The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-05-21

Of warmth and summer presented itself. In.
deed. the transition from snow to fowera from
the rigors OF an arctic region to bslmy, smiling
spring, and even early summer. was so rapid
| that it was actually difficult to keep oneself mp
with it. 1t almost kept one busy to pull of
coats fast enough as we rapidly sank down
among the lowlands, where tho vernal season in
all its gorgeous glory sweetly smilsd on every
side. Such fields of flowers had never seen
before, though had travelled thousands OF miles
through our own wild prairies when dressed in
the gayest robes. For q time my patriotism,
my love for the Prairie State, made me battle
strong for the superiority Of our native flower
gardens, but presently, as We stretched away to-
wards the plain and the American river, was
COMPOUNDED and made dumb by the gorgeous
brilliancy which surrounded us. If loud excla-
nations of admiration had been heard before,
now the sensibilities Of all were 80 wrought up
on that they were subdued into mute astonish.
mont, or whispered words in broken sentences
only told Of the intensity Of the high wrought
feelings. These were, no doubt, greatly intensi.
fed BY the sudden transition from one extreme
to another. We had come, as it were, on Hou-
sons Carpet from the pole to the tropics. It
seemed as if We had been suddenly awakened
from cold and cheerless dream to bright and
smiling landscape. where every sight charmed
the eye and every odor ravished with its per-
fume. But why attempt 10 describe that for
which we have no adequate language, at least at
my command? The attempt must be futile,
and SO will fo-bear. You must come and see
il, or you can never appreciate it, and when you
have done 90 you will look back upon it as upon
pleasing dream and almost doubt whether it
was reality. dwell upon it now with pleas.
ure, for as think Of it its fragrance seems to
come again and refresh me with it's sweetness.
Who ever would see California in all her glory,
let him come in the sweet, soft month Of April.
We rolled rapidly along through the Sacra.
mento Valley, but must omit description Of
her vineyards, her orchards and her gardens. A
short pause at Sacramento, and we sped away
again, up the Valley OF the San joaquin to
Stockton, doubling the great Tuto Marshes, and
pursuSd our way across the plain and fields and
past focks and herds, towards that range of
mountains, now appearing in the distance, which
separated us from the great Bay, and of which
Mount Diebls, which lifts its high head towards
the heavens, is the chief feature. A low pass
through this mountain range, which seems to
have been made on purpose for railroad, con-
Quoted us into the broad plain which borders
the Bay, and we found ourselves in beautiful
park-like country, dotted all over with low,
broad-spreading evergreen oaks which give the
whole country the appearance Of an orchard of
great antiquity, 80 that we almost felt disap.
pointment not to them loaded with those
rich fruits with specimens of which the eastern
markets were filled last summer.
As the sun sank into the Pacific beyond the
coast range We were rumbling through Oakland
under the long branches of the great oak trees
whose shades were now no longer required; and
then away out into the Bay on two miles of
track laid on piles, when we bid farewell to the
moving palace which had SO long furnished us
with home 30 comfortable, and went on board
the ferry.boat, which brought US across the Bay,
and soon after o'clock in the evening we were
at orr hotel in quarters so comfortable that
nothing more could be desired in that direction,
and there you must leave us, at least for the
present
Whether I shall ever trouble you with fur.
Their account of our movements cannot now
say. AS look at the pile Of sheets which lie
on my table am convinced that both you and
my other friends will cry quits and will be
thankful for no more.
YouPs ID CATION