Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-12-24

mountci upon such horses - The iarm
could furnish and cantering gaily along.
all three abreast but soon we turned into
one Of those lovely little wood.rold.. where
the trees meet overhead, and our horses Zee,
make no sound on tho soft carpet of pine
leaves that lle thick on tho ground. The
road was too narrow Tor three horses. and
cousin John said he would ride on In front
and show Us the way hut suppose he re.
membcrci that already knew IL, as he was
soon out of sight. We tried n oycrtako
him Mr.. lIampton's horse was either tired
or very lazy ior he could not make him 90
faster than a walk. 81 II was long time
before we reached tho mill, and we had =
g-cat deal Of conversation by the way. Mr..
Hampton talked about country lie: he
said ho was tired Of the city. and thought
Of buying himself farm somewhere In the
country, and interesting himself in Asri-
culture. suggested that In country
ncIshborhool like ours hs would End great
lack u society but hs said. surrounded by
such 5cautifu! nature. ho should never want
more society than that Of one or two friends,
and II rhe-wha, more he was goirg % say
| DO not know for jus, At that moment my
horse gave a sudden start, AMI continued to
prancc and jump for Eve minutes. - that
Mr.. Hampton was afraid that I should he
thrown. and tried 10 persuade mo. when
NJlly.at las, stood s,ill enough hr mo to
di'mount, to let him ride her, while took
Oh Ben. Bot was confident I could man
age little Nelly. and. indeed for tho rest u
,hc rifle N, was a' gentle n' lamb. lu,
Mr. lIamptan's plan Of hrmius.Iifc WAS
not mentioned again.
when We arrived at the mill. there was
con.iu John. horse. bu, II. rider was no
yhcra visible. We called him. br, received
no answer. - we s,rolled OF 60 the water.
hll, a d thero we found him sitting on
rock, throwing peoples into tho water. lI'
was 20 deeply cnsro.scd in thi. Ab'orhin,
occupation ihathe did no, look mp until we
spoke To him. and then I thought he -ecm-
Ell rather out of temper, thoush | do not
know what could have veSsl him. How.
ever. W. all at down together TO rest, and
the water rushing over the great stones in
it, he'd was - noisy, and wiihal - musical
that it was M wonder we al grow silent a.
We at there listening 70 II. Al last Mr..
Hampton started up, saying tha, he wished
70 trace th, course or the brook higher mp
he was convinced We should find II beiu,i.
fol enough 70 repay ~ for the walk. !
could not refuse To 81 with him. especially
rs il wa, hi. last Jay with us (hl, visit hal
ALREADY eS,Jnlcl ar beyond il. intended
limits, and tomorrow hc mus, certainly
leave u') 81 W. went. without cousin
John.vho, rather ungmciou.ly, thought.
declined to accompany " on tie pr''eEt of
bring tired though how man WHO can
swing a 'cyth' from sunrise to sunset couli
he tired after an eight miles ride ! did not
know.
There was a grassy path along he border
Of the brook, remnan, perhaps, from it,
working days. whore. in winter, log. were
dragged down to the .mill--but en-.
croachel upon 10y the bushes and Young
trees. the cart road was narrowed to a mere
foo,pa,h. We wandered on and on. every
turn Of the brook showing Us new and more
ontcin glimpse. OF beauty, and leading u.
farther than We should have gone. till at
length fclt really tired. and was glad 20
consent TO Mr.. IIamrton's rrcpc'al thatvc
shoIld sit down On the trunk OF tree that
had fallen partly over tho brock, and rest.
The woods wore full Of blackbcrrics, and
making basket Of some large leaves, he
went "a, and soon brought ii back 20 mo
full orbcrrics. =" an almost as much Of
an expert in Ills branch OF wooicra0 a'
Miss Annie herself" saii he. with smile
which showed very well he had no. forgot.
ten our ir.t meeting, and I took courage
then TO tell him something Of the annoyance
| felt at my absurd appearance on that
LAY. First impressions, You know" |
said, "arc - often indelible." They
are, indeed" he sald. Little did I think
when you entered aunt Myra's doorway.
and stopped short, hIushins like a Wild
rosebud. how the whole cour.e-" " Mor-
cy - screamed |. +" there zoe. my hand.
kcrclioi into the water. Please catch il
there It's stopped by that stone" and not
waiting for Mr.. Hampton. assistance, / res.
cued it myself. and broush, ii dripping to
the shore upou the sni OF long stick.
Bsins rous-I to animation by this little
incident, found myself quite sufficiently re.
freshed to walk'back to the mill, which We
did at very brisk pace, having no occasion
now to loi,er in admiration Of the scenery
which was no longer new to US.
We found cousin John jus, whcr, We
left him. aud sat down by him aud gave
him an account Of the beauties he had mis-
.ed, and made him promise to follow the
brook up with me himself some future day.
Here. Mr.. Hampton. looking at his watch
remarked that We Lad barely time to reach
home before dinner, and aun, Myra might
10 an1iou' IL we were late so we mounted
and rode home. We were all tired and 81.
lent-hungry perhaps.
Thc afternoon spent IN my own room.
After tea we were all in the garden cousin
John siered with an untimely ct OF industry
diligently wedding the strawberry bed. and