Niagara Falls 



1843 May Apple are in bloom now; the former, white, pink, green, 

 purple, copying the rainbow of the fall, and fit to make a gar- 

 land for its presiding deity when he walks the land, for they are 

 of imperial size, and shaped like stones for a diadem. Of the 

 May Apple, I did not raise one green tent without finding a 

 flower beneath. 



And now farewell, Niagara. I have seen thee, and I think 

 all who come here must in some sort see thee; thou art not to be 

 got rid of as easily as the stars. I will be here again beneath 

 some flooding July moon and sun. Owing to the absence of 

 light, I have seen the rainbow only two or three times by day; 

 the lunar bow not at all. However, the imperial presence needs 

 not its crown, though illustrated by it. 



As I rode up to the neighborhood of the falls, a solemn awe 

 imperceptibly stole over me, and the deep sound of the ever- 

 hurrying rapids prepared my mind for the lofty emotions to be 

 experienced. When I reached the hotel, I felt a strange indif- 

 ference about seeing the aspiration of my life's hopes. I lounged 

 about the rooms, read the stage bills upon the walls, looked over 

 the register, and, finding the name of an acquaintance, sent to 

 see if he was still there. What this hesitation arose from, I know 

 not; perhaps it was a feeling of my unworthiness to enter this 

 temple which nature has erected to its God. 



At last, slowly and thoughtfully I walked down to the bridge 

 leading to Goat Island, and when I stood upon this frail sup- 

 port, and saw a quarter of a mile of tumbling, rushing rapids, 

 and heard their everlasting roar, my emotions overpowered me, 

 a choaking sensation rose to my throat, a thrill rushed through 

 my veins, " my blood ran rippling to my fingers' ends." This 

 was the climax of the effect which the falls produced upon me — 

 neither the American nor the British fall moved me as did these 

 rapids. For the magnificence, the sublimity of the latter I was 

 prepared by descriptions and paintings. When I arrived in sight 

 of them I merely felt, "ah, yes, here is the fall, just as I have 



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