The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-09-22

concealed by trees. Bot If in the air all was
| silence, sounds enough proceeded from the
earth. Feathered songstcrs carolled in the
woods behind US, and before US the hearth
larks' love strains swelled, answering each
other from the Juniper bushes From the
bulrushes which grew on the margin of the
lake was heard the quackins of the wild
ducks; and from greater distance came the
plashing of the fisherman's oar as he was re-
turning to bis home. and the soothing tones
of bis vesper hymn.
The sun had now sunk below the horizon,
and the bells that rang from many church
tor evening PRAYER, summoned the weary la.
borer to rest and sleep. The heavy dews of
night were already moistening the ground.
and its mist was yelling the woods, the lake,
and the sloping banks. Now broke upon
the ear the cheering yet plaintive music of
wind instruments. 1t seemed to come near
or and nearer, and must have undoubtedly
proceeded from the boat we had observed
putting off from the opposite shore. When
the music ceased, we could distinctly hear
the voices Cf the party in the boat. and pres
emily after the slight noise made nv their
landing We stood still for a few minutes.
expecting TO see them ascending the hill. but
soon perceived that, on the contrary. they
were going in another direction. for the
sound ofthe voices bee anne fainter and faint
er, and was lost at last apparently among the
woods to the west. Had it not been that the
airs they had played were Of the newest
fashion. we mil eht have fancied it a fairy ad-
ventura procession Of woodland elves, or
the bridal Of the elfking himself.
The shades of night we're falling around
Here and there star glmmered family in
the clear blue sky. In the northwest was
visible red segment over the horizon. where
the king Of day was wandering beneath. on
his way to tighten another hemisphere. Now
all was still only at distance on the heath
we heard the rlover's melancholy note. and
beneath us. on the lake. the whizzino of the
water-fowl,' wings as they skinned its dark
ened surface. "Lct us 90 home wards now :"
cried my cousin. "Yes, home '" replied
But'we had not gone far before we both
stopped with "lIu.h bark ~ From the
poft thn ~, I
just come. issued Suddenly the sound of har.
monious voices. singing as Duet Tvrolc,e
air. There is something indc>cribsblv charm
ing and touching in this union of voices. eS
Peciallv in the open air. when the sweet tone.
seem to float upon the gentle breeze: and
now, at the calm evening hour. when the sur
rounding hills were awakened from the deer
rerose into which they hal inst >uh>led. tn,
sweet tones had the effect of the nightingale:
delightful song. Nv cousin seized nv hand
and pressed it. as if tc entreat that | should
not, BY any exclamation, disturb his auricu
lar treat. When the vocalists ceased. ht
sighed deeply. lgazed in astoni>hment OF
him; he was in general SO gay. and vet a
that moment tears actually stood in his eyes
attributed to the mighty enchan,ment of
music the power of soiteninS and acitasin.
the hardest and the lightes; heart, and re-
marked this to him.
"Ah, we'll :" he replied" the human breas
is like sounding board, which, although un
touched yet gives an echo when certail
chords are struck"
You are right" said "as. for instance
the story of the tarantula dance
lie sighed again, and said, gravely:
But such chords must be connected witt
peculiar events, mr. st awaken certain rccol
lections- % Yes he took my hand, an
$ pointing to the trunk of a tree which had ar
, parcntly been blown down 10y the wind, b
Q continued, after we had placed ourselves G
. it" yes, my friend, yon air recalls TO me
f souvenir which have in vain tried to forge
| Will you listen to the story"
"Tell it," said |, Though can par,l,
i guess what it must be."
1t was on such an evening as this Che con
? menced), about two years ago. that, accor
o panied ty friend, had gone on little tor
e of pleasure to Lake Esrom We remain,
sitting a long time on a fallen tree before v
a could prevail on ourselves to wend our W.
y home wards, so charmed were we with Il
e. beauty of the scenery and of the cvenin
n We had Just risen, when Iyrolcsc air-tl
y very one You and have recently hcart;
sung delightfully."- as a ductt, attracted our a
at tention. Ii came from the side Of the lax
'e but the sounds appeared to be gradually a
preaching nearer. We soon heard the pa
, of oars, which kept time to the music, al
shortly after we saw a boat making for Il
Is part of the shore where we were. When Il
$, song was ended, there wa, great deal {
2 talking and laughing in the boat, ard ii
noise seemed to increase the nearer th'
t. came to the shore. We now saw diStnc
&c ly the little skiff and its merry freight. "L'
II aside your oars :" said one: 4" will steer VI
d straight in to the land" They did so.
Y know quicker way of making the land
ir cried another, as he sprang up. and stridi'
,e from sunwale to gunwale, set the boat roc
It ing frightfully. "Be quiet be quiet V" roa
l ed third; are you mad ? The fool will N
J. set the boat W " You shall have good due
I, ing for that, said the madcap, swaying Il
n boat still more violently. Then came shou
y Of laughter mingled with oaths in the mid