The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-07
THE NEW ERA, FEBRUARY Z, 1867.

deaf ear to even that wonder. | have
in my wiser days wondered much at
the extreme verdancy | displayed in ac-
cepting as q guide through a strange
labyrinth such an ignorant enthusiast
enthusiasts always come to gref-as the
old Colonel. There was every prospect,
soon after we left the echo-room Of our
lights going out, and | humbly suggest
ed the wisdom Of following their eX-
ample, but still fingered the Colonel in
his favorite study. On he went, this
way and that, stopping every now and
then, in the most aggravating manner,
formation, until the lantern waXed
DINNER, and the little candle began to
sputter fearfully.
Z" Do hurry, Colonel, or we shall be
lost in utter darkness; those indolent
specimensn outside will never find us
in the world" exclaimed, dolefuIly.
"True, true ~ said the Colonel, look
ing with rather a luguhrious face for
familiar landmarks, as we turned our
steps, {" but we'll soon be OUT The
| candle took him at his word and went
out, and DINNER became the lantern as
we stumbled along.
"There is daylight! we are near the
mouthr' he exclaimed, just as the lam
tern died with a flash. True enough,
light peered in through a narrow open
ing in tie rock, apparently but short
distance before Us, and toward it we
made our way. Very lovely the bright
face of the earth looks, coming up from
its dark depths. | lay for a few mo-
ments admiring the World-picture, and
then proceeded to make my exit from
the " natural curiosity"
Most distinctly [ remembered creeping
in, but | had not lowered my head
under the rock-Wall, and proceeded 4
foot, before ! discovered that | would
have to sq1ilm out Had the rock
moved? Horrible thoughts filled my
mind for the moment, of being buried
alive, of being ground to finest powder
between these mammoth rocks; and,
saddest of all, no one to tell the tale. :"
for my fate must also be the poor Colo
nel's, or could 1 have grown since my
wrong, so | made frantic efforts to push
along with the thought, edo or die"
There is but tone step from the sub
| lime to the ridiculous" and though [
was by no means, with my nose buried
in clay, and my head seraping the wall
above, a very Sublime object myself,
still do think the poor, smashed Colo
mel l0as ridiculous, as he tore himself
along, with groans and most cOnvulsive
kicks and spasms, which were very
| detrimental to his much adored nous
tache and the remains Of the hat which
in some unaccountable manner still adj
hered to the back OF his head. Lying
almost sutfocated between the rocks,
| that sense Of the ludierous, which never
deserts some poor mortais, oNercame
me, and l fell into a most imm0derate
fit of laughter, much to the Colonel s
Indignation, as afterWasd learned.
| Perhaps the convulsion of my nerves
moved me, for neared the end of the
passage, and with a final squirm, found
| myself lying with scraped nose, torn
garments, and minus my sun-bonnet,
on the outside Of the wonderful curl
osity." | WAS safe! and so true is it
that self-preservation is the first great
law of nature" that eXultation for my
own safety absorbed at first all my own
concern, and pity for the poor Colonel,
vino still kept up his frantic kickings,
and groaning, under the rock. l Thought,
however, as peered in at him, that he
seemed TO be making some Roadway,
and by way of being a little facetious,
and keeping up his spirits, said,
making a tube of my hands: "Colonel
if you erer do get out you'll be more of
a fiat than ever-won't you:" Only a
few more groans, and a renewed tearing
of clothes answered me, but felt COM
forted when bending down ! realized
the slow approach of the poor victim 10
the end Of the passage. The distance
by degrees grew beautifully less" so
the depressed Colonel took courage, and
as he stopped on his stomach to rest,
volunteered a little joke of his own,
whereby knew his brilliant intellect.
as we'll as body had been spared him
through the terrible trial. His Joke,
remember, was something about being
"caved in" but the pith of it WAS lost
in the clay, rs he gave a spasmodic
jerk. He came out in time and if he for
gave me for going into Mysteries over
his ludicrous appearance, it WAS because
OF my own dilapidated condition, and
the lesson in humility he had taken
while being smashed in Boone's Cave.
"This is your wonderful and beauti-
full Cave, is it?" calculated the two
lazy specimens, who had just come up
! from their rest. g It was a most wonder
tul delivery!'' exclaimed the Colonel
gravely, as if scarce recovered from it,
and we all went up again to look at the
place from which we were so wonder
| fully dnliNpred