The Washington herald., 1914-06-27
Nature.
D. ALEAANpER nLUME.

Merrily beams the sun upon the open fields. A
light breeze passes by, carrying with it tang Of
blossoming flowers from yonder woodland, and =
deep breath Of the pure cool mountain ranges that
stretch away for miles and miles, way iof in the
west and whose snow-laden peaks geam family yis-
IDLE agans, the brilliant eerulean heavens The fields,
high with grain nod rhythmicaIy rustling and sigh
ing in peaceful whispering accents their full content
and happiness.
The steady intoning roar of a waterfall strikes
the ear Madly it dashes down preepices, descending
in turbulent sheets leapng over rocks and winding
its noisy way mid huge powders until il is lost from
sight spray of wondrous radiance playing round It.
Here narrow path winds its way through the
green meadows, coilng and uneoiling itself like the
folds of monstrous python One strolls along. drink
ing in with deep breath the pure sweet balm of nare
feasting the eyes upon the beautiful landscape; OBJ
serving the varying shades of greeh turquoise blue,
gold and yellow Slyly the invigorating warmth Of
! day mngles with the blood and sends it coursing
quickly through the veins. The step quiekens. the
body stens into military bearing the eyes brighten
and the nostrils distend.
Now ones boat glides smoothly along the water of
a wide lake, hemmed in by steep towering walls,
covered with luxuriant vegetation The water is very
clear; one can glimpse Pebbly bottom nshore and
watch the FISH darting about or slow moving turtle
creeping along in search of morsel The boat drifts
against the rocky shore and remains resting against
a projecting limb; the shade from the overhsnging
trees is refreshing So the hours pass away quickly
as the along his beaten track in the vast
expanses Of heaven.
What delightful calm thrills in ones heart and
soul! How utterly pure and holy the thoughts
that pass through the mind filling one with calm
buoyancy that totally destroys any hold ignorance,
animalism, vice may have gained. The waters are
deep and the craft frail; sudden squall would
destruction, but there is fear Out here in the
light and home of Mother Nature dread is unknown.
The sordid terrors of imagination and the trem-
bngs of enervated bodies so common to artificial life
have place in this colossal scheme of natural life.
The subtle Intervening and interdependence of all
animate and inanmate creations is unconsciously
sensed and throws its spell upon all alike The poet
eagerly seeking inspiration from the beautiful scenes
and the mentally and physically exhausted wish
ing few days recuperation, alike silent. For
the first time there is a common bond between their
so widely diverging beings The unseen hand of the
God of the universe has linked them in chain of
intimacy feeting, but strong forged steel
| And the day is nearly done. The crimson,
flaming torch OF the sky sinks below the summit of
the mountain sides and casts long shadows upon the
waters. The silverwhite clouds that Aoated across
the zenith like SO many Ruffs OF cotton, are now
tnged with gold and vermlon Iazily drifting through
the darkening skies like patches of phosphoresceut
sheen the surface of a tropic The western
heavens glorious conglomeration of coors which
change and fade rapidly the master painter steadily
disappears from view This is fairyland, feet
ing vision; single breath and it will vanish The
first stars of evening from their hidden
and wink coquettishly at their images in the great
mirror below. In a food OF bright golden
light moon all mellow and grinning like ripe
pumpkin, climbs the horizon and begins the
word-old yet futile pursuit of its brilliant rival
Night is here. Fair Luna is high in the skies.
She has shed her golden cloak and reveals her curass
of FURNISHED silver. The entire vault of heavens is
dimmed by its cool, white splendor. The night air
that passes by fraught with whispering voices
as though the Spirit of the Mountains, wakened from
his slumber, communes with his mnions and rejoces
at the quiet, mystic beauty of the night, and bids
us Danish and sadness while under his shelter.
So deep the hush upon earth when her children
cease from toll and play, laying themselves down to
rest, that from the forest gades the low almost i'm
perceptibe hum OF creakug, chirping things, and
the rstlng of perfume laden bushes and trees Joined
in sweet lulling harmony comes waited to US.
Ghosts about shadows of once living things but
they not evil shades; they have to
and comfort u.s. whisper words of inspiration and
happiness, to fill our hearts with gadness
Strangely distant seems the busy world with its
suffering, toll and SORROW its empty joys and hollow
mrth little circle OF thoughts and selfish aspira-
ton. For here in close communion with mystic un-
seen powers, the mind dwells on things mundane,
nor reeks the passing hours.
!