Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-08-06

Off in search of others more lonely.
In one of my midday walks, struck sud-
denly upon grass-grown road. leading off
the main path, at the distance of three miles
from the town. followed itup little hill
switching with my cane at the peppermint
that grew on each side, or stopped to watch
a speckled adder who gided lazily in and
out from the fragrant thickct, as drew near
to or receded from his home. An old house
stood half way up this hill, which was evi-
IDENTIFY the homestead of some we'll -to-do far
mcr. 1t was large and square, and standing
back, with an orchard climbing the green
hills at its rear. Across the road which
was following, and lust opposite the house,
were three immense barns, whose great doors
were standing open, to admit the carts of hay
the oxen were drawing slowly from the hill
| pastures. Through these doors caught
! glimpse of the river road below, the river it.
self, the covered bridge, blue sky. and the
woods beyond. 1t was a delicious bit of color
ing, done by the hand of the Great Artist
himself. At my feet was little pool of
stagnant water. on which some white geese
and ducks We're fraternizing, while n brood
of half-grown turkeys, with their melancholy
'Quit- luit,' were making up Il foraging
party for an excursion after grasshoppcrs
across the farm.
But the road, with its faint wheel track on
either side, and its broad streak of green in
the middle, stretched ON beyond the farm
house and the barns, and soon lost sight of
of them as descended the other side of the
hill. 1t was more lovely here. if such a
thing were possible because, with the same
houses standing in the distance, also found
silence beneath the blue sky of noon that
was delightful On one side Of the fallen
stone wall thicket of blackbcrries had
grown over heap of ruins, which marked
the site of the first church or meeting house
ever erected in the town. On the other, and
across the road lay a little grave yard,
soping quietly down to the road and river
below. The gate had rustcd from its hinges
and lay upon the ground, half hidden by the
long grass that was growing over it.
The tomb had not been in use for many
year and as pecped through the cracks of
its door saw something lying on the floor,
which knew was nothing more nor less than
the fragment Of the bier on which the coffin
had once been borne out. but which, Just
then, was pleased to magnify into the bones
of a skeleton. The tender blue of an Ameri-
can summer day was in the sky, and the
sun shown down brightly and hotly. No
thing seemed to stir. save the grasshopper who
leaped and chirped among the gravcs-a kind
followed the path still farther. And now,
for the first time, it began to wind beside one
of those bright leaping brooks, peculiar to
America, and to New England most of all.
sauntered along, looking for minnows in
the sunlight, and wishing ! had nothing
more to do than to spend existence in the
same way, when laugh most clear and mu-
steal. made me start and look up.
The road had wound around 50 that the
lonely grave yard upon the hill was shut out
from my sight. In its place | beheld before
me long avenue, or rather grove of maple
trees, clothing the base and summit of anoth-
er hill, far higher. The sparkling brook,
with last gush of music, leaped into the
sunlit recesses Of this forest, and was lost to
my sight But, on my right hand, stood
bird S nest of white washed cottage, sur
rounded on all sides bya field of waving oats
led from the rustic gate, up to the cottage
door, which stood open and at well, close
by the house, stood young girl, apparently
fishing with line for something in the wa
ter, while dark-eyed and very beautiful lady
stood on the steps looking at her a fat
brown and white dog, with broad feet which
turned out ludicrously- if in no other way
they could support the weight of his body
sat on the green sward in front of the gate,
blinking sleepilv at the sunshine and the
flies. When he at last saw me. he put M
his head and gave a terrible howl, as if he
felt deeply nsulted by nv approach-a sound
which alarmed his young mistress, so that
she dropped the line she held, and started
back from the well in dismay. | then saw
that she had long auburn curls, and that her
face was full of that exquisite life and light
and bloom, which youth and a sunny heart
can shed upon the most irregular features
There was nothing for me but to make nv
excuses for nv intrusion as well as could l
so. after pacifying the dog, opened the
boarded gate and walked up to her 1t was
Lucy, whom thus met, for the first time.
1t is strange how soon a perfectly natural
and simple manner sets one at ease | had
always been called, and had always thought
myself. the shyest of men; vet in five min
utes was talking with the little fairy as
freely as if had known her all nv life.
had been introduced to aunt Susan. who
evidently regarded her Young niece AS the ap-
ple of her ewes.
| had been reconciled to Tiger. who. after
much entreaty ON the mart Of his mistress.
condescended to hold out his fat paw for me
to shake. showing his teeth wickedly all the
while. as if he would like to bite me. if she
only was not there: and had found the
way to her heart bv succeeding. after long
and patient effort. in rescuing from the well
the line and pail with which she had been
TRYING to draw water before arrived. Then,
SEEING that | looked heated and tired. she
insisted upon nv coming into the cottage to
have some of Aunt's cGrrant wine. while |
rested | was only too glad to see her abode.
and followed without anv hesitation.
must own that have tasted better and
sweeter wine than that which had been spoil
ing for two months in the damn cellar at
Gan Eden, but | should have taken arsenic
cheerfully, if her small hands had mixed the