The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-08
From the Bjou,
JESSY OF KIBE'S FARM.
BY MISS NJ. E. NITFaRn


About the centre of deep winding and woody
lane, in the secluded village OF Aberleigh, stands
an old farm house, whose stables, out-buildings,
and ample yard, have a peculiarly forlorn and
deserted appearance: they can, in fact, sea, eely
be said to be occupied, the persons who rents the
land preferring to live at large farm about a
mile distant, leaving this lonely house to the
care of Iaborer and his wife, whs reside in one
end. and have the charge of a few colts and heif-
ers that run in the orchard and an adjoining msa-
dow. whilst the vacant rooms are tenanted by a
widow in humble circumstances and her young
family.
The house is beautifully situated; deep, as
have said. in a narrow woody lane, which winds
between high b. nks, now feathered with hazel,
and thicklv studded with pollards and forrest
trees. until opposite Kibe's farm it widens suffi-
ciently to admit large clear pond, refund which
the hedge, closely and regularly set with row
of tall elms, sweeps in graceful curve; forming
for that bright mirror, rich leafy frame. A
little way farther on the lane again widens, and
makes an abrupter winding, as it is crossed by a
broad shallow stream, branch of the Loddoh
which comes meandering along from chain o
beautiful meadows, then turns in a narrower
channel bv tile side of the road, and finally
spreads itself into large piece of water, almos
lakeIet, amidst the rushes and willows Of
Hartly Moor. A foot-bridge is flung over the
stream, where it crosses the lane, which with a
giant oak growing on the bank, and throwing
its broad branches far OH the opposite side, forms
in every season pretty rural picture.
Kibe's farm is as picturesque as its situation;
very old, very irregular, with gable ends, clus-
tered chimneys, easement windows, large
porch, and sort of square wing jutting out
even with the porch, and covered with luxu-
rant vine, which has quite the effect, especially
when seen by moonlight, of aRivy-mantled tower.
On one side extend the ample but disused farm
buildings; on the other the old orchard, whose
trees are so wild, so hoary and so huge, as to
convey the idea Of fruit forest Behind the house
is an ample kitchen-garden, and before a neat
flower court, the exclusive demcsne of Mrs. Lu-
cas- and her family, to whom, indeed, the laborer,
John Miles, and his good wife Dinah, served in
some sort as domesties.
Mrs. Lucas had known far better days. Her
husband had been officer, and died fighting
brayely in one of the last battles of the Pennsu-
lar war leaving her with three children, one
lovely bow and two delicate girls, to struggle
through the world as best she might She was
an accomplished woman, and at first settled in a
great town, and endeavored to improve her small
income by teaching music and languages. But
she was country bred; her children too had been
born in the country, amidst the sweetest recesses
of the New Forest, and pining herselffor liberty,
and solitu de, and green fields, and fresh air, she
soon began to fancy that her children were visi
bly deteriorating IN health and appearance, and
pining for them also; and finding that her old
servant, Dinah, was settled with her husband il
this deserted farm house, she applied to his mas
ter to rent for a few months the untenanted
apartments, came to Aberleigh, and fixed there
apparently for life
We lived in different parishes, and she declin-
ed company, so that seldom met Mrs. Lucas,
Lot inht Ofb af reta 40
merely general recollection of the mild, placid,
elegant mother, surrounded by three rosy, romp-
ing bright-eyed children, when the arrival OF an
intimate friend at Aberleigh rectory caused me
| frequently to pass the lonely farm honse, and
threw this interesting family again under my
| observation.
The first that | saw them was on a bright
summer evening, when the nightingale was yet
in the coppice, the briar rose blossoming In the
hedge, and the sweet scent OF the bean fields per-
tuning the air. Mrs. Lucas, still lovely and
elegant. though somewhat faded and careworn,
was walking pensively up and down the grass
path of the pretty flower court; her eldest
daughter, rosy bright brunette, with her dark
hair feating in all directions, was darting about
like bird; now tying up the Pinks, now wa
| terng the geraniums, now collecting the laiien
| rose leaves into the straw bonnet winch dangied
/ from her arm: and now feeding brood OF BAN
fans from little barley measure, "hich tnat
spacious and active colony seemed to recognise
as il by instinct, coming long before sne caiieu
them at their swiftest pace, between run ana
dv. TO await with their usually noisy and bus
ting patience, the showers of grain which she
flung to them across the paling. 1t was beau
ifui picture of youth, and health, and napPi-
ness; and her clear gay voice, and briiliant
smile, accorded well with shape and MOTION
as light as butterfly, and as wild as the VIM
| A beautiful picture was that rosy lass OIL n,teen
in her unconscious loneliness, and might have
continued gazing on her longer, had not Deeh
attracted by an object no less Charming al
though in very different way
1t was slight elegant girl, apparently ABOUT
wear younger than the pretty romP OF tne
| flower garden, not unlike her in form and lea
ture, but totally distinct in eoloring and express
| sien.
She safe in the old porch, wreathed with les
samine and honeysuekes, with the western sun y!