The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-02-08
jects accorded with the imperfect images
vaguely rising to recollection.

iects accorded with the imperfect Images
vaguely rising to recollection.
As he stood musing on these circum-
stances the captain suddenly called out
to him In Dutch, "Step on board, young
man, or you'll be left behindw He was
startled by the summons; he saw that
the sloop was cast loose and was actually
moving from the pier; it seemed as If he
was actuated by some irresistible i'm
pulse; he sprang upon the deck, and the
next moment the sloop was hurried of
by the wind and tide. Dolph's thoughts
and feelings We're all in tumult and con-
fusion. He had been strongly worked
upon by the events that had recently be-
fallen him, and could not but think that
there was some connection between his
present situation and his last nights
dream. He felt as II he was under SUI
pernatural influence. and he tried to as
sure himself with an old and fayorite
maxim of his, that Zone way or other,
all would turn out for the best" For q
moment the indignation of the doctor at
his departure without leave passed across
his mind, but that was matter of little
moment. Then he thought of the dis
tress of his mother at his strange disap-
pearance, and the idea gave him sud
den pang; he would have entreated to be
put on shore, but he knew with such
wind and tide the entreaty would have
been in vain. Then the inspiring love of
novelty and adventure came rushing in
full tide through his bosom; he felt him
self launched strangely and suddenly on
the world, and under full way to explore
the regions of wonder that lay up this
mighty river, and beyond those blue
mountains that had bounded his horizon
since childhood. While he was lost in
this whirl of thought the sails strained to
the breeze; the shores seemed to hurry
away behind him, and before he per-
fectly recovered his self possession the
sloop was blowing her way past Spiking
Devil and YOnkers, and the tallest Chin
ney of the Manhattoes had faded from
his sight.
have said that a voyage up the Hud-
son in those days was an undertaking of
some moment; indeed, it was as much
thought of as a voyage to Europe is at
present The sloops were often many
days on the way, the cautious navigators
taking in sail when it blew fresh, and
coming to anchor at night, and stopping
to send the boat ashore for milk for tea,
without which it was impossible for the
worthy old lady passengers to subsist.
And there were the much talked of perils
of the Tappaan Zee and the highlands. In
short, prudent Dutch burger would
talk of such voyage for months, and
even years, beforehand; and never I'M
dertook it without putting his affairs in
order, making his will, and having pray
ers said for him in the Low Dutch
churches.
In the course of such voyage, there
fore, Dolph was satisfied he would have
time enough to reflect, and to make up
his mind as to what he should do when
he arrived at Albany. The captain, with
his blind eye and lame leg, would, it is
true, bring his strange dream to mind,
and perplex him sadly for a few mo-
but, of late, his life had been
made up SO much of dreams and realities,
his nights and days had been SO jumbled
together, that he seemed to be moving
in delusion. There is al
ways, however, kind of vagabond con-
ISOLATION in mans having nothing in this
world to lose; with this Dolph comforted
his heart, and determined to make the
most of the present enjoyment.
In the second day of the voyage they
came to the highlands. It was Tue latter
part ORA calm, stfltry day; til e1ley
foated gently with the tide between these
stern mountains. There was that perfect
quiet which prevails over nature in the
languor of summer heat; the turning of
a plank or the accidental falling of an
oar on deck, was echoed from the noun
tain side and reverberated along the
shores; and if by chance the captain gave
a shout of command, there were airy
tongues that Knocked it from every cliff.
Dolph gazed about him in mute delight
and wonder at these scenes Of natures
To the left the Dunder-
berg reared its woody precipices, height
over height, forest over forest, away into
the deep summer sky. To the right strut
ted forth the bold promontory of An
thongs Nose, with solitary eagle wheel
ing about it; while beyond, mountain
to mountain, until they seemed
to lock their arms together, and confine
this mighty river in their embraces
There was a feeling of quiet luxury in
gazing at the broad, green bosoms here
and there scooped out among the preci-
pices; or at woodlands high in air, nod
ding over the edge of some beetling bluff,
and their foliage all transparent in the
yellow sunshine.
In the midst of his admiration Dolph
remarked pile of bright, snowy clouds
peering above the western heights. It
was succeeded by another, and another,
each seemingly pushing EDWARDS it's pre-
decessor, and towering, with dazzling
brilliancy, in the deep blue atmosphere;
and now muttering peals of thunder were
family heard rolling behind the noun
tains. The river, hitherto still and CLASSY,
rejecting pictures of the sky and land,
now showed dark ripple at distance,
as the breeze came creeping up it. The
fish hawks wheeled and screamed, and
sought their nests on the high dry trees;
the crows flew DANGEROUSLY to the crew
ices of the rocks, and all nature seemed
conscious of the approaching thunder
gust.
The clouds now rolled in volumes over
the mountain tops; their SUBMITS still
bright and snowy, but the lower parts of |
an inky blackness. The rain began to |
patter down in broad and scattered drops;
the wind freshened and curled up the |
waves; at length it seemed as if the bel |
lying clouds were torn open by the noun
tain tops, and complete torrents of rain
came rafting down. The lightning |
leaped from cloud to cloud, and streamed |
quivering against the rocks, splitting and
rending the stOutest forest trees. The |
thunder burst in tremendous explosions;
the peals were echoed from mountain to |
they crashed upon Dunder- |
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