According to the Contributor, of Salt Lake City, the pleasures of camping out are very varied.

" It was six years ago, and in the beautiful month of July. A party of us, all young men, were passing through Blacksmith's Fork Canyon, on our way to Bear Lake Valley and Soda Springs. All day the sun had scorched our faces, ears and backs, only when, peradventure, we halted for a few minutes in the birch or willow arbors that fringed the roadway; until now, as we entered a small oval, formed by the receding mountains, his face was suddenly lost behind a projecting spur, around which the road trended. Here it was decided to camp for the night, and the wagon being drawn to a little eminence that commanded a view of the whole opening, the horses were unhitched, and that hurry and bustle so dependent upon camp life suddenly commenced. One devoted his attention to the team, which being unharnessed, was hobbled and turned up the mountain side. Another busied himself in preparation for supper, being voted the best cook in our company. One gathered and broke sticks wherewith to build a fire. Another penetrated to a cold spring near by and became 'water carrier.'

"Have you ever noticed how sudden the change is from daylight to dark, among the mountains? We had scarcely thrown ourselves upon the buffalo robes before our camp fire, when the sunlight faded from the mountain tops, and a heavy gloom spread over the little valley. A cold wind immediately swept through the canyon, which soon gave place to mellower breezes from the pines. We sat silent for some time, watching the changes from gloaming to night. In a few minutes here and there a star appeared, trembling above the mountain, and in less time than one could note it, the whole heavens were 'Bespangled with those isles of light, So wildly, spiritualty bright.'

"The moon had not yet risen, but in the east a paling had begun, giving to that portion of the sky a melancholy ethereal aspect. Behind us were the mountains, grim and frowning; on our right, the river, with its dark underbrush, and an occasional pine hanging upon its brink; in front lay the little valley, stretching darkly away into the gloom where to-morrow's journey lay. Scarcely a sound broke the monotony of this scene. Occasionally a night bird whirred overhead with a strange, rushing noise that made the silence deepen more intensely afterward. The roaring of the river came up dull, and as though far off, making a ground upon which more dissimilar noises could be distinctly heard. But over all there was a spirit of solitude - of intense solemnity - that produced a sensation of humility and veneration approaching fear.

" After supper, our beds were spread between two clumps of shrubbery, around which the wheat grass grew tall and luxuriant. It was not without some misgivings as to the near proximity of reptiles that I threw myself weariedly upon the dusty quilts; in fact, before doing so, I had beat the bushes and grass in our vicinity for the purpose of driving them out, if any were near.

"Awaking in the night, without having the power to utter a word or make a movement, I now became conscious that I was lying in bed, and that something was pressing upon and moving about me. It touched my feet, my legs and body, much as we see a dog touch and smell anything it has found, but with a far more horrifying effect. Possessing no power of volition, I felt its clammy flesh upon my body, and shivered - a deathly, fearful shiver - that chilled me to the heart. I realized that a snake was in my bed - that it was gliding slowly but surely over my breast, and would soon be upon my face; yet, though I tried to struggle - to scream out, my efforts were powerless. At last, when it seemed that the serpent's breath was upon my neck, and its forked tongue about to dart upon me, I gave a loud shriek, and bounded madly to my feet. For an instant my whole desire was to fly as far as possible from the detestable spot; but my companions, half terrified, were now around me, and realizing at once the cause of my fright, caught and restrained me.

"The moon had risen, and by its pale light, two or three dark objects were seen gliding from the place where I had so lately lain. F------, one of the best marksmen with a pistol in the Territory, shot two of them as they were passing from the quilts into the grass. Upon examination, they proved to be rattlesnakes, each with eight or ten rattles. At sight of them I could not sufficiently express my gratitude for so wonderful a deliverance."