Term*. Rlre Dollars a Year. 
Ten Cent* a Copy. 
NEW YORK, THURSDAY. FEB. n. |s 7 .,. 
StUcUdfor Forest and Stream . 
WAJTING. 
By Uuyon. 
T' 
^HOU of the tmnny head, 
With lilies garlanded, 
And bosom fnirler than the blown sea foaru; 
O, Spring. In what waste desert dost thou stay. 
Whilst leaves await thy presence to unfoldt 
The blanches of the lime with frost are gray, 
And all Imprisoned Is the crocus' gold; 
Come, sweet Enchantress, cornel 
Though In the sombre west 
Thy star hath lit his cre*t— 
Pale Phosphor fronting full the withered moon; 
Thy violets are sepultired In snow. 
Thy daisies twinkle never In the sun, 
Kude winds throughout the ruined forests blow, 
And silent Is tho dove's melodious moan; 
Enchantress, hasten soon. 
Whito aro tbo country ways, 
And while the tangled maze, 
Love of the oxllp and the creeping thyme; 
Bare shakes the poplar on the sullen ridge; 
Cold glooms the spectral mill above the flood; 
Hoarse torrents stream beneath the Ivied bridge, 
And lightnings strike the darkness of the wood; 
Enchautress, bless our clime. 
No bloom of dewy morn, 
No freshly blossomed thorn 
Gladdens the importunlngs of sod eyes; 
The duy wastes drearily through cloud and sleet; 
Over the watered meadows and stark vales 
The night comes down, impetuons and fleet, 
And ships and cities shiver in tho gales; 
O fair Enchantress, rise. 
Arise, and bring with thee 
The rathe bud for the tree, 
The heahng sunshine for the irampled grass; 
Loose tendrils for the boughs which bless the eaves, 
And shield the swallows In the rainy hours, 
The pendant flames which the laburnum heaves, 
And faint scents for the wind-stirred lilac flowers; 
Enchantress, breathe and pass. 
Men knew and kissed of old 
Thy garment's glittering fold— 
Thy radiant footprint on the mead Or waste; 
Earth Kindled at thy advent, ultars burned. 
And ringing eymbals bade the hearth be gay; 
But now, In sunless solitudes inurned, 
Thou leav'st tho world unto reluctant day; 
O haste, Enchantress, haste! 
The lark shall sing agnin. 
Between the sun and rain, 
Tho brown bc«a through the flowered pastures roam. 
There shall bo music In the frozeu woods, 
A gurgling carol In tne rushing brook. 
An odor in tho half unbosomed bud, 
And dancing fox glove* in each forest nook; 
Then come. Enchantress, cornel 
— Chamber*' Journal. 
For Forest and Stream. 
gambles ai( the t£ex;is frontier. 
/“NNE bright morning in January I found myself on 
Morgan’s ferry boat, crossing the Father of Waters, 
and in a few minutes was at the depot in Algiers. Here 
taking the train for Brashear City, I was soon rattling away 
at a rapid pace through a country full of interest to a trav- 
eler whose journeyings have heretofore only led him 
through the Middle and New England Stutes. Broad acres 
or sugar cane take the place of wheat fields; the sparkling, 
dashing trout brooks give place to the dark, sluggish 
waters, where the alligator lurks for its prey. The pal- 
metto, with its long green leaves, waves in the breeze aloDg 
the banks instead of the alder. Grand old magnolias, re- 
splendent in the wealth of their emerald folwge— dark and 
sombre forest of funeral cypress, draped in Spanish moss— 
huge jumpers, graceful bays, dense canebrakes, with here 
and there an immense prairie, where the tall gras, as it 
bends In the breeze looks like an ever restless sea. These 
and many other strange sights present themselves to the 
observing eye as we whirl over the iron track. At noon 
we reach Brashear City, a place of considerable Import- 
Volume », Number |. 
l 17 Uialli>iiini.(l'|| > || ll ||» sr , ) 
ance on account of being the terminus of the L. and T. 
