Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/186

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From the Repository of the Falls Association “Upon Mount Hood I stand, And with rapt gaze explore The valley, and that patriot band Upon Columbia's shore. If the contemplation of ruins of former greatness, with the long grass o'ertopping the mouldering walls, gives rise to melancholy reflections and sombre thoughts, how opposite and exceedingly delightful, are the feelings engendered and excited by a meditative view of scenes, just bursting from torpitude and insignificance, into life and animated import ance—a sterile and savage wilderness just budding into a fertile and civilized region; such feelings are mine—as take my fancied stand on yonder snow-clad peak, with naught above me, save heavens’ high canopy, and the occasional passing of the lordly eagle, who, floating mid air on his ex pansive wings, screams with delight his praise of love and liberty. There, with a breast throbbing with rapturous hope, I view the plains of far west Oregon, gradually give forth the pleasing demonstration of the presence of the Anglo Saxon race, “not as conquerors with roll of drum—not as the flying with silence and with fear,” but proud, erect and free—the improver of nature and the tiller of the soil— producing vegetation where none e'er grew before, and where one blade was only seen, making tens appear—what obstacles has not that race removed, to make advantages apparent, and what transition will they not produce in this selected portion of the western world! A few short years will scarce roll o'er, ere, instead of glancing far and wide, to find a well tilled farm and comfortable abode, 'twill be more difficult to point out a spot without such an appendage, where now the mills appear but rare, their absence will be rarer still; and many a spot, where curls the smoke from matted wigwams barely seen, hundreds of well filled hearths will blaze around, sending forth their rolling columns to the skies, as a mighty cloud of incense, from the cheerful groups within. Cities will arise and towns spring from their sites,