San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-09-06
TEXAS SCENERY.
To the Daily LIGHT.

Ou bu6 'udNdlupc, lIOIH NtM
Braunfels northeast, leaving be-
hind that garden-spot peopled with
the thrifty German. peasantry, and
after crossing the ever-sparkling
waters of the Comal, which a little
above that village issues forth from
it's underground source, for about
five miles there is a steady ascent
over rocky lanes, winding their way
between live oaks, persimmons and
various underground, the ever
green jumpers filling the air with
their rosinous odOrs.
Now and then there is a hollow
sound, as though the wheels were
passing over underground cham
bers that echoes the noise of the
Earring wagon through their wind
ing passages. The sun shines hot
upon the horses which tread along
laboriOusly, but at last the sum-
NIT has been gained, when be-
fore us there lies the aw-
full canyon of the Guadalupe.
The descending road like a broken
serpent shows its windings from
among the hills and timbers, fill
ing one with fear as to what will
follow, but it is comparatively
easy as the incline is overcome by
distance. 1t is a scene as wild as
fancy can only picture, and yet,
only within a few days journey
from San Antonio. At last, after
an interesting journey downward
we come within sight of a rushing
stream, running a race over large
powders and precipices which
hold their heavy heads above the
foaming waves; many of them
form small islands covered with
| willows or buttonwoOd from the
the midst Of which a majestic cy-
press towers toward the sky as
| though trying to look beyond the
| hollows of the deep.
Timidly the horses step into the
hurrying current, pricking their
| ears at the strange rumbling OF
| the cataract, then fording the
stream we arrived at last at the
other side, where a winding road
leads up the river along the sides
of steep walls, the base of which is
hidden behind luxurious vegeta-
ton. The sun has set, leaving
only a glimmer on the mountain
| tops and it is time for us to find a
camping place. Stalking the horses,
the driver, cook, companion and
all combined gets the plain even
ing meal, while lying abont the
fire l listen to the voices of the
| nightly visitors coming out OF
| their dens to drink from the river,
then to start on their %nacturial
chase, while others, made on a
lighter pattern, soar in the air
above n to seek their food from
God. With inserting darkness |
| hear the hollow bark of running
hounds, some daring hunter braves
the precipices to stalk the fleet
| footed deer or to tree a vicious cat
amount. Soon, however, the adoo
| Of their voices is lost in distant
| cords and nature claims her own.
Early dawn finds me awake. |
have rested well under the protec-
ton and fragrance of cypress
boughs, but anticipating a day OF
noble enjoyment, sleep has depart
ed with the shades Of night.
Around me nature is dressed in a
garb of beauty. A light fog is lift
ed with the dawn, leaving spark
| ling dew drops upon the silent
leaves. / am dulled, awed, waking,
yet dreaming. Large white pop
pies vie in the fragrant, pure
white of the bullnettle and the
light pink of the primrose, hud-
died in a cluster like snowy doves
and opening with a smile. The
lantana like the bush of Moses,
aflame with fire, scatters golden
gems in the mat of white and
green.
l enter the stream to wade out
upon a table nook, it's surface
is elevated so little above the
stream that here and there
a little rivulet winds it's
way across the surface, that / may
view the scene from the other side.
My companion had taken gun
and rod as soon as dawn to disap-
pear, leaving me to mediate and
commune with the mothers of all
life. Over my head there is an
overhanging rock, the damp walls
of which are covered with a tapes
try of MOSES, while suspended
from the ceiling is a ~frescoing Of
ferns moving lightly in the breeze
rising from below. At the base of