, 1874-10-18

10, ot4---Sl4A lEEN fAUE
THE SPIRIT Of THE PLATTE,
BT COL ALBERT @. BRAcKErT.
We al know how. In old times, men, women,
and children, used to toll along the road TINT
lends up the Platte River. We know how tired
and footsore the horses aud cattle used to get,
and how weary every animal became The hot
sand reflected The rays Of the sun, and became
hotter than eyer; tte dead trees and drifting
logs seemed blue in the silver waters OF the
river; and the far-oF cottonwood trees appeared
to double in rize aad spread out on the other
shore. The grass was pale, yellow, and sickIy !;
the weeds cramped and sineWy; and tbs long
flags of the marshes waved slowly to aud fro in
the breeze, that came laZiiy from the south, as
hot as II 1t had been heated IN furnace. L few
birds sailed slowly overhead, surveying the dull
landscape below them, aud then dtsappeared-no
one knew where- The distant knolla and hill
locks we're covered with hot air, that shifted and
shimmered in the most singular 1nannor now
dancing up aud down, 1nd then rolling OF in
hinge Ns.es, far away to the night and left, untl
lost to view.
On bright, sunshiny day. a crowd OF iumi-
grants we're slowly moving along this road. The
party consisted Of several men, women, and lit
tie ones, who were all on their Tay to the land Of
promise, toward the setting sun. The wagons
had immeuso Govern, and wcre comfortable
enough in every respect they coutained cook
ing utensils and c1ockcry and every,ptght, after
going into camp. 8 supper Was prepared in the
best possible style The .eyening-oamp VAS
agreeable enough, after the hot experiences OF
the day, and oil looked forward to it with
pleasure.
One family, named Dsndru, will claim our
particular attention, AZ it was composed Of q
father and mother, and several handsome daugh-
tcrs. The family were moving from Missouri to
the new country in tho Far West. The girls we're
all excsllent housekeepers, and, after riding for
hours in the wagon, we're elad enough to vary
tho experience BY engaging in cooking. when the
train halted for the night. Several Young men
belonging to the party we're only too glad to wait
upon the young girls, and bring them as much
went to work cheerfplly, and many gay laugh
was heard while they were making their bread,
preparing thoir coffee. and cooking their meat.
Miss Imogene, ono Of the daughters, was unL
versal favorite with everybody and her fair little
1oin1' 'aasp''s 'sso' auo ou119 u,A' 4aaoe n0nu
somo picture, Is she stood near her fire. engaged
in her womanly dutjes. She knew very we'll the
power OF her oharms, though abe never went out
nf ber u,v nart,c,,ar1v IN c.ntiv.ta anvhodv It
" ne1 ""5 w ~
must nos 20 anoeto'ooo 'na' snsSe Soo!'s .ao4es
we're uneducateo or coarse, ~ they had all re-
ceiFed the benefit OF 50 excellent education, aud
wsre skilled in mauy female acconplishmeuts.
y, t,a .von;,s altar .rnsat tbav oo,n.ti,nae
III '"e e'eAs, "4|s. 1o.oo' ."I. e%t4Ae' %
sang near tne 1ent. Hu'en was p'.cneo e'ohe 10
the Wagons; and. in the clear, starlight night.
the etfocs was charming. Over plain and river
tl,e sounds f1oated sueetly-the pure nicht-air
no oos. ..s. .,>s ~. ra. Tn';.
see".ns ~ oa4'5 sAsn. ~ b'e1' ote."oee @a'e'
added to the conversation IN regard to the Farl-
Gus eveats Of the journey. served to make tho
time pass acreeahly; aud. though tho daYs we're
ho1 nd teiion. tna NIGHTS f,1lv comnens.tail
for them. Ihe men OF the party understood
travelling on the fia1os' ana kne" no" 10 LAKE
advantage OF every circumstance. AL OF the ar
range1neuts moved On like clock-work aud
what would have cost great deaf Of labor to i'll
experienced hands seemed hera to cause no
trouble At al, but to give way 1t once before tAo
practiced p!alnsmaa.
As Miss Imogena sat one evening talking NTH
. brisk young fellow. named Harry lngo.dsby,
she asked him what the men had found to inter
ost them 50 much lately, especially ln regard to
= certain appearance near the banka Of the
rirer.
Harry replied, that there was story gong the
rounds, to The eject that 4 most qnearthly spec
tacle had sometimes been seen near the P1st;o'
which had appalled, every one.
What is it like ?" she inquired
1t IL an lmmense form. and mas the appear
ance OF a woman, Rith her arms crossed upon
her breast
How DO you account for this strange appear
ance ?" said MISS lmogene. . ....
None Of US can account 70! it, and, to tell
you the truth, but few believe in 1t at all. It
has been seen only By = few men, who hare
come in from the west, and, I think, amounts to
nothing"
'tWhen will no be likely to see it ?"
"That Is altogether uncertain, and perhaps wo
will not it on this trip across the plains. rs
hayo met but few men who claim to have eser
witnessed it." ,.....,
''Wheu Is it seen by those who say they have
seen it?
Generally toward the close OF the dag. 1t ID
seen on the plains only, and never On tue NOUN
tains."; -,
At that moment, tall Hountaineer passed
near them, aud Harry called out 30 hlm, and
asked him to come up
Here, said Harry. us Ashley Logan. He
has seen the appar1-lO as G1tan 23 any man uT-