Year: 1862

For the South-Western.


Ladies Fishing Excursion.


Lulled into temporary security By the cree
ton Of formidable battery at Shreveport and
mounting an indefinite number Of guns, with an
assurance that the federals would give US an ex-
tension of policy of still few more weeks. the
good loving denizens of DeSoto acting upon the
philosophic principle ito seize the bright hours
as they flee, planned a piscatorial excursion to
"Clear lake, Texas. According to programme,
the serried host were marshalled in Keach or
Wednesday morning the 18th inst, bright and
early ere old Sol with vertical ray had kissed
the sparkling dew from the velvet petals of the
rose: once formed we took up the line Of march
for the place of destination, over roads that for
ups and downs would mock the Journey of life,
when we arrived right and left wing, rear guard
and all, about O'Clock partook Of cold cola
ton prepared by proyident housewives pitch
ed our tents, and resolved for the time being to
forget the present and go back TO the golden


long ago, before the days Of wars and rumors Of
wars, CONSUMPTION and sassafras tea. Every
thing arranged, we sailed forth to take a sur
yey of the grounds, and try our luck with the
fnny tribe. To attempt description of the


place with my inefficient pen, would only de-
stroy the beautiful ideal in my own minds eve.
the impression formed at first sight Of the lake,
resting like soft shadow in the cool shade Of
the cypress some of which lowered almost 10
the clouds, and others not more than span


long, that inexplicabe lusus nature called knees:
the hill slopes gently back and Just beyond at
the foot of tall sweet-gum, is the spring, the
| GROWING glory Of all-the water cannot be sur
passed even by that which gushes from the noun


tain. In short, 1t is a spot where nature has nog
B iy,r,- -1lR,v tvYfi i,-t =.
I attempt minute detail of our long to remem-
bered stay, which no doubt viii form an oasis
| in the life Of every member Of the party. Forty


in number, not one Objectionable person cor
prised therein. Our worthy moderator presiual


with grave dignity, and every thing was con
ducted decently and in order | would fain
speak Of the first approach Of night, which owing


to the pleasant surroundings, stole on us una


wares, and before we could realise it, the sun
had sunk to rest it had q peculiar charm for me


being the first time | had ever spent the night
in q Boundless contigaity Of shade, with cano-
ply of stars; and to enhance the beauty Of the
scene, we had splendid eclipse of the moon.


which was just full. The white spots on the hill
side reminded US torcibly, nay, even painfully,
of the tented field, which we all had agreed TO
forget for the present, and the camp lights, the
deal fires Of the 0Connors We arose earlyin
tie morning, awakened by the horn OF the hun
tors after being sere 1ded with the harsh and
discordant notes of tie frog, bus were prefera-
/ BILE to mosquitoes, Of which we had an immunity
and entered upon the pleasures and duties Of the
dav with a renewed zest The mum of voices


and merry laughter, fell on our spirits softly as
sunlight on dew, as gay parties wandered on the
clear shady margin Of the lake, with an occa


soaal touch Of the imminent deadly peril Of
moving accidents by lake and wood, but more
4 frequently "see what a rent the euvious laced
made Being rather lukewarm disciple o.
/ Izaak Walton, kept house (?l and read Boat
/ life in Egypt aud Nubia, and trod the classic
/ land of the east with VIM. O. Prime | speak
7 with pride of our table, which to all appear
auces bid stern defiance to the blockade and for
variety, and the preparation which must have
| been by adopts in the culinary art, would have
driven Sooer to dispair and suicide We had
other feasts than reason, with an aecompanYiu.
| flow Of soul and good water, nothing stronger,
and last, though not least l must speak OF our
| little boat, as itlay mOored in the deep shade


of the cypress so unpretendng we thought i
could walk the waters like thing Of life, blt


once ahoat on the calm bosom Of the lake, i
/ had all the Importance and majesty Of the once
/ glorious but now doomed and defunct Virgins,
minus the guns We hoated out while the moon
/ beams were kissing the waves of the lakes an6
4 sung softly ye night winds. At last conf
/ dent thatwe cannot stay the wheels of time, We


turn our faces homeward and back to busy life,
! and again resume the burden Of war, and all the
horrors of the revolution, that we have borne
4 with so much patience and endurance, (uo icy


on the hOmeward track but for ONE young and


trusting heart, the requisite pleasure Of meeting
a dear husband returned from the scene Of aC-
ton to protract her enjoyment yet awhile longer
] Hoping that liberty and independence will at


last crown our efforts, and when we meet at Clear


lake again. may it be in time Of peace, with all


our friends returned, not one place vacant to


mar the pleasure of the reunion.


CUISINE