The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-06-30

Endcot WIS glad to Gnd an agreeable companion
where he had looked only for the rugged offspring of
sturdy fontiersman; the poor rccluse, on her
side, ~as no less delighted in the opportunity to
hbit her charms aud loosen her lively tongue once
more. They spent the evening in conversation be-
fore the blazing fire in gigantic chimney OF unhewn
rocks, while :he old man smoked his pipe in his
al moody silence. Endcott had enough Of the gal
liant 10 regret the rather outlandsh attire in which he
appeared before his old acquuntanoe for he was
clothed in hunting dress Of leather but she, poor
girl, was evidently mortified at the figure she made
in her backwoods gmbso different from that in which
he had been accustomed TO SEQ her at the dance and
se,ghride.
His handsome host conducted him to his sleeping.
room. II was large chamber, the best room OF
the long cabin, with floor aud walls of rough timber
squared with the The furniture never
made Cor such apartment There large and
elegantly cuaiusd bed stead; chairs tables Of lhs
best workmanship; and a number of French aud Chi
toys the rough hewn msnte-pece. On
little comfortable were several Handsomely bound
books, some empty perTumery-botes of porcelain,
and basket of visiting cards All these>lhngs had
most whimsical appearance to the eye Of my an
blushed, but could not help smillngas she hun
glance at them. lie rightly conjectured that the
Injuries had been removed the bacls-woods under
her auspices. In the ERE place were placed some
rough pine boughs as a substitute FOR the asparagus,
which, with its delicate green. and its brgh, rcd ber
ries, SO often forms the ornament of New England
country houses. Before he lay down, Endcou OPP
ened the shutter of spare aperture that supplied the
| 1 81.
bled close beneath the wall; the night wind with its
fresh cool smell stirring down the solitary valley,
while young moon, shining on the woods and wa
lcrs, showed all the wild features of tho place
In the morning Sarah met him under a new aspect
more beftng the settlements than the frontier. In
the simple and tasteful dress she wore, her charms
were no longer eclipsed, and she might fairly have
been called beautiful, even in New England; for she
| straight and symmetrical; graceful young
birch tree; and fresh and fair its tender leaves
in the spring. Her spirit as lively and impetu
cue as a mountain brook; and if there little
vanity and love of admiration in her character, the
warm heat Of pure vigorous womnnhood was behind
it all. .ag, s. ..r..a.
They spent the morning in exploring the recessess
Of the valley. First they traced up 10 where the
opposing mountains pressed close together, and the
stream bursting through the intervening raVne, came
boiling over the rocks. Then retracng their steps,
they fowed the valley down ill it ended in alb
rupt precpics two or three hundred feet high; for it
lay embedded high up in the the bosom Of the noun
tans and its little stream had long descent to make
through rocks and forests before it reached the Fiud
son. BY climbing high precipi6us hill, they could
look down TIE face of the precipice where the
stream pouring itself down into an immense dark
and savage gorge. Deeply bedded among woods
and rocks at the bottom, there was circular deep
green basin, into which the waters fell pungng from
above. 1t far down, that when Endicott pushed
from the brow Of the hill the decayed trunk of tee
il seemed dwinde to the size Of straw before
splashed npon The green revolving waters Of the bn-
sin Ii was the widest and sublimest spot in Massa-
chusetts. High and abrupt mountains lowered all a
round the cataract which was no other than that
which has since been obsurdy chrstened with the
corrupted Swiss name Of 'Bash-a- pish Fall
Meanwhile, the sun beat down with a languid
heat Tho forests seemed swimming in faint sulsry
mss; the turpentine boiled from the trunks of the
heated pines; and dead noontide torpor perSaded
the whole scene. The little stream alone kept up
its restless motion and its murmuring voice. Inviting
the langud frame to luxury and refreshment Endi-
ternoon though his friend pressed him to remain and
he himself felt great earnestness 10 get away
A dead stiffness in the air; grumbling noise that
sounded heavily Erom behind the mountains; a mass
Of suen inky clouds that up and swept rapidly
over the sky, saved him the trouble Of making any
decision. Il was evident that il he did go, he mus
tide the Pelting Of furious thunderstorm As they
looked from the door, dull roaring sound, and {
r fresh wind came down from the valley above, which
r was now shrouded by gray misty curtain that seem
ed to be drawn it, and to advance nearer ant
nearer, involving as came, rocks. mountains ant
i, forests, while the roaring sound grew louder AM
|. louder. Then few large rain drops fell on tn
J., platform before the doors then they came faster AM
= faster, till the sireamed from heaven to earth
IS in parallel slant lines, obscurng Trees river and all
D., The heavy bursts Of thunder would at times trowi
the noise Of this cataract, which beat fuousy agans
y, the roof, and streamed in from the
m My ancestor, glad of good an excuse for proon
ID ing his stay, hung his gun, which he had held 70