The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-05-09
I'll sell ]
a Sketch from The Summer Land"
AID VI.

The old Rectory, now the residence of
General St Landry. was in the edge of
the village The high picket of cedar
posts which inclosed the grounds, ran
the length of the last street. forming the
outer boundary Of that side Of the vii
lnge.
This picket was close enough and high
enough, to exclude every vul gar eye
hnt, AS if i, were not enough, a hedge of
Cherokee roses, planted on the inside,
overrun the picket with f.nge Of its
densely tangled green vines.
a tall stou,ly built oakcn gate was
the only means Of gaining entrance to
the grounds. Once inside, you saw "A
broad, closely turfed lawn, some five OF
six acres i'll extent; but of character
so simple that you might have wonder
ed why it was so jealousy guarded
There were few black locusts and wal
nuts, some wild cherry trees. and one or
two grand old oaks these were scatter
cd thinly over the grounds.
But simple as this was. there was
nothing harshraw,or moagre in the land
scapc it presented. Quite the contrary
The surface of the lawn was just suffici-
entity undulated not to be fiat. There
was no evidence Vf culture here, or adorn
mcrt nothing could be simpler, yet the
eff ct was decidedly good
To the right there was a white rail
ing, separating the lawn from the garden
aud orchard; to the left, was a meadow
aud brook.
There was an air of retirement and
seclusivencss about the place that one
liked.
Immediately around the house there
was some shruLbery, though not much
aud there were lofty ccdars-old cedars.
with rugged bark and massy boughs
there were tall Lonbardy roplafs and
gloomy black locus,s
The house itself was quite as simple
in conception and detail and Yet there
was prestige Il harmony of proportion,
harmony with the surrounding scenery,
that rendered it impressive.
1t was tall, old fashioned cdifcc Of
brick painted pearl gray the windows
were round-arched, opening ON richly
balustratcd balconies: there was a round,
arched brick portico. with a campanile
roof and On Gi de-beuf: the cornice was
deep, and richly MOULDED dark russet.
brown. 1t was one of those buildings
with gable front. fankcd by two lower
wings, after an old English model and
the campanilc-roofed portico was at the
side of the gabc-front.
There was an unprcteuding antique
air Pervadirg everything about the Rec
tory, that you seldom find in our coun-
try, where all Is new style. gaudy, and
Earring
1t was such contrast to the gim-
crackery of our modern model cottages.
The grass in the yard was as deep and
thick as though it had been growing
there for ages There were no fresh
set, raw looking trees, with mould and
clay abouts their roots. A vine of Irish
ivy had clamberod over a bay.window Of
the parlor wing and half cnveilcd il in
its dark green dr1pery.
The garniture aud adornmcnt Of tho
Reciory was in a style that artists
somewhat inappropriately, | tbink-call
Sevefe : style, the tone Of which was to
the utmost simple aud chaste but with
that there was warm glow of feeling
pervadipg the subducd colorine and
quiet ornament, which precluded the
idea of severity
From the entry in the turret TO the
drawing'room, there was wainscoting
of rich tlIne-darkeucd walnut; and the
doors, window castings, aud the like, of
the same the walls and ceilings of those
exquisite neutral-tinted frescoes. that
harmouizc SO we'll with old oak and wal
nuts.
In the drawing.rooms the frescoes
were worthy palace in Europe.
In these apartments the soft, luxuri-
our Turkey carpets,-the old China vas
es IN the fre-places, the rosewood pi-
ano,--the old portraits on the walls, -
the silver capdclabras and bronze giran.
doles,-all were elegant and costly, but
all Of the old fashion.
When | called here the next EVENING
after my arrival. recognized everything
as almost unchanged since the days Of
my boyhood, when spent here such
happy hours with ClotiIde and Sarah
Brookwood. When Clotilde and I ram.
bled through the little lawn, aud read
the Children of tho Abbey" under the
old oak, by the big. mossy rock Whao