The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-10
SUNDAY IN A GEORGIA FOREST.
Prose Poem by DR.. H. W. Roby in
Chicago Tribune IS Years Ago.

Chicago Tribune IS years Ago.
The army had marched many
weary mites over diversified eland-
scapes of hill and valley. OF rivulet
and stEeam. The sun had passed the
meridian and was descending to the
sea The pcntoons had been laid, on
which we crossed the dark, sullen,
cypress skirted river. The heavy
wheels of the wagon trains and gun
carriages had ratified over the stony
bills. blending their deep bass sounds
with the merry laughter and mirthful
Joyance OF the soldiers since the early
dawn And It was truly a Sun day.
The air WIS warm and balmy-gilled
with the rich fragrance Of pine and
mary wooded fassgt And az the
day glided on towards the west and
the spirit OF stiffness. engendered of
fatigue, began. to brood over the army
we entered the great Pine Forest be-
yond the river.
Strangely and suddenly the creak
and jar and rattle Of wheels ceased as
we entered the outskirts Of the forest
ana scarcely a sound was heard, save
now and then the cry Of some startled
bird IN the overarching branches a
sense OF silent awe came over the
hitherto Jubilant soldiers, and the
hush was deep and profound; we were
in Gods temple. Grand old pines
made venerable and hoary by the on
atoft on every hand, their tenebrous
boughs spreading above us a broad,
thick canopy which almost entirely
shut out the blue sky; and their state
~ trunks forming the pillars Of that
grand God built cathedral, whose col
onrades and corridors stretched
away into the dim and silent distance
and whose aisles led onward and on
ward out Of sight in every direction.
Under foot was a thick brown Garnet
woven of fha nand1an
the pine boughs above. so thick that
the heavy tread and roll of q great
army marching through those aisles
aWoke no echoes, and with steps as
soundless as the stealthy panther's
tread. that awe filled army went its
silent way And for once the ever
animated and alert General Sherman
seemed filed with dreamy. silent rev
ef1es Just at nightfall we camped
on the borders of a small lake that
lay calm and placid IN the midst of
this grand scene, over which the
mufhed football OF the centuries had
passed, unheard and unheeded by the
noisy sons Of men. From the sur
t tSg forest had been gathered a
thousand barrels OF pitch and stored
on the margin Of the lake. awaiting
shipment to the outer world
As unseen figures spread the pail of
night upon the scene. a lighted match
was applied to the pitch and soon the
lurid glare Of the conhagration lighted
up the dark colOnnades of the forest
ana pushed back the black wall Of the
night while animals and men looked
drenched in blood. The pitch roe1fad
rapidly and ran out on to the lsire
covering its whole surface with one
grand solid sheet of Iurid flames. and
as the mixture seethed and boiled and
olazed. writing, heaving. tossing
unanimously, a mighty column Of
steam and smoke and flames shot m
ward a thousand feet into the black
vault above. The spirits Of the night
ana the demons Of the fire contended
nercely Tor the mastery of the sky. and
all nature around seemed transformed
INTO a new and wonderful enchant
ment, IN the center Of which heaved
and tossed a literal lake of FIRE
But before the sentries of the night
had reached their midnight stations IN
the sky. the pitch burned ont the
dense black walls of night closed in
again, and all was calm, still and dark.
There IS law Of nature that great
atmosph eric disturbances, a great hat
tie or confagration. or the discharga
OF much heavy ordnance. ALWAYS M
chains old Neptune's forces. and so ere
long, dense clouds came rolling in lpon
the scene, were stars had struggled
into view. Again the darkness dee6en-
co INTO thick and emantling gloom.
The rumbling wheels of Gods artillery
rolling over the distant hills began To
break the seals Of silence and the
q 81 DldCh mamie OF the night was
shorn across and gashed and gored.
nov here, now there. by the fierce.
gllttering blades Of the lightning. The
blazing torches Of the sky were flung
by unseen hands from cloud to cIoud
and hurled from heaven to earth. The
great forest seemed one vivid glow and
blaze Of light, so that at times the
animals and men seemed all on fire.
WIN crash upon crash thunderbOlts
fell thick and fast upon the splinterine
pillars of the forest The towering
trees were scanned and riven, their rent
and splintered trunks were hurled in
wrath upon the trembling earth The
believing thunder shook the deem
foundations Of the reeline roclxiDe
forest The food gates of the sl5v were
all unlocked; the pent up water from
The garnered fitness Of the clouds
came tumbling down in wild. tumult-
uous foods; the wrath Of God seemed
pouring out in one tremendous and
mighty wateTspcut until, at last. its
fury spent the storm passed by. and in
the distance we could hear It mutter-
ing low like savage beast at bay.
soon all was still again. save in the
armies near was heard the rivers sui
len roar as it descended with its stress
and freight Of waters to the sea.
Anon, we sought our tents and silent
until the glowing morn. serene and
calm and clad in sun dyed robes. came
smiling Ger the eastern hills and all
around was light and peace. Our tents
were struck and we marched onward
to the sea.