Railroad and the landing place of u number of steamers 
plying on the Gulf of Mclioo. Having engaged a pMM g„ 
to Brazos Santiago, I step on board the trim Itttlu steam 
ship Gussie, 000 tons, Cupt. Furwell commanding. After 
u short delay in transferring freight and baggage from the 
train, we cast loose and steamed down towards the Gulf 
The scenery is at first attractive from its utter dreariness 
but one soon tires of the eternal sameness. You take up 
a book and read for an hour, und then tnke u look and It 
seems hard to realize that that old cypress standing fur out 
in the stream, the outer sentinel of the sombre grove be- 
yond, is not the same that you passed a half a score of 
miles away. At nightfall we have passed through all the 
tortuous channels with the unspcllablo names given them 
by Mr. Lo (the poor Indian), and enter the broad waters of 
the Gulf. Soou the gong sounds, and a rush is made for 
tho supper table, where we find Mr. M., tho genial purser 
presiding in place of the Captain. After supper wo sit on 
deck and enjoy the luxury of a good smoke, and at an early 
hour turn in. In the morning, wo who have our sea legs 
on turn out early and enjoy the glorious sunrise. At break- 
fast there is a small attendance. Tho day passes quietly 
along; we sec no suils to relieve the monotony of sky and 
water, ond one shivers nt tho thought of being wrecked In 
such a desolate highway. At noon we notice slight Indi- 
cations of a Norther, that dreaded storm of the Gulf. At 
three P. M. we are in full sight of Point Isabel, and nt 
half past four we unchor off the bar to wait for the pilot 
to take us over. The Norther is freshening up, and w« see 
the pilot boat, after two trials, give up the attempt to get 
over to us; so we have to make ourselves contented, trust- 
ing that we shall ride the night out in safety. The staunch 
little Gussie rolls every way but clear over. We turn In 
early, and at daylight the next morning we are up and nnx- 
ious to get ashore. The sky is clear, hut there is a heavy 
sea on, and we watch the shore closely to see If the pilot 
is going to start out. He makes two ineffectual trials, nnd 
goes back, and so we leave off watching and go to break 
fast. On our return to the deck wo see the boat starting 
again, anil in a few minutes we sec him pass safely through 
the long line of surf. Soon he is alongside, and we puss 
over a line and let him drift astern, as the sea is running 
too high for her to lay alongside. We fill up one boat, and 
lower it; a few strokes, and she lias landed her freight. 
Another one is lowered, in which your humble corres- 
pondent takes passage. As we pull up alongside nud 
watch our chance to get aboard, as the wave rises we Jump, 
and some of us land full length on deck. In tho next boat 
there are a number of ladies and children, and as they 
come up we lend them a helping hand, and soon have them 
nil safe. Putting the ladles, children, and some of the 
male passengers in the little box of a cabin, we cast off 
lines, hoist sails, and start for the shore. Just before we 
enter the surf we hatter down the hatches, while those who 
remain on deck hold on to whatever they think will best 
save them from being washed off; aod now we enter (lie 
foaming, boiling waters. One huge wave lifta ua high 
up in the air, and as we sink down again into the depths a 
huge roller dashes in over the stern and literally deluges 
us; another, and thank God wc are safe through. I release 
my hold immediately and go to work taking off the 
hatches (as the crew have their hands full), so as to give 
the poor pent up ones a breath of fresh air. They need it, 
too, for as they reach the deck they all look as though they 
could not have stood it many minutes longer. All hail been 
deathly seasick, and they were in a bail plight. In a few 
minutes we were up to the wharf at Brazos Santiago; here 
we took a little tug to go to Poinf Isabel. Just as were 
nearing the pier the tug ran aground, and we hail to be 
transferred to a sail boat. We soon after reached the pier, 
which, as it was very high, and the tide very low, we had 
to do some tall climbing to reach the top. At last we aro 
all safely landed, and on the shore find sundry and divers 
conveyances walling to take us up lo Brownsville, tweoty- 
eigbt miles distant. Our little party (made up in the steam- 
