Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-05-27

way; but I supposed he remembered
that I already knew it, as he was soon
out of sight. We tried to overtake
him ; but Mr.. Hampton's horse was
either tired or very lazy, for he could
not make him 90 faster than a walk.
So it was u long time before we reach
ed the mill, aud we had a great deal of
conversation by the way. Mr.. Hamp
ton talked about Countrywide; he said
he was tired Of the city, and thought
of buying himself farm somewhere in
the country, and interesting himself in
agriculture. suggested that in a
country heighborhood like ours, he
would find great lack Of society but
he said, surrounded by such beautiful
nature, he should never want more So
cictv than that Of one or two friends,
and if he. What more he was
going to say | do not know for just
at that mon ent my horse gave sud
den start, and continued to prance and
lump for five minutes, so that MIR
Hampton was afraid l should be thrown,
and tried to persuade me, when Nelly
at last stood still enough for me to dis
mount, to let him ride her, while |
took old Ben. But | was confident |
could manage little Nelly, and, indeed
fer the rest Of the ride she was gentle
as lamb. But MIR. Hampton's plan
of farming life was not mentioned
again,
When we arrived at the mill, there
was cousin Johns horse, but its rider
was nowhere visible. We called him,
but received no answer, SO we strolled
off to the waterfall, and there we found
him, sitting on a rock, throwing peb-
bles in the water. He was so deeply
engrossed in this absorbing occupation
that he did not look up until we spoke
to him, and then I thought he seemed
rather out Of temper, though | did not
know what could have vexed him.
However, We all sat down together a
little while to rest, and the water rush
ing over the great stones in its bed was
so noisy, and withal so musical, that it
was no wonder We all grew silent as We
sat there listening to it. At last MIR.
Hampton started up saying, that he
wished to trace the course Of the brook
higher up he was convinced we should
find it beautiful enough to repay us for
the walk. I could not refuse to accom-
pany him, especially as it was his last
! day with us his visit had already ex-
tended far beyond its intended limits,
and tomorrow he must certainly leave
us). So we went, without cousin John,
who rather ungraciously, | thought, de-
clined to go, on the pretext Of being
tired; though how man who can
swing a scythe from sunrise to sunset
could be tired after an eight miles ride
could not understand.
There was grassy path along the
border Of the BROOK remnant, per-
haps, from. its working days, when in
winter, logs we're dragged down to the
saw mill-but, encroached upon by the
bushes and young trees the cart-road
was narrowing to mere foot-path.
We wandered on and on, every turn of
the brook showing us more and enticing
glimpses of beauty, and leading us
farther than we should have gone, till
at length I felt really tired, and l was
glad to consent to Mr.. Hampton's pro-
posal that we should sit down on the
trunk of tree which had fallen partly
over the brook, and rest. The woods
were full Of blackberries, and making
a basket Of large leaves, he went off,
and soon brought it back to me full of
berries. 81 am almost as much of an
expert in this branch of wood craft as
Miss Annie herself" said he, with a
smile which showed very we'll he had
not forgotten our first meeting, and
took courage then to tell him something
Of the annoyance I felt at my absurd
appearance on that day. "First i'm
pressions, you know" I said, care Oft
en- indelible.'' "They are indeed"
said he; 'little did I think, when you
entered aunt Myra's doorway, and stop
ped short, blushing like wild-rose
bud, how the whole course o."
"Mercy!" screamed I-"there goes
my handkerchief into the water.
Please catch it-there, it is stopped by
that stone!" and, not waiting for Mr..
tIampton's assistance, rescued it my
self, and brought it, dripping, to the
shore on the end Of long stick.
Being reused to amin alton by this
little incident, found myself quite
sufficiently refreshed to walk back te
the mill, which we did at very brisk
pace, having no occasion now to loiter
in admiration Of the scenery which was
no longer new to us. We found cou.
sin John just where we left him, and
sat down by him and gave an account
of the beauties he had missed, and made
him promise to follow the brook W
with me himself some future day
Here, Mr.. Hampton, looking at his
watch, remarked that we had barely
time to reach home before dinner, anc
aunt Myra might be anxious if we we're
late; so we mounted and rode home
We were all tired and silent hungry
perhaps.
The afternoon I spent in my OWE
room. After tea we we're all in the
garden s; cousin John, seized with ar
untimely fit Of industry, was diligently
wedding the strawberry-bed, and I.
perhaps inspired by emulation, trying
to train up climbing rose. Some Of
the branches were too high for me, and
MIR: Hampton begged to be allowed to