Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-03-05


persing the misty cloud and rolling it
away like the angry white caps on
stormy white sea. For few moments we
all stood in silence. Then EXPLANATIONS of
surprise, admiration and reverence gave
vent to the intensity of our feeling.
"How grand! how gloriousr' cried Stel-
Ia, as we stood together in the frosty air,
forgetful of the bodily pain at the grand
eur of TIE sight.
''Tis worth all the trouble and all the
labor to stand here above the earth, above
all sounds Of sin or sorrow, free from the
petty cares Of life and for one moment en-
Joy the grandeur of the new born day!
How can anyone stand here in the pre-
sence of the king of day and not believe in
God, who has created and sustained all
these wonderful thingsg' I said, as we
stood On the snow-clad summit of the
mountain and viewed the great world that
lay beneath US, gladdening into life under
the rays Of the rising sun.
cit seems almost a vision of Beulah
land" said Lady Irving. "The sky is so
bright above with its tints Of red and gold
blended with the heavenly blue; the earth
so green below mingled with the tints of
red and brown of the rocks and cliffs Of
the mOuntainsr'
Here we all see the colors that ST.. John
saw in his vision of the New Jerusalem.
From the red Jasper, typifying human pas
sion, through all the colors to the sapphire
purity of heavenr' said Stella, reverently.
Where does the real cease and the ideal
begin? What can be more real than this
vast rocky fragment that C. WINS the sum-
NIT of the peak?" said Melvorne. "Yet
who ever thinks Of broken rock or chilling
air when enjoying a scene like this?"
1.-THE imagination is the reader here
Hold fast the granite rock and all becomes
mute and near sighted" I said, picking
up piece that lay at my feet. But let it
and all the rest of this grand sight be lit
with imagination and we feel that it is but
a symbol Of something grander and nobler
than the mind can conceive"
'YOu little fairy star of mountain Wild"
said Stella, as she gathered some of the
delicate white flowers that grow where
ever the granite rock has crumbled enough
to cover their tiny roOtlets. ''Tell me the
secret Of your ifep'
II will tell you it's secret" I said. cit is
doing what it can; it brings one link of
living nature to this bare, bleak and desc
late mountain top, as you, my fairy star,
old house at Waverland. And as that
tiny flower can charm us with it's beauty
and hold us prisoners by it's fragrance, so
you charmed me into an active thinking
man and held my heart prisoner by the
purity and purpose Of your life. But come,
my darling, see you SILVER. You must
not stay longer in this keen winter air.
When we reached the house we found
the rest Of the party there thawing their
benumbed fingers, and drinking a cup of
fragrant coffee, made by the signal officer
who seasoned his hospitality with thrilling
tales of former visitors, which made the
party roar with laughter till the rafters re-
echoed our glee.
90, you should stay till noon and see the
frail, tender daughters of the earth, who
like the lilies Of the field that toll not
neither do they spin,' but think the earth
and all that dwell therein were made for
them and to do their will. Why, some
times | am ordered to build fires, to make
coffee and to fix comfortable Iounging
places for them as though they were
queens and I their slave" he said in
mock tone Of outraged dignity.
'Weu coffee is a luxury" said Lollard
taking his second or third cup. 'And the
sergeant knows just how to make it'
After breakfast we all went out for one
more look from the lofty place, before we
left. The sun had been travelling at q rapid
rate. The rosy hue of the morning igh'
had disappeared, but the clear bright sun
light had revealed every visible object
With cur field glasses we could distin-
guish Denver and ManitoU; and the Platte
and Arkansas rivers with their lines of
green trees, and many beautiful parks
among the mountains. The brilliant col
ors Of the images in the garden of the gods
were distinctly marked. To the west we
imagined we could see Leadville like a
black speck among the bristling peaks.
colorado, rare and beautiful Colorado"
exclaimed LOllard. "YOnder she rests her
head Of silver and gold pillowed on the
Rocky Mountains; her feet nesting in the
soft brown grasses of the boundlesS plains.
She is set on hill before the world, and
the air of heaven is so clear that all may
see her well! That expresses my idea of
Colorado, standing here on this dizzy
height viewing her from all points of COM
pass"
did you find that in your guide bookr"
asked Melvorne.
Don't ask me that, as though 1 never
had any idea of my own" he said turning
away in seeming disgust.
With last lingering look we left the
peak and started on our downward jour-
ney. The twenty-four miles to and from
the summit of the peak is ride that will
never be forgotten. The grandeur of the
scene and the impression left in the mind
that the world is great, and man is but
tiny object, is worth all the trouble and
fatigue that it costs.
We reached the hotel just at sunset, in
good condition for supper and rest.
CHAPTER XIX.-STELLA's STORY.
For once, since our party had gathered
from the opposite sides of the world, there
were vacant places at the breakfast table,
but we were all present when the dinner
hour arrived.
where is the next point of INTEREST,"" I
inquired of Mr.. Lollard.
''Manitou,' said he. ''That is the Sara
toga of the mountains, and one of the finest
places in the world for summer resort
$50 your guide book says" said Mrs |
Lollard with a mischievous glance at her
husband.
For a moment Mr.. Lollard was tempted
to be veXed, but changing his mind he re-
piled:
Il have studied this guide book so faith
fully to find the most interesting and pict-
uresque places for our excursions that |
have nearly learned it bv heart. Bv the |
time l reach london shall excel Une I'M
mortal Ferguson who showed Mark Twain
the wonders of the Orient, when he was
abroad"
"That Mark is cute one, I wish we
might meet him." said Melvorne.