The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-07-05

oblivion of the past, easier obtained here
than in more populous regions. Taking
no note of time, they reck not the
flight of years and seldom think of the
''silver threads among the gold" The
ambitious young cattle owner, who
takes his bacon and bread on a sand
heap in the sun, or anywhere he hap.
pens to be hungry, and who, unassisted,
can tie up the widest bull to a sage
bush, is euphoniously dubbed the
Bovine Agitator." He looks forward
to the time when the plethora of his
droves shall warrant him in following
the bent of his coujugal hopes: home
with wife in a pleasant town within
easy reach of his cattle range.
But we desire to tell the reader
something about our trip and how we
got here. The O. S. N. Co.'S COM
modious boats transported us to The
Dalles, where we met Mr.. Hunting
ton, the proprietor of Pine Creek
Ranch, who had prepared way to
take his friends hither. After deal
of preparation, on Saturday, June
18th, Mr.. H. drove his four elegant
brown horses, attached to a large
thoroughbrace wagon, to the steps of
the Umatilla House and shouted "All
aboard!" The bedding, baggage and
provisions were stored, then the ladies
were helped in and all being ready
the whip was cracked and we rolled
away in the most jolly and comforta-
BILE manner. Our company consisted
of eight persons, as follows: Capt.
Blinn, Mrs. Blinn and Miss Ida Blinn,
Miss Hattie l.. King, Miss Laura E.
Clark, Miss Amanda Thornbury, and
Messrs. J. B. Huntington and w.
Byron Daniels. The wind was blow
ing gale when we started, but the
ferrymen are careful men and we
reached Rockland without accident.
Our road led in a northeast course
over the Klickitat mountains, high
elevations destitute of timber and COW
cred with bunch grass and sun flow
ers. 1t is nearly eight miles to the
summit, and although the grade is an
easy one, it is laborious pull. De-
scending into the Klickitat valley we
rolled along over the smooth road to
Goldendale, prosperous little village
of 40 or so houses, distant about %
miles from The Dalles. We camped
that light five miles beyond Golden
dale, near cool spring of water,
cooked our supper by fire of blazing
pine sticks, ate with good relish and
slept, soundly with a starry canopy
above and the lumpy ground beneath
us. Some of our party learned that
while the ''starry night" is often an
inspiring subject, stretch beneath it
ON the ground, for the first time, is not
calculated to inspire any great de-
gree of sentiment. Thee following
day our rocky road led us through a
great deal Of mountainous country;
hills dotted with pine timber and
gigantic rocks; bunch grass, multi
tudes Of flowers of every hue and
other verdure, rendered the mountain
scenery very beautiful and often pic
turesque. The adjectives, pretty"
beautiful" exquisite" etc. etc.
were heard from our party at almost
every turn in the road. The air was
pure, light and balmy; the feecy
clouds turned their silver lining to-
ward the earth and the sunbeams,
mellow tinted, penetrated the hooks
and dells and glades beneath the trees
and by the brooks and roadside. 1t
was the first day of the week, and
here in the groves, ''God's first tenn
Piles, Fit shrine for humble worshiper
to hold communion with his Maker"
joyous songs of praise resounded
through the trees and along the
mountain sides. Nature has spread