The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-10-11
do. The fairest apples are sometimes de-
fective at the core,
CHAPTER III.
Grassmere aadus Lahabitmat,


Grassmere was quiet out-of-the-way
village, hugged in close by grand mo,m-
tains, and watered by sparkling rivulets
and cascades, which came leaping down
the hill sides like frolicksome Naiads and
then with a murmur as sweet as the songs
of childhood, ran off to play bo-peep with
the blue heavens amid the deep clover
fields, or through banks sprinkled with
nodding wild-fowers.
A tempting retreat was Grassmere TO
the weary man of business, whose days
had been passed within the brick and NOR
tar walks of life, and whom the fresh air,
and the green grass, and the waiving woods
were but as a page of delicious poetry
snatched at idle hours Free from the tur-
moil and veXations of the city, how pleas
ant to tread down the hill of life, surroun-
ded by such peaceful influences as smiled
upon the inhabitants of Grassmere, and
several beautiful cottages nesting in the
valley, or dotting the hill, attested that some
fortunate man of wealth had here cast lose
the burthen of the day, to, o,repose in the
quiet of nature.
Although our story bears but slightly
save upon three or four of the three thous-
and inhabitants of Grassmere, | will state
that variety of religious opinious had for
several years been gradually creeping into
this primitive town, and that where sin
gle church received the inhabitants within
one faith, there were now four houses of
worship, ali embracing different tenets,-
But the deacon walked heavenwgrd his
own path, shaking his skirts free from all
contamination with other sects, whom, in
deed, he looked upon as little better than
heathens.
The pastor of the church claiming so
Jealous member, was man eminent for
his christian benevolence. His was not
the piety which exhausted itself in words
heart and soul did not labor to do his
Masters will, and far from embracing the
rigid views of the worthy Deacon Hum
phrys, he wore the garb of charity for all
and in his great good heart, loved all.
He had one son, who at the period from
which my story dates, was pursuing his
| collegiate course at one of the most po pu-
| lar institutions, and in his own mind the
deacon had determined that Hubert Fairlee
should become the husband of his only
daughter Naomi. In another month HUI
bert was to pass his vacations at Grass.
mere, and Naomi looked forward to the
meeting with uneffected pleasure. They
had been playmates in childhood, compan.
ions in ripper years; but love had nothing
to do with their regard for each other, ye
the deacon could not conceive, how friend.
ship alone should unite them. At any
rate Naomi must be the wife of Hubert
that was as set as his Sunday face!
The deacon was man well off in world
ly matters. He owned a large highly cul
tivated farm on which he lived, as also
several snug houses within the village
which rented at good rates.
But the little cottage at Silver-Fall was
untenanted. Through the inability of it:
former occupant TO pay rent, it had return
ed upon the hands of the deacon, and al
though one of the most delightful residen
: ces for miles around, had now been TO
several months without tenant.
A charming spot was Silver-Fall, witt
its little dwelling half hidden by climbing
roses and shadowy naples. Smooth a
velvet was the lawn, with here and there
a cluster of blue vlolets clngng timidly
together, and hemmed by a slvery threat
| OF bught laughing water. which within
few rods of the cottage door, suddenl,
leaped over bed of rocks some twenty
f feet high, into the valley below. Thi
gave it the name Of Silver-Fall Cottage
) all too enticing spot it would seem t
remain long unoccupied. Yet the snow
of winter yielded to the gentle breath c
spring, the bright fruits of summer AZ
: ready decked the hedgerows and tn
thicket, ere tenant could be found, an
there came letter to Mr.. Humphrey
from widow lady living in distant cit.
: requiring the terms on which he woul
lease his pretty cottage.
They were favorable, it would seem,t t
5 her views, and in due time Mrs. Norton
, her daughter Grace, and two female dc
t mestics, arrived at Silver-Fall.