The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-06-10

and then leaping over the bars proceed
ed on toward the house. Thick grass
covered the path along which he walked,
SO little had it been trodden, and the
tangling briars, bushes and vines that
spread their luxuriant growth on either
side, almost obstructed it; but he forced
his way through them, and passing on a
little further, he saw small skiff drawn
up in secluded nook and fastened by
a rusty chain to the lifeless trunk Of a
blasted oak tree whose leafess branches
lowered above his head. This doubt
less had been used to cross from the
house to the main land in winter when
the waters of the pond were high enough
to cover the path, as well as for pleasure
and recreation in the warm seasons of
the year. A little further on the land
widened and the path wound up through
irregular rows of currant bushes to
whose unpruned branches the dead-ripe
clusters of crimson berries, still clung,
interspersed here and there with half
withered yellowish leaves, and passing
these, he went round the end of the
house and came to the front door. An
old grey house-cat, the natural dimen-
sions of whose tail and ears had been
considerably shortened by the applica-
tion of some wandering school-boy's
knife, lay summing herself on the large
fat door stone, but at his approach she
darted off and crawling into hole be-
meath the house where once had been a
cellar window, she sat demurely down
and from her retreat peered cautiously
out at the gaunt form of the Elder as he
placed his hand upon the rudely-wrought
iron knocker, and gave two or three
loud raps that resounded with discordant
harshness through the solitary place.
"I doubt whether any one lives here"
said he to himself as he stood upon the
doorstep awaiting the answer to his
knocking. Just then a hoarse voice
from within grufay exclaimed "walk
in" Elder Trotter lifted the latch
and, opening the rough old door that
grated heavily upon its hinges, he passed
through the entry into large low room
whose unpapered and unpainted sides,
huge blackened fireplace, small-pancd,
misunderstanding windows and old-fash-
ioned furniture savored strongly of the
styles and peculiarities of Auld Lang
|Syne." Large smoke-stained timbers
extended across the top of the room,
and from various wooden-hoOks that
we're fastened to their sides,was suspend
ed curious collection Of old rusty guns,
gourd-shcll powder TASKS, powder-horns,
smoked hams, several files of antiquated
newspapers, hats, almanacs, boots, and a
g variety of other articles too numerous
to mention"
A bed with blue and white draperies
disposed in careless irregularity around
it, occupied one corner of the room. A
case of drawers, two large blue chests,
and several straight-backed leather
bottomed chairs adorned its sides. Be-
fore little cracked looking-glass, with
a cluster of ostrich feathers dropping
from its top, stood heavy oaken table,
upon which were the cold remnants of a
somewhat scanty meal and at one end
of it, tipped back in great arm chair,
with his feet resting on another one, a
pipe in his mouth, and a time-worn hat
upon his head, sat the lonely inhabit-
ant of the dwelling, Mr.. Henry Fair
field.
Elder Trotter advanced few feet
into the room and bowing his long neck,
was al At to say "good day sir" when
a nearer squint of his ocular organs at
the parsonage before him suddenly
changed his salutatory phrase TO " Why,
Henry Fairfield, what strange miracle
brought you here I" IS .ir
The gentleman thus abruptly address,
ed, slowly Withdrew his pipe from his