The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-06-04
~ ' tFor the Democratic Statesman.
A SojOurn Among the CiO1ds-A Panel
. vea Sketch. hg ae-cLv

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At the close Of. one of those lovely days
in June, which make glad the heart, and
carry US away, as it were, from ourselves to
those higher and purer regions t'where care
is unknown sat down at my window,
which overlooks the western horizon. The
sun had Just sunk beneath the line of hills
which skirt the dim distance, leaving gor-
geous tint of purple and gold upon the
clouds away in the far West.sI As / gazed
upon the lovely scene, I. was filled with
yearning, unutterable, to soar away and
alight upon those aerial peaks, far, far
above the strife and connections of earth
Suddenly q benignant form stood before
me, whose feature bore no impress of the
passions of man.. Mortal said he, twhy
uOS5 CnOu gtiZU Ss-AaA-.ss1.a.2
scene, and sigh as though thou fain wouldst
flee away and be at rest2p ''Dost thou de-
sire to gog" Yes, replied 1; much, indeed,
do desire it. Instantly I.seemed impelled
by some Irresistible power onward and up
ward, away, and away, towards those quiet
regions which seemed to smile me well
come as approached them. In proportion
as Isped upwards, all the unpleasant recol-
lections of life faded from my memory, I'M
til when at last the much desired goal was
reacheds they retained no other impression
upon my mind than an unquiet dream, which
renders the Weakening more delightful.
Ireclined upon my fleecy couch, no way dis
comtited by its eVer-chaAging form. AS one
bright peak, after another, melted away
there was another to receive me- Nor were
they stationary. I soon found myself float
ing over lofty mountains, deep rivers, roar
ing cataracts, the mighty ocean, and popu=
lous cities. In. the latterI beheld the SOW
ereigns and great ones of the earth, whom
the world envies and applauds as the hap
piest of mortals, throw off the mask in the
night by which they had deceived their
fellow moftals in the day. And then saw
that al-their greatness, all their envied
splendor, was, to them, but s'vanity and
vexationof spirit" When storms arose,
would ascend to higher regions of clouds
and there, above the war of elements, look
calmly down upon thesplendid scene below.
In the quiet night, seated upon some moon
| lit cloud, would float, as it would seem
to spectator below, among the stars, and
flisten to ''the music of the spheres. y In the
still moonlight, angel bands would often
descend into the region of the eartbS and
sometimes standing, sometimes reclining,
upon si1very clouds, breathe forth heavenly
melodies which mortal ears in sleep, alone,
can catch; and which, unknown to mortals,
so often give delicious softness to their
dreams. More than once caught sound
OF my sainted mothers voice mingling like
sweet refrain in these angelic strainsl
Time sped on; and was happy as mortal
only can be, whose breast is no longer
heaved by human care. My conductor to
this abode had guaranteed me this ex-
emptioh just, so long as / gave my
self up to the dreamy luxury Of. my
state without seeking to recall, in
thought, aught had left below or signing
to behold it again, ~ .s e.i.ir,r3 =
I One evening there arose tempest so
| frightful that ], accustomed as was to the
Storm King, shrank afTrighted from his
presence. / attempted to scale pinnacle
of cloud above his reach, but, unlike on all
other occasions, he seemed to hold me
IN his grasp. He hurled his thunderboltss
The gFoans and cries Of terrified mortals,
minglihg frightfully with the noise of the
storm, reached my appalled, ears. i now
found how strong were still my sympathies
with earth. They were not dead, but only
dormant
There had been wanting only an occasion
to call them forth with an their wontsd
vigor. The fmpetuosity Of the winds drove
the cloud on which / stood madly forward,
until It paused, as II waiting the command
Of the genius which guided it. Those in
4 distinct but mournful human sounds again
met my ears. There was q val Of helpless
childhood IN the notes. j breathlessly bent
forward. Those were my children's voices.
It was enough would no longer purchase
careless case at the expense Of their loved
/ prcsenoe ] would share their fate The
same form stood before me. . Mortal, y
said be, q thou hast suffered human carr
and anxiety 70 palpitate thy breast; thou
! hast forfeited thy night 20 this abode, into
which 40 such feeling may Intrude. = . lis
4 vel, answered I. Immediately there FOL.
lowed -acrash, IS II TIE elements Themselves
had been torn asunder. The cloud that
sustained me was rent. Amidst lightning,
min and hail, vas precipitafed with
fearful rapiditg. closed ny eyes %
shut ont asit were, the horror Of conainc
in contact with she earth. The dreaded
collision came, but instead 81 producing
annihilation i only restored eonscionsn e..
With 8 frightened start aWoke Mrthret
little children were langhit. and rIa1inr. IA
J the yaFd before The windcW. Tkcir noisy
nlirth had giVea coIoring q my. sleenina
fancies. end i0i found thai my life among
the Clouds vas Only 3 dream. g O. c.
AHsffn, Msr1o. 1874
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