The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-03-15


oppressive, we took stage at Portland.
For sleepy passengers, and passengers
who must have their morning nip of
bitters, we were delayed until the town
clock tOlled six; then the mail was to
be packed away, Wells, Fargo's box
taken up. Finally, at a crack of the
whip and the cry of "NO,0 we're off,"
the horses sprung TO the work.
Three miles out, at the mouth of the
canyon, the
FOREST HOUSE
looked inviting as a summer boarding.
place. At the foot of the mountain, in
the shadow of pine, and fir, and rustling
naples, wild berries and roses, ripping
waters, singing birds, with the liberty
Of the shady forest for musing or medi-
tatiOn, must make it a very attractive
place by-and-by. The caiiOn road seemed
to us very long and crooked, but it had
charms. Finally, the mOuntain-tOp
was gained, and we came into clear,
crisp, frost and ice. The fir trees We're
tasseled and sparkling with diamonds;
from sunny hooks, i'm sheltered places,
the meadow lark and robin piped their
sweetest notes; smoke, from cabin
chimneys, curled gracefully away over
the tree-tOps; we heard the sound of
coffee mills, and once caught the Odor
of the fragrant beverage; women were
out milking, and children feeding chick
ems; frOwsy, half-dressed men We're laZ-
lily hacking wood from resinous fir logs;
Others, a little earlier, were laZily swing
ing the axe on the edge of the clearing,
or slowly repairing fences; there, a
woman turning cows out to brOwse-a
man leading horse to water.
NNe oil ful, 4 I,
wheat; young orchards, among tree
stumps and fenced with brush. y pas
senger pointed out a clearing and snug
log house, by a purling little spring,
where, ten years ago, he first cut tree
on Government land, bought for S1.25
an acre. He had sold for SO an acre,
and, again, it had just changed hands at
$50.
Looking back, the valley below Port
land, and the beautiful river, were OBJ
scured by a
SEA OF FOG.
1t rolled and shifted, descended and as
cended, in a thousand fantastic shapes;
never revealing, always concealing, the
sea of busy life beneath. 1t was fleecy
white-sea foam, tempest-toSsed, with
the sunshine glinting through it, was
ally reaching up, and stretching out its
long arms, hpgging the forest, chasing
the sunshine, swallowing out of sight
the rugged landscape. On it came, with
streamers and banners flying, silently,
a great host in full chase; no tap of drum
or voice of trumpet to break the spell;
closer it gains upon us, We shall surely
be overtaken by the fog. The driver put
whip to horses. Hurrah! A chase for
sunshinel On and on, until we were
spattered with mud and the horses
| fieeced with foam; but the grand armies
from clOudland had marshled all Their
forces, and, borne on the breath OF
! 'tHOOd' and Jefferson were surely
/ gaining on us; the frOst-wOrk vanished
in trees and shrub and fir-tassel. I'll
tania, and all her jeweled hosts, sadly
departed. The fairy cavaliers, with
nOdding plumes, and silver lances, anC
spears, disappeared from the roadside:
and fenee-eorners. Oh, for wings, tC
fly away from the fog, to the land o.
oranges and pomegranatesl Soul anC
body, we loved and longed for the sun.
shine. In vain our prayers, i'm vain al
our love. The silent, yet swift-footed
conquering hosts passed far to the righ
and left of us; obseured the sun, closeC
IanhSi WueeleuY turned Dack, covered
the trees, occupied all the fields, anC
forests, and meadows, filled the coacl
and clung to our garments.
We heard the lowing of cattle an,
could not see them; the voices of human
beings about the near cabins, and coult
only guess their distance. 1t was desc
late, uncertain, and misty to eye an,
ear-as if the ocean had suddenly swal
up the land and and all its beauty. w,
heard the swoop of wings in the view
less air around us, and, closing our eyes
could easily imagine the sound Of near
flowing waters coming from the ripple
around the PROV of boat. Suddenly
as ifcOntent with the victory and touched
by remOrse, it began to dissolve in tear
of rain.
: We were not at sea, but on the iand
damp, chilled to the bones, eoiu, nun
gry. Oh, how the rain pelted US! "A
first quietly, then in gusts. IL beat II
} our faces: It soaked our wraps 1t drip
ned down our necks; it wet our feet; i
whisked. and danced, and poured, IL
showers and torrents.
r Thanks to the rain gods, they subdue'
the fog.-Mrs. Carrie f. Young.