The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-09
Gountrp 5ketlbes

AN AMERICAN.
Country 5ketfbcs
GJTRcv. Henry Ward Bccchcr has had
printed a very interesting volume of miscel-
lancous papers, which he calls "Star Papers;
or Experiences of 4Art and Nature" from
which We select the following interesting
paragraphs relative to the beauties and
amusements Of Summer in the country
Country Anus en,ents.
''But what do you do for amusement z"
Why sir, we do not receive company, or
make calls, or ride about among a caravan
of dandy vehicles, or go with the multitude
in a-swimming. or anything else that implies
excitement or company. BE it known, how
ever that we have select few here to whom
quiet is enjoyment. We look at the picture
gallery ofGod in the heavens, with never
two days picture alike: we sit down with
our books on the brow of the hill, under an
old chestnut tree, and read sometimes the
book, sometimes the landscape, sometimes
the highland clouds: we wait till the even
ing sun begins to emit rosc-colorcd light, and
then we take rides along the edges of woods,
upon unfrequcnted roads, across suspicious
bridges, along forest paths leading no ore
knows where, and coming out Just at the very
spot we did not expect. In this perilous
journey we often breathe our horses while we
collect flowers, leaves, MOSES, and grasses:
and we get home at the most urgent moment
of sunset, just in time to go up into the OBJ
servatory and see the wide and wonderful
glory of which for moment we utter excla-
mations-''Look at that islet of fire. land
that deep crimson bank" land that cXquls-
tie blue between those riffs of fire" land
that dove-colorcd cloud with a bronze-color-
ed moldng and fringcr' But words are fool
lsh And we sink away to silence, and only
gaze and think
But on other days we vary the entertain
mcnt; for there is an incxhaustibe variety.
Behold us then--the ladies' incipicntly
loomcrlzcd-wcnding afoQt along the road
leading out of town westward. Before VIC
are half out of sight of the houses, the road
is lined with black berries. The high-black
berry is vet holding back, but the low black
berry, trailing all over the banks and cover
ing the rocks, is in high condition. How
large and plump are these unhandlcd berries.
1t is marvel how such little mouths as see
can get whole one in. We are soon salts
fed. Now for bouquets of wayside flowers.
Spreas, one, two, three, four species Gold
Ell rod, a lingering bud or two on the Wild
rose: and here are pusSies, as the children
call the velvet little mulberry shaped posics;
and here aie Towering grasses, and PUSHES,
and ferns, and green leaves diverse and in
Vulnerable; and leaf is as pretty as flow
cr any day if you will only think so. Here,
too, is the trailing strawb berry, whose vine
inwoyen with buds Of spirca, will make your
lady quecn-like coronct.
TIE FIRST BREATH IN TIE COUNTRY.
Once more we find ourselves at home among
lucid green trees, among hills and mountains
with lakes and brooks on every side and
threading their way in curious circuit among
them. All day long we have moved about
with dreamy newncss oflifc. Birds, crickcts
and grasshoppcrs are the only players upon
instruments that modest the air. ChantlclecT
is at this instant proclaiming over the whole
valley that the above declaration Is Islander
on his musical gifts. Very well, add chan
ticleer to cricket, grasshopper and bird, Add
also a COW: for hear her distant low, melo-
dlous through the valley, with all roughnesS
strained out by the trees through which it
comes hilherward. o, this silence in the air,
this silence on the mountains, this silence Oh
the lakes! The endless roll Of wheels, the
! audible pavemcnts, the night and day jar of
city streets gives place to reposc so full and
deep that, by live-hours' ride, one is born
into new world. Across the street the
woods begin; the real woods that man never
planted nor pruncd, and that pride and ayarice
have saved from being plucked away. For
the property adjacent has long been wished
Il w.. 1,,,t hos hat
pride of land which leads him to refuse to
| which otherwise would long before this have
given way to yards and gardens. And there
| we stroll, or lie down upon the dethroned
leaves that have had their day, and look up
upon the reigning leaves, endless and multi
tudinous, that wink and culver to every
breeze or idly spot the blue sky when the
wind bushes. 1t is no ordinary forest. 1t
covers some thirty or forty acres. The lower
part is quito level and covered with oaks.
| Then come sudden and very severe hills.
bolted up so pcrpendicularly that but for
| grooves and Waterfront passages, not more
than five or six yards wide, you could hard
| ly climb them. Masses of granite rock are
| flung up here and there in vast heaps, their
sides messed over, the splits and riffs feath-
cred out with ferns, with here and there
bush for a captain. Over behind the woods
there comes down brook from the noun
tains, rushing like a courier fierce with news
which it quite forgets to tell, and tcmpering
its zeal along level meadow it goes across
the road bent on industry. a few miles be-
low its works at mill as steadily as if it
were not wild and mountain born brook.
The woods are full of hcmlock, pine and
spruce; of laurel and ground-pinc; of all man
ner of leaves and flowers; and not least for
beauty, the fine cut ferns with delicate palms.
All this and good deal more, for we have
not spoken of a diamond spring under rock
like an eye overhung by a shaggy brow, or
ola pretty school house on the road ledge of
the wood, or of a huge rock balanced so as to
seem falling while yet it is firm; all this we
have within stono's throw Of our dwelling
end it is just nothing to the abundance Of
| attraction in the nelghboorhood.
TWELVE HuNDRED WArCHMAKERs.-The
Houston Telegraph states that 200 Swiss
ot,bp,,l orc will compoga mart of the npvy