The record-union., 1892-05-10
SUNRISE ON THE SIERRAS.
Sol Appears in Sudden Burst of
SpIendor.
Nature Seen in One of Her Beauti-
ful and Awe-Inspir-
ing Moods.

On the Sth of May only few inches O
snow remained on the ground at Emi
grant Gap.
Toward evening the snow began to fal
quite heavily, but the hope that it was
only furry prevailed among the in
habitants of the little village built in {
curve Of the winding snowsheds on The
Central Pacific Railroad.
At 5:10A. NJ. on Sunday [ wakened, and
raising my head from the pillow, looked
out of the window facing the east. Spring
ing from the bed L hastily wrapped my
self in heavy shawl and looked out on
broad expanse Of unsullied snow.
Down-down to the valley extended
the thick white blanket Mother Nature
spreads over her sleeping children
dimpled here and there by hollows anC
depressions, where it followed the rough
| broken outline OF the rocky hillside.
The little stream at the foot of The
mountain that only the day before rar
sparkling and bright in the sunshine wa.
quite hidden from sight.
Up the steep slope of the opposite
mountain stood the dark, stately pines
their branches bending low with theil
weight of snow.
Across from the hotel to large tree
stretched the laundry rope, now swelled
to huge cable by the snow that clune
to it.
Crossing the hall to window on the
opposite side of the building, | looked ur
to the curving line of snowsheds, 200 feet
up steep slope. Dark and gloomy they
looked, only relieved by the white cover
ing on the roof and the airy appearance
Of the snow-covered braces Higher
! tlo II,
coated with the pure white snow.
No snow was falling; the air was still
| and cold. East and west the soft white
lines were quite unbroken The east
looked no brighter than the rest of the
horizon.
Just then, to the north rose slowly 6
thin, straight column of smoke from q
dwelling house a mile away. The vino
| stirring q little, it began to waver curl.
ing about as it spread out into the air.
Watching 1T Tor moment, it seemed tC
me the atmosphere was becoming
strangely lighter. oddly enough nv
thoughts flew to memory my mind held
of an eclipse two or three years ago. Just
such singular feeling of expectancy had
L experienced then, when breathlessly
! counting the seconds of that weird dark
ness.
The east chowed no fainitly-growing
delicate tints Of silver gray, Frightening
into lavender, faint rose, yellow, scarlet
and orange as it oft times did; but. where
had been a heavy, dun, smooth eXpanse
apparently impenetratably thick, were
| now dark, gloomy, angry-looking clouds
rolling as in mighty pain.
One instant Of this wonderful struggle
and without a seconds warning of other
light, the glorious sun flung his dazzling
beams full in my face; full on the smooth
white expanse of snow that sparkled and
glittered back in brilliant response; full
on the pendant icicIes, that woke into
sudden jeweled beauty.
With the dazzling sunbeams still in my
eyes, turned from my window, hopeful
that a pleasant day had dawned; for. roll
ing on either side, the tumultuous clouds
| lifted the black curtain of night, and be-
hold-all was the most brilliant azure.
The little fOur-year-old, wakened by
my exclamation of delight. rubbed his
sleepy eyes and queried, Mamma, was
it 'snow-bow p MAUDE PEAsLEE. 3
Emigrant Gap, May 8, 1892.