Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-08
For the Southern Home.
0N THE PLAINS.

All. now WCdfllS lllC Spcu at the
fortl 1t was seven years since l had
graduated at West Point, and during
all that time | had been on garrison
duty, at out-of-the-way military
stations. | began to chafe under it,
and to resolve that my life should
not be wasted in this way. But
what could | do? My education fit
ted me for my present duties, and If
| resigned, might not be able to
obtain another position, without
begging for Office, which | had re-
solved never to do. Il could not
dig, and to beg | was ashamed" |
stretched out my muscular arm and
thought "Surcly there is other work
in the world for me TO do. | am
young and full of life and vigor-
must l spend all my days within
these dreary fOrtifications." look
ed from our ramparts upon the
boundlcss plains, which at first had
so delighted me, but now only filled
me with longings to break my bonds.
My restlessness at length Overpow-
cred all my fears, and L resolved to
resign and run every risk; and with
out money or friends, to brave the
hard and greedy world. l had saved
few hundreds from my salary
which l resolved to invest in land
on the Pacific railroad, and | spent
days in studying maps of the coun-
try through which the route passed.
1t was dark, rainy night, when l
bade last farnwell to the old fort,
the men crOwding around me with
saddened faces and heartfelt eX-
pressions of regret at my departure.
| put myself and my luggage into
one of Wells Il Fargo's comfortable
coaches, and as we dashed of at full
gallop, felt like 4 newly released
prisoner, although a moment before,
unmanly tears had filled my eyes, as
my hand had been successively
wrung by my trusty comrades. AS
| said before, the night was very
| dark-tOo dark for me to see my
travelling companions, but l knew
/ there was lady in the coach, for
the driver had said to me, on enter
/ ing, "Take the middle seat, sir
/ there is a lady and child on the back
| seat" l was in a state of excite
ment, which would have impelled
me TO talk, but the deep breathing
| of one or two slecpers made me keeT
silence. a faint perfume of roses
came from the seat behind me, and
! l knew from this little circumstance
alone that the lady was person Of
refinement. The odOr was so faint
that but for the dampness of the
atmosphere, il would not have beer
/ perceptible-it was a scent which
we ALWAYS associate with the fines
of linen and laces. My lady reader!
may smile and ask how l came t
be so knowing about perfumes anC
laces. All, gentle fair one, poor q,
am now, my childhoOd's home wa!
u luxurious one, in the far South
and my patrician mother was sur
rounded by everything which car
sweeten and embellish life. "Bu
riches (aud alas, friends toO,) makt
to themselves wings, and fly away
as an eagle towards heaven"
When the day began to dawn, l be
gan studying the country. L was {
good typographical engineer anC
not a tree or canon, stream o.
boulder, escaped me. The feelins
conjured up by the faint perfume o
roses all fed before the morning
light, and all my soul was in M
eyes, for was searching for "hOmt
upon the plains" Turning my heaC
TO look from one window to tn,
other, lady's hat hanging from tn,
side of the coach, again reminded
me of my neighbOr, and l inyolun
tarily turned to look at her. Sh
was still asleep, her head pilloweC
upon a valise covered with shawls
and with the child in her arms. Th
! child was about tour years old, bu