Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-12-13

a recent trip to Gunnison City afforded
me says a writer from Denver, an eXperi-
ence not often enjoyed by any, and utterly
unknown TO those readers whose homes
are away IRON the the mountains rail-
road ride through cense stratum ofcloud
to the clear sky above the storm. Re
turning from Gunnison TIE Denver & KiO
Graade Railway crosses the continental
divide. through the Marshall Pass. st an
altitude of nearly ll,O00 (lO,sS2) feet
above the sea level. AS specimen Of IL
genious engineering and proof of the
success of lndefatIgable energy. II Is a
marvel as well IS q curiosity. Upon the
occasion referred to, W. left the dinirg
station (Sargenr's) at about two p. m IL
was ralning-a cold, ,disagreeable, driZZlng
ram. Slowly the train began its long and
difficult ascent Of the grade of over 200
feet TO the mile, toward the summit. As
We advanced the veil of cloud whose firm
ges we had been watching resting on the
mountain tops aud waving irOm point TO
POINT, drew Closer. Soon Its damp folds
had shut us in, and we were IN the bosom
of the clouds. All view was shut out;
nothing 10 be seen but the grey mass Of
mist; nothing to be heard but the labored
breathing OF the asthmatic little engine.
bucklng down to its task At snalls pace,
sen miles an hour, We cTept up the noun
tain side. Now we paused al tank to
replenish the engine'- supply Of water, ,aad
again we resumed the ascent. Gradually
the mist became brighter; soon glesm OF
light shot through: then the light, Heecy,
upper clouds became visible, with blue
sky between. Up, up We labOred til the
INST had passed beneath our feet, and the
sun sbOne ss brightly as ever. We Were
above the clouds. Blue, intensely blue
was the sky, relieved here and there by a
few light Summer clouds. Below US the
mist lay like vast gray sea, from tue bos
ON OF wLIch emerged the frosty heads OF
Oursy, AntOro, Snayano and their com
panion peaks, like islsts against whose
rocky sides the pillows Of cloud rolled and
receded. 1t was sight not s0Ou TO be
erased from the memory. AboEe the
clouds, inlagiu lticn, aided BY memory.
could picture the = or mortais on.y few
miles below US shiveriug IN their rubber
coats, while We were revellng IN the bright
sunshine But ike time and tide, the Rio
Grande R4iirOsd waits for no man, and we
began our descent. j. ls not long before
We left the sunny heights, and again ap-
preached the folds of mist The guiches
| beneath Us FesemDlec huge cauldrOns frOaa
which great masses OF steam were rolling
up toward heaven. Il was grand, an
awful sight, thus t. see whole mountain
siie apparently enveiOped in boiling water
while the great clouds OF vapOr rolled and
! tossed ike the surf OF a tempest lashed
ocean. We entered the confGes OF the
cloud: slowly and carefully tue tram sTept
down the mountain side, cilnglng tenacious
" TO the steep slope. Again The rain re-
appeared increasing ID force I'LL upon OuI
arrival at POnCho Springs we were IN a
pouring storm. Il the short space cI SIX
hours we bad risen from the region OF
storm AMI discomfort through snd a1Ove
the clouds, basked sor lJue time IN The
1ncIoGded igHt OF heaven, gszed upward
10 the deep blue above, and locked Tn
umphantly down up5n the source OK our
mornIDs s ,!iscOiLt5-; the.1 'Cts. ';As',.ei
again 10 the common Level to have our
share Of The disagreeaDleness OF lie what
a picture of hfe's journey. Often from the
midst of dIscDursgements and trials and
petty annOyances may We rise Tor While
above them all, and on tic mountain tops
reiOIce III the UnbIoken sunlight Oi Di-
TIue love and paternai care. But vain IS
it for Us TO wish 10 remain. IL IS not God S
parpOsa that We should ever stsy on tie
| heights. For1IddIng though The clouds
may look ae must descend again 10 en-
counter the Storm, the driving ran, the
chilling dampness OF the mlsJ, but 10 be
supported by the memory Of cur late eE-
aitgiiOn and tue COusclJUsness that ''De-
F! hind the clouds is the sun still shining,
that our Father still smiles upon tue clouds
ami that Ia due time the storm shall pas
away. the blue SIX again appear, and the
sun OF JOY and peace shine oncem0re upon
/ our heads