The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-11-26
THE SUBJECTIVE OF TT.

Desolation, grand, oppressive, complete.
Rocks and sand, "a sky Of brass"
I had strayed away from the govern
mental exploring party to which I be-
Ionged, and was lost. I cursed the mo-
nent when I had loitered ii frivolous
search Of geological information, and the
hour I left the States. For two days
and q night I had stumbled among the
ra7ines and parched guIlies, and never
drop had to drink in all that time. /
had lain down upon the ground and
slept under the golden stars, and dream
ed Of home and-water. I had risen, to
stumble on, Until 7 came to this great
plain. During the first day and night,
after thirst had seized upon my throat,
I had resorted TO an expedient my moth
er taught me when Twas boy, Of keep
ing small button in ny mouth but the
button itself had grown dry and singing,
an my breath was thick with what 7
thought the smoke Of my entrails, for I
fit that spontaneous combustion had
taken hold upon me, and that I must
burn out unless I found relief Z had
perspired, IN the outset, under the direct
rays of a sun that seemed 10 wax fercer
in its awful warmth with every moment
that passed. Precipitation had long since
ceased, and my skin was nealy with
very dryness. Ny temples throbbed
with the puisations OF q great engine !;
each motion Of my heart beat at my brain
Like the heavy bang OF Q battering-ram
upon 8 hostile gate. I felt that my
blood was besieging my reason, and I
feared It's triumph.
There was no ''cool OF the evening"
The sun diIatad IN size and its heat in
Intensity, until the vast hills shut it out
in the West and when it had disappear
ed from sight the sands and the stones
supplied its place and threw up the
warmth they had hidden and boarded
through the frying hours Of the terrible
day. The golden an Of sunset was an
air fame, and my aching eye-baIls shiv-
cred in it.
mall that fervid wilderness I alone
lived.
I laid myself at length upon my face
when the day had faded, and the white
moon had risen Like a globe of silver
from behind the eastern ranges. I had
dragged myself on N utter desperation
all the hot afternoon, my knees going
out from under me, and my head giddy
and wild. lay down il q stupor of de
SPAR. And I slept and dreamed.
dreamed that 1 VAS boy with 9th
er boys, in my dear old native place up
on the banks Of the gentle Genesee-ttIa
great green banks that threw their soft
early evening shadows across the placid
water below the last fall IN the river,
whose monotonous roar came down to
us softsned and pleasant to hear. We
sported and plunged IN the broad stream,
and the steep sides echoed with our
shouts. / drank Of the vajer, and the
cool breazes from Ontario stirred my
hair. There was no care with Us. I
swan down with the current. I saw 9
boat tied TO the margin. By one Of
chose transitions common to sleep. 7
was in that boat and floating out upon
the lake. The moon rose out OF the
water, and across the CLASSY swells she
spread out @ shimmering, jewaled path
way that Led 70 heaven. I r0ved out,
on, away from lend, until the shore line
narrowed to a thread upon the horizon,
and only the dancing water and the
solemn night were With ne. Al around
only the vater-eold, crystalline, living
and peaceful night. IsGretoh myself
upon the bottom Of the little sldf, with
my face to the great vault above, ''the
floor Of heaven, strewn with star-dustt. .
xilent, immense, rapturously beautiful.
The rocking boat lulIad ne pleasantly !:
he gurging ripple and little plash Of
waves along its side made most delicious
music.
The wind blew gently from the west,
aud drifted away, happy, contanted,
dreaming IN that blisslUI, half-consoious
state wherein ST. takes 40 part in the
thoughts, but only sweet quiescence
runs along he veins. The moon sailed
NJ, on, over me, down the other side,
and still | was waited BY the breeze.
The undvlations Of my boat grew softer
and less. l Goasad smoothly. I knew
I had entered upon The st. Lawrence.
Past the enchanting shadows, the
dinpled bays, TIE sinuo-s preEty pas
sagas Ct the Thousand Isles, with the
sviltness of an e.rrow, down the long
stretch Of river beyond, until 7 came to