Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. II.djvu/274

Rh that day. I shall in the meantime enjoy my liberty at this excellent hotel, and my rambles among the picturesque hills of the neighbourhood. Good-night, beloved! I embrace mamma and you, and greet cordially all my good friends both in and out of the house.

 LETTER XXVI.

&emsp; sunset on the most lovely and glorious evening, we came out of the narrow little winding Five-river, and entered the grand Mississippi, which flowed broad and clear as a mirror between hills which extended into the distance, and now looked blue beneath the mild, clear blue heavens, in which the new moon and the evening star ascended, becoming brighter as the sun sank lower behind the hills. The pure misty veil of the Indian summer was thrown over the landscape; one might have believed that it was the earth's smoke of sacrifice which arose in the evening towards the gentle heavens. Not a breath of air moved, everything was silent and still in that grand spectacle;—it was indescribably beautiful. Just then a shot was fired; a smoke issued from one of the small green islands, and flocks of ducks and wild-geese flew up, round about, escaping from the concealed sportsman, who I hope this evening returned without game. All was again silent and still, and Menomonie advanced with a quiet, steady course up the glorious river.

I stood on the upper deck with the captain, Mr. Smith, and the representative from Minnesota, Mr. Sibley, who, with his wife and child, were returning home from Washington.

Was this then, indeed, the Mississippi, that wild giant