island. covered with the sam,
dense jungle Of vine, shrub aud tree, las like I
/ picture on the bosom Of the waters The ey,
( followed the windings os the river by the line o
I heavy timber that bOrlered its channel, with at
occasional glimpse Of its siivcry surface through
a break in the thick forest. A pleasant Ma,
/ breeze stirred the young foliage, aud the brigh
/ Sunshine brought out the varied coloFs Of the en-
chanting scene. witt q vivid brillancy
/ We gazed ia silence. There is an inspiration
Ia nature. too deep for words. Human passion
are hushod, human vaniics wane, Eumal
thoughts die, whoa God, through his visible ere
alton, holds communion with the soul No maj
Z ccscends from such Communion without beinI
the better Tor il. lie despises his own foilies
grows humble At the though, II his own impo
icncc and feels within him the stirring OF a Hop
that goes beyond these earthly scenes The VA
! ried landscape Is striking evidence Of Divin
power and heucvoeucc while the everilowin,
river. with the shadows Of great clouds sleepinl
upon IT, iughid surface, l. constant reminder Q
that other River, full o. the dark shadow
o. human lie, and bearing ~ an onward To III
ocean Of Eternity.
The shrili whistle OF the War Eagle" brok
in upon such reflections, We hsslened down IN
I binH AMI s1owRc were again s,eNming NJ th
river. amid a Succession Of similar bluff ON ih
one side and 81 hesyiy.iimbcred bottom land
on the Other l.. ". u.