The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-05-30
ALEXANDRIA, LA, SATURDAY, MAY 50; 1874 !.

french. and he did possess one golden
quality, no was always good natnretl
How We did enjoy these tramps; and the
cosy dinner at the village tavern-soup
veal potatoes, fruit and good red winf
formed our repast, but we. did Justice tc
al' and felt as il we had dfned like prin-
,cesses. Ashort saunter throngirthe village
church yard, rough sketch OF the old
ruin perhaps and then We turned our faces
homeward, arriving at our little chalet
abont light in the evening, the weaker
pedestrians riding half way home. l never
felt weary and always walked. The air is
so fresh aud exhileratibg that you seem
| to move by instinct rather thanby conscious
effort. We had some few days of storm
too, and they were very grand and fmpres-
sive. They approach almost as suddenly
as they vanish The sky becomes tlarken-
ed by the lowering clouds that gather
Ever and anon lurid streaks of lightning
would light up for an instant the whole
mountain world, making the darkness even
more apparent. Then the clap of thunder
that would seem to roll and vibrate for
miles, and finally die away like suppress
ed moan. ,Grandly impressive was it to
watch thus war in the skies-in pl essence
Of this awful snhlimity one is afraid to
fear, you are filled, unconsciously, with
awe and wonder; aud you feel God power.
Beautiful is the calm that follows the
storm, the angry clements sink suddenly
to rest, and the snnbeams begin to coquet,
with the rain drops, and the songsters re-
sume their merry warble; the air is fres)'
and filled with sweet perfume of new mown
hay. Nor can forget the Sabbaths:
",Tender was the law that gave this holy
respite to the breast,
To breathe the gale, to watch the wave
and know the wheel may rest"
1t always seemed the brightest and fairest
of the seven days l cannot in truth re
call one dismal sabbath on the mountains
Every one seemed happy and .joyons = The
little village church that we attended was
about a mile from onr chalet. About nine
in the morning we prepared for the charm
ing jaunt church ward. From all the
neighboring hamlets the inmates sannter-
ed forth, clad in their ''go to neetng''
garhs with grave bnt contented mien,
leaving the doors Of their homes unlocked
even when entirely vacated by its in
mates. Snch peace and security would
seem to q denizen of onr Crescent CITY al
lnost m"re-than earthly felicity, but there
such is truly the case. The good father
was generally armed with green cotton
talh hrella, which was, however, never used
except in sunshine | rather think they
were heir looms, that passed thro'h several
generations. l have never seen more than
one in hnnsehod. The little mountains
path that led to the church was very pic
tnresque. and we often wished it was twice
as long. his@rustic house of worship
could not accommodate more than eighty
persons; it rarely contained fully that
number, it was neat but simple in con-
struetion, with neither organ nor choir
but youth and age alike, sang with heart
and soul, and l thought it the sweetest
holy music ever 9ard Here there is no
distinction OF persons; all sit and worship,
indlscriminately- blue slked heilcs>
might find beside her simple humble,
peasant maid. More anon.