Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-07-05

moss, the combination Of whose gosssmer
threads formed strength SURPRISING that C
the wooden monster whose form they sGfllv
yelled. The startled cry Of wild birds pierced
the air St every turning as the iron pulsngs Of
our tugglng boat drove them gffIghted from
the nest, While the painivc note, the whist:
of our little steamer the Oscoola, suggested
the phantom voice OF that Indian chiettan
still haunting the shadoWy recesses OF his !ovc6
tribe last retreat, aud calling home with HI.
mournful song from their sleot mounds tho
spirits of bis slumbering warriors, or cheeriug
by his ghostly prcseuce the few survivors wiz
vet frcqneut the swampS OF the beautiful! land
of the Samiuolc. As the sun sunk behind the
foliage of the impcuerable forest his last ray:
shot gntiug from tree to tree, until they fell
10 a golden glamour upon the ripping Eatc,.
of the river, for few moments caressed il.
disturbed surface, aud then reliugushcd il +,
all the weird witcheries and dark e0chantmcut,
that the gloom Of night is wont to cast upon i.
Large fires were kirded in brasiers on IT,.
pilot box, aud their fierce glare Went dancp,
out into the darkoe5s. revealing in fantastic
delineaions the Rnarled limbs aud mos; clad
outlines OF the phantom figures that Eg0i t.
fill the awe inspiring picture.
The supper tables being removed many ct u;
assembled 10 the little saloon to hear The boat
steward who had been invited. with his gutter.
to render US some amusement. lie Vas ot.is.
log and polite, and bis rich, half tutorcd VOC.
breathed. with telling effect. some Of the oDar,.
most modest gems, and sentiments s5i2.;
posies. The Heart Bowed Down, aal O;
10 the Silly Night threw q l'a5ani p:!ao.
choy over the company, Willie ''R }ckad So
the Bilows Of the Deep" cast Our Spils b.
low water mark. il moist lashcs arc iudiccs d,
feeling, but when the soft notes Of Hon.
Sweet Home" hoated cut Of the litt!a catle
windows upon the stiffness OF tie night. hinge
ed long 90 the slumberlog air, iii! rs iain.
echo was lost in the deepest receSs.s OF E!5r!-
labyrinlh, aud then died as blossoms di1, 20.
By one We silently withdrew, aud The h.p,,
minstrel was lett sole occupant OF the aia"
ment proudly conscious that that night tx w.,
master Of his art. Next m0runE, when ro3e...
hues We're bursting from eastern ca4,nb'r5 ",
entered Silver Spring river, { stream VIII,
| waters are so linpid that at I depth U! "rehly
| feet the bottom may be viewed wI;h su: il,
| liuctnpss as allows Uuo 10 cluat the pebbles .w
| shells lying thereon, or follow VITA GGllghrI
| eye the scaly gam50ls VI the iinny i,ar. "
soon reached Silver Springs, and tLcnyc =,
stage, Lake Ware. my present l2sIIral.oJ
| Here, 10 pleasant cottage. surr2uaisi ty
| orange groves AN ru'ticllug, free !r.M :,
the cares and trials that beSct the son, Of nlAn
| Lake W are IL not one OF those still, s.uab..
| ing bayOus Incident TO SIulhern cline, "a
| presents u beautiful sheet OF water, Is blu J.
| the heaven winch rs own bosom minors. aui
| whose waves are ever murmurlbs drcatu!iy ~!
| kissing The smooth sand beach IN is c13sciy..
and untiring carcSSes. The lake Is tgc mile 4.
length and four 10 width, and dotted IN g..
centre by three considerable islands. Here at.
| the mounds Of the sleeping Scminoles. here tng
palmetto, orange aud magnolia are i1lot ur,"
ing in wild aud luXuraut Abandonment, he's
! the hooking bird, the soft cooin- nag dny'
the whip poor. will, (her ramc her Cby .o,-
and 10 that respect Ike good many pcjp.'
chance to kuow,) and the planllye t,l-. ys
other sad colored night birds, staric The rch,:.
that slumber around these Indian mausoIcum,
and here the Florida kiog, the crocodIic,rrjga.
supreme.
What amuses me most is the quelt lAnia.'e.
| nature INDUCED 10 when she designed III
birds that frequent these Southern sHamps
Here are birds that fly up in the air auI the.
pull their legs up after them; here arc LrI.
that telescope their necks some two feet 10
length; birds that look like androds on VIM.
birds that rescmbl, three legged collins; bid
that walk upon the lily pods with gait resem
bling that OF Washington reporter; birds a
fat as Lax collectors pocket, AMI bras a r'.1
as modern f. I. v. birds So blue that II
gives ooe the "hypo' TO contemplate them
and birds SO black that their presence causes au
involuntary shadows and Others who's chHri2,
terisics beggar description.
| Hundreds Of miles separate u; 9tt tbs l.ii
behind me- are, Though lost to sig hi, 10 hs"'.
DRY dear" Frequently When the day Is "aTm.
and having returned from long AMI weAr,
hunt, stroll 10 tho beautiful lake all rc'''i'
10 day dreams the friends Of my Northrto
home. Often find myself tracing thu nan
Of loved cues 10 the Sa0J then large "'y
comes and washes then away, unl r'h I'D
that thus will ourselves aud our m1monc, b
obliteraled from the sands Of time BY the T''
of eternity.
In my next | will tell you what W iora -
the Indian mounds, and how | cane near /.
log inundated at the sbrln1 Of Uninc. i@
then. | am, truly yours.