The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-07-07


you are little restless, or proyokingly
mum. ~
In due season, however, the sun sinks
toward his rest, and the cool, evening
breezes begin to play. AL are at once
/ revivified-langnor passes away, and,
Richard Is himself again.. Shadows be-
gin to gather on eastern slopes, while to
the west, every object is refalgent. 1t
affords a beautiful picture, this inter-
mingling of light and shade on a diver
sified landscape.
The approach of evening, warns US
to make ready for the night. Having
passed through little town, where we
obtained certain supplies, and refresh
ments, we come upon suitable camp
ing ground. It is in the secluded little
elbow of a creek, at q sufficient remove
from the road, shut in on two sides by
timber, and on the other room being
left for pasturage by rocky bluffs.
The fret care again is the horses,
(which are fed and picketed securely for
the night. Then the wagons are drawn
into position, and = tarpanlin strcfcAed
from one to the other, for protection
against the dew. Every one now is
busy putting the camp in order, getting
wood, starting the FIRE, bringing water,
making preparations for supper and
cooking it, washing t;ie days dust and
heat from your hands and faces, and
brushing hair. Tho fire glows cheerily
as the shadows deepen, and the frag-
rance of the ham and coffee comes as
cups heartily, drink from tin cups deep
ly, and find wonderful flavor never
before discovered in this bright ware.
Cleaning up is looked upon as nui-
sance, and no one is found SO ill-natured
as to grumble if some one chances to do
his or her share.
After the supper, things put away
and everything snugly arranged for the
night tailor-like, all gather round by
the flaring, pickering dips to look at
pictures. Strange as it may seem, we
look by twoss and ones partner is the
person just opposite and farthcst away.
But the days ride has been wearisome,
and i'll spite of all we can do. the
amusement soon begins to lag. Some
one calls something by the army name,
and your partner lays down a highly
colorcd photograph, known as "Jack,"
for the admiration of the company,
thinking it King. Eyes are growing
heavy. Every bone and fiber longs for
rest, and the picturesque touches look
far from uninviting.
In short time, the deep hush of
night is over the camp. Perhaps, I'M
like the rest, you lie awake for hours
listening to the heavy breathing of the
sleepers and the manifold voices of ma
ture that are heard only when the world
slumbers. The novelty of the situation
fills You with contented restlessness
Sleep is impossible, yet you lie quiet
ly in your place. watching the myriad
stars, the trees whispering and nodding
in that strange way of theirs, hearing
the sharp, quick bark of the prowling
night-wolf, and letting your memory go
where it will with you. The moon
comes up later, round and glowing,
I
jects, and transforming the countless
dew-drops into diamonds. About the
day, there is a full, robust glory; but
that of the night is solemn and sacred.
At early dawn, you start wildly up,
and with no idea as to your where
abouts. The appearance of several
/ sleep-marked faces, which you are not
in the habit of seeing at that untimely
hour and do not, at first, in the dim twi-
light, recognize, tends to highten your
perplexity. 1t is well that reason
comes as quickly as it does to your res
cue.
The grass is found to be very wet, and
getting around attended with much
discomfort. Breakfast is prepared I'M
der difficulties. There is not any con-
siderable amount of wood, and what
we have, refuses persistently to burn.
Feet get wet as can be, clothes bedrag-
gied and bedrizzled about the bottom,
beads of water stand out on the dishes,
and it is damp time, generally. How
ever the morning meal is disposed of,
and one wagon driven to town for re-
pairs, while the packing is done.
A blacksmith who gets himself and
frowsy-headed boys at work by eight,
when you have been waiting two NOR
tai hours, and felt the sun growing hot
ter and hotter every moment, may be
considered, generally, a person whom
to look on, is to love. 1t was a bad
morning, however, for the divine SEN
timent, and no casual observer would
have noticed any expression of face or
tongue indicative of it. Notwithstand-
ing this unbusiness-like Vulcan, the
journey was recommended at ten. AS
; we babe the camp kindly adieu, and
felt ourselves once more in motion, the
fog broke and cleared away from each
countenance, and the cloud of impa-
thence and sullen silence which encom-
passed the party about as shroud, was
lifted.
An hours ride over broken Hplands,
brought us to the crest of a rocky bluff
which overlooked a beautiful expanse
of country. Three streams winding
down from the distance, edged toward
their source by faint fringes of green,
! and, nearer us, by distinct belts and
! clumps of timber, Joined their several
waters at our feet. The vallies stretch.
ed away, fair and smiling-checkere
g and dotted by mans handiwork-vari.
gated by ripening grain and thriving
corn. Our sinuous way ran like 6
thread far before us. But, alas! il
would be some time before we followed
u it. Five minutes after we had drawn
in new inspiration from the lovely pros
fpeet, we might have been seen standing
: at the foot of steep declivity, by the
: side of bawling stream, surveying !:
3 wreck from which we hastily Chamber
9 ed. No matter how it had come about
g 1t had come, and all that remained Il
u us was to make the best of It. Retrea
was impossible, and in front, ran tn,
o turbulent water. We hit, finally, upol
. the only expedient. The baggage wag
on being the one unchanged, was driv
: en- to the opposite bank and unloaded
: After many journeys to and fro wit
" this, and much confusion and splashin,
e of water, found ourselves, horses, am