er) consisted of Mrs. O. and child, Mrs. B. and child Mai 
lwo Spaniards, and myself. Wo selected a team 
which WO thought looked as ir It would bring us up about 
!0 quickest. Alas, nppcaruueos are very dooeliful, cape 
dally In horse llesh. Our loam wna something of n ciosi 
between an ambulance ond a mule wagon, the moilve 
power being n mule and a mustang nt tho polo, and three 
mustangs harnessed abreast ahead. At a short distance we 
hauled up at u house to get some lunch to take ulong-a 
splendid institution, by tho way, excellent for a crlcaot 
hat, hut a most diuboltcul arrangement for the Jaws to 
tacklo. After laying In our couitii Usury wo started off In 
fine stylo. Hoon one loom ahead of us broke dowu, und 
wo had to lay alongside and repair damages. First ono 
team would got stalled and then another. Our turn came 
nt last in a great quagmire; hut we got out. At another 
place we stalled, and all (he male piumcngers hud to nligbt 
and foot it through mud and water knee deep for half a 
mile. Our route took ua across portions of Hog Wal- 
low, Jackass and Palo Alto prairies; nothing hut mud 
water, and grass, with here and there a Spanish bayonet 
bush for the eyo to rest upon. At sunset we halted at tbo 
Kesaca do la Palma (battle ground Mexican war), nud si a 
Hmall hamlet— bore railed a Jucol— we had some excellent 
coffee and goat's milk. Refreshed, we started on again. 
The moon rose bright and resplendent, tinting the tall gru»s 
with silvery light. At half past seven wo entered Biowiis- 
vllle, having been eight hours going twenty-eight miles. 
At Miller s Hotel I found Don Benito waiting for mu, so 
bidding my fellow ;travolors adieu we crossed the Rio 
Grande and landed in Mexico. At the landing we took a 
hack nnd drove up to the Heroic City, (Mat araoras.) On 
reaching Don Benito's house, I found there was u hull 
going on at LI I culm du la Ueformu, and nothing must do 
but I should go. My baggage not having arrived, Don 
Benito kindly placed his wurdroho at uiy disposal; but 
your corespondent being Dutch built ho could not enter 
suit, either In point of law or fact, so he hud to brush up 
the host ho could and go. The them re Is a very pretty 
little one. The floor had boon laid flush with tho stage, 
and covered over with canvas. An excellent string hand 
gave us some good music. The dark eyed sonoritaa moved 
with bewitching grace through the mazy dunce. Tho 
(lun/.a pleased my fancy most, from Us grace and easy 
stateliness. During the Intermission* we snuntereil through 
the lobbies, smoking some particularly fine cigars. 
At half past four Hunduy morning I left and turnod tn, 
pretty well tired out with rny iluy's travels At half past 
six Sunday morning I rose anil took a walk. My domicil 
was directly opposite the Pluza-a small square which, In 
all Spanish towns, is the rallying point. The trees were all 
small, none being over thirty feet high. I was particularly 
struck with the note of u large black b rd, about the size 
of our crow black bird This one, und a smaller one, wore 
very tame, and fed in flock* In the streets, like our pigeons. 
After breakfast I joined Don Benito, und went up lo the 
market. The market was a novelty to me, with its huge 
piles of red peppers, beef cut In long strips, curious earthen 
ware, stringy sweet potatoes, and peanuts having the ap- 
pearance of suffering from small pox. Mutumoros claims 
a population of 20,000, hut I think It cun stand a very 
heavy discount. None of the houses areovot twostorhs; 
the best are built of a light colored brick, all the windows 
have Iron gratings. Some of the streets are paved with 
octagonal blocks of mesquite wood. Tbo once charming 
private gardens have gone to decay under the blighting 
effect* of many revolutions, and naught marks their place 
save here and there a stately date palm, with its feathery 
crest waving In the breeze. Gon. MeJa, in the palmy days 
of the empire, hail an earthwork thrown up around the 
entire city, with here and there a small brick fort, which 
enables the city to he held by a small garrison. At sacb 
roadway a guard and a customs officer Is stationed. All 
f*lvZ, fire alarms, etc., are made with a bugle. The garri- 
son consisted of only one regiment while 1 was there; the 
privates were all dressed In coarse linen or cotton, and wor- 
