Cañon City record., 1897-12-23
A DREAM.
Fnox TIE H1aH SCHOOL YK11,

FROM THE HIoH School YELL.
The fifteenth day of December. eigh-
teen hundred and ninety sever, and
in the far East drift upon drift of snow
was piled while through the crisp air
thither
Upon this dreary landscape Fred Bal
four gazes petulently as he awaits in
the Leigh Valley station an outgoing
train, which is to bear him to the des.
erts of the wild West.
\ shrill whistle and its prolonged
echo arousing him from his meditation
he advanced towards the train now
rumbling in, and impatiently boarded
it while still creaking and groaning.
Then cloud of steam and smoke, the
sound of bell and whirr of wheels inter
mingled and Fred Balfour gave his last
lingering gaze to Bear Mountain, now
crowned in crusted snow and girded in
dusky bands of smoke.
The mountain has long since receied
from sight, yet his attitude is the same
and his thoughts with the past.
Hope had been strong till sickness
overlook him, and now he like so many
others was going to seek health and a
home in region far away. Ills desti.
nation was a small village in the Rock y
Mountains.
At the foot of tall masse of dark
hued granite it nestles in sunshine and
quietness. Beautiful foothills stretch
In II semi-circle to the north and ives
and joining with other hills almost
surround the town. Flowing between
a winding stream rushes along in it,
muddy course. To the east, reaching
to the horizon, where frowning cliffs
guard the river and seem TO exclude the
outer world like stone wall, lies q
park--in summer, Garden of Eden
in winter, bare, brown and cold. Tc
the south and west undulating plains
are terminated by purpled mounds and
on "a hillside the sun CLEANS on the cold
white headstones of the departed Thus
this little village is framed in grandeur
and beyond, as far as the vision reaches
mountain lines upon mountain lines
until the very heavens appear peopled
with craggy heada set against the ex-
quisitely tinted clouds that hang sc
lovingly above them" Above all is a
dome of etheral blue from which eternal
sunshine is forever reflected.
Our traveller forgot his WEAKNESS
when he stepped from the Pullman car
and realized that he had come from
snow drifts and bleak winds to land
where the air was as balmy as in the
orange groves by the Pacific, and los,
in admiration, followed the crowd tc
his hotel.
interspersed with sunshine aud home
sickness, SO Fred Balfour gained much
strength walking in the sunshine from
the Vichey Springs with bottle and cup
One evening as flaming streaks OF
clouds stretched across the blue back
ground of heaven, denoting the dying
day, and while the silent shadows OF
night were rapidly gathering about the
city, he came slowly home His walk
had been accompanied by longing fol-
home.
Evening closed in and as the moon
slowly rose from behind the dusky
eastern mountains a moaning wind
sprung up. Soon the echo Of the even.
ing cerfew was borne across the river
and the little town sank into darkness
The dying embers glow In the CRATE
and our wanderer sleeps to the lullaby
of the wind as it rattles the dry branches
Of the trees against the windows. Snd.
denly above the top of the mountain
visible from his window bright star
flashes, disappears and re-appears Our
wanderer with an impulse he could not
resist, starts from his chair and rushes
from the house in the direction Of the
strange light.
Alone he begins his journey, and fear
ful lest he lose the silver star. Swiftly
along the river, now molten silver
ribbon with the moon and stars reflected
on its rippling bosom, he proceeded and
soon the litt.s village Is left behind,
encircled IN q veil Of silvery sheen.
Before him IN darkness. at the foot Of
IN evergreen mound, II building, to
the side Of which . bridge spans the
river. As he crosses this 1t trsmbIes
and lurches while .he cIntchss ths sides.