The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-15
Above the Clouds.

One mountain I particularly desired
to climb. 1t is splend d mass OF roek'
treelcss, high and promising an outlook
of 30, 900 or 40, O0o miles from its sum
nit. Viewed from our camp, 1T doesn
look so bad. With me. to wish is 10
will. and to will is to do some easy
things. 1 wished to climb the noun
tain and | ciumb it. don't know now
to spell it, but did it. A smooth look
ing mountain, with terraces OF low
green bushes and easy lodges OF rock
looks we'll enough to blind man across
the lake, but when you essay to 81 de IT
under YOUR feet, it becomes roug her
than a pigs back. l stepped on firm
looking logs that were rotten as
politicians promises. was preclplta1,,
ed down great pits so deep that conlu
look up and see the stars, just a1tcf
reaching bottom. l got lost in brlar
patches that shred my raimcnt from me
in great shreds from Shredville, and
lacerated my inmost feelings. l lost
my hat. l dropped my alpenstock
down a hole that extended 400 feet up
inside mountain in China. L broke
NV knife cutting another stick. l took
off my coat and laid it on the inaccess-
ible top of an unapproachable rock, in.
tending to get il as came down, and
now. the entire United States Geo
grahphical Commission couldn't hnd
that rock in u mill on years. | pulled
the sole off one boot and tore the up
per off the other. l ate Il handful OF
strange red berries before learning that
they were poison. stirred up nest
of hornets in the dead tliicket of fal-
len pine tree, and heaven and earth
came together in six or seven places at
the same time before could climb
perpendicular cliff eighty feet high to
get away from them. But l did it
When | saw tire boss hornet disappear
within his workshop minute and then
come out with an arm full OF scythe
stones. which he began distributing to
the strikers, l could have climbed the
north pole.
got along littlc faster after this
interview with the hornets. The view
from the mountain top repaid me.
Thirteenth Pond was gem. dainty
sea of crystal, laughing in its setting of
mountain, woodland, cliff and meadow.
Benefits farm and the Van Dnsen
place were emerald stretches OF fertili-
ty and Reeds Maple Cottage and out
tents glittered like snow drifts in the
meadows. 1t was all so beautiful L
stayed upon the mountain top to see
the sun set. 1t set on time, as usual.
with fine display of meteorological
,oop;n atf, Than IL Dcnure1 N mo
that l had to go down that mountain
in the deepening shadows Of the gloam-
ing. emitted one OF the groans for
which | am justly famous-you must
have heard that groau in Brooklyn
and prepared to descend. AS l slid
down the first incline, u Little rush of
200 feet over an abrading surface of
garnet rock, brought up against 4
fine old stump. about half petritied,
and noticed bear. full weight, all
wool. sound in wind, limb and condition,
walk around the stump and look at
me. My heart bounded with Il joyous
sense of great relief Major Ursus2"
said. and the bear bowed. Major"
l said, II am glad to meet you. have
been up in the mountain to see the sun
set. although could see 1t set from the
meadow. am now going down. L
don't know just where, but I have
presentment that am going down. If
you have not yet been to tea, would
you be kind enough to eat mep" NO"
sad the bear, coldly, 81 never eat
fools"
If There's anything do hate, it's
bear Well, come up, before the sunset
season is over. It's just the kind of
place you'd like, and you are just as.
safe in the woods as you are at home.
was going to tell about big trout
caught but | see | haven't time.-B,4r-
dette, in Brooklyn Eagle.