The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-05
A RBSPITE .FRoN. .BusfNRss.

ASSOCIATIONS forget for time the calls
for copy" that have spoiled so many of
our day-dreams during the past two
years.
Thanks to the accommodations OF
the express train, one is now able to
accomplish a good days work and take
a pleasure trip on the same day; so a
very short space of time intervened be-
tween our good-byes at home and our
greetings with friends of ''ye olden
time," whom We found in waiting to
accompany US a few miles away
into the deep-green country. Turn
ing toward the steps that surmount
the walls Of rock that stand i'm their
grim grandeur frowning upon the hab-
itations below, we mount them-not very
briskly-but in due time find ourselves,
painting and breathless, upon the sum-
nit, quite surprised to behold so much
of city before us. Cozy dwelling
houses nestle in their white beauty
amongst great boulders gray and lichen-
grown which erewhile held either soli-
! tary possession or shared it with the
! squalid bark-covered huts of the Indians
Mounting upon one of these bOulders,
we took a survey of the scene and pom
dered over the changes that the years
had wrought since once upon time we
had come to this romantic spot on
most unrOmantic errand, j. E., to get an
aged woman who lived hard by to weave
rag carpet which we had cut and
sewed for weeks to make ready for her
loom. Our glance toward this picture,
then toward that, was, however, speedily
cut short by the arrival of a horse sad
died for our use, and we became con-
scious that we must delve still deeper
into the past to resurrect our long-unused
knowledge of equestrianship. If the
rag carpet remembrance had carried us
back into the long ago, the act of spring
ing into the saddle and gathering up
the reins once more for "really ride"
caused US to take at least little sip
from the tabled fountain of youth, and
/ we grew so gay as actually to receive a
compliment upon our youthful appear
ance from a friend as we journeyed
along.
Two days and three nights in the
country! Only think of it We could
almost hear the grass grow and see the
buds burst, as floating out on the humid
air came the delicious scent of budding
/ things. The fresh south wind, albeit it
came laden with great drops that were
too real to be "misty," sang song of
springtime in the tops of the aged frs
close by, while the piping voices of
birds impatient to build their nests
caught up the refrain and seemed to
plead with wayward April to bestow her
smiles.
Everything in this part of the coun-
try, as we presume it is elsewhere, is
extremely backward. The rains have
been so long-continued as to prevent
plowing and seeding to any extent, yet
the sturdy yeomanry, with persistence
that should and doubtless will be re-
warded by bountiful harvest, plow a
few burrows now and few then, just as
the drenching showers will allow, and
trust to Providence for few bright days
for seeding time.
Canemah, the beautiful Willamette
on one side, the everlasting hills with
all their load of rocks, waters, and woods
on the other, looks just as it did fifteen
years ago. The people who, in its
early and more prosperous days, made
themselves homes there, are too thrifty
to allow them to fall into decay, aud too
! far-sighted TO eXpend money in i'm
provements that from present appear
ances will not for generation be worth
anything. Hence, the look of sameness
about it is varied only by the changing
seasons. There are, however, there to
be found some of the pleasantest homes,
kindest and most hospitable people,
most beautiful gardens, brightest babies,
and most industrious girls and boys in
the State.
Oregon City, with the exception of
ehS iLb PlONShlShto Ou lle llll dOOVe LDe
city proper, has also an ancient look
about its streets and dwellings, al
though the unceasing click, click of the
machinery of the WOolen Mills gives to
it an appearance of life.
Most of the boats upon the upper river
have been laid by to await the return of
the busy season, and as q consequence
many men are ont of employment.
They feel, however, that it will be for
brief season, and cheerfully devote
themselves to the task of making their
gardens and cultivsting the acquaint-
ance of their families. This last seems
to be a pleasing state of affairs to all
concerned. Steamboat men are liable
to be like editors in one respect. The
chances are that they will wake up
some fine morning to find themselves
verging on toward middle life, or per-
haps nearing its outermost border, their
homes filled with young ladies and gen.
tlemen with whom they have scarcely
more than the honor OF u speaking ac-
quaintance.
Recollections of certain columns
waiting to be filled caused US to start up