The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-15
Mllstellanrous.
OUR SUMMER AT RIDGErON,
AND WHAT CAME OF IT.
ny NINA n.

There were three Ot us-Our cousin, Mar
gerry Wayne, my sister Alice, and myself,
Ellinor llerbert--salcly bestowed in the ca
pacious depths Of the numbering old stage
coach, as, leaving the city at early sunrise,
/. wound its way upwards to quiet town
grazing the " hill coIntry'of ", where
we were to pass the ensuing months of sum-
mer.
Why our choice settled upon this in pre-
ference tO the more familiar charms Ot FASH
ionlble resorts, scarcely know, unless the
wayering scale was finally turned by the
pursuasiyc voice OF my invalid sister, Grace,
as she recalled for our benefit the delights Of
long-gone season spent ut Ridegton.
Thenceforth the mighty roar ot Niagara
and the moaning Of distant sea waves wooed
US yainly, while fancy would listen only to
the surge Of wind-swept forests. and gaze
upon emerald pillows, mid whose grassy
depths no treaeherous quicks,nds lay hid
den.
All through the long warm day, through
whose blue June hours we had travelled on,
there had been no lack of song, or laughter,
and conversation, wherewith the tedium of
the way might be beguilcd; bnt now that
twilight wayerod mistily over the golden sky
IA certain chill quiet ofnumbed senses and
weary frame stole over us, and Margery,
stretching her 1.-THE figure, had just declared
herself tired to death, when sudden turn
in our line Of travel brought US to a sha'ly
lane, down whose green aisle the weary
horses plunged with grateful sense OF duty
pcrtOrmed-and in an instant more we had
reached our destination.
A quaint, old.iashiOned farmhouse, brown
with the decoration of time, and crOuching
under the dropping leaves with bird-like
trustfulness against its mOssy roof the
pink check of the wild ruse nestled, and
every passing breeze tossed the purple plumes
OF lilacs, with which the front yard was
crowded. And, wherever the eye turned
from thence. II drank in the same swelling,
cleaning landscape Of wooded hill, and dale
and Frightening orchard, frightened by the
steel.likc flash of the river singing seaward,
while circleing and limiting the whole, dis
tant ranges ct mountains purpled the far
horizon with their mOyelcSs dark, like the
eternal shadow of Fate broOding over the
happy valleys Of existence.
But all this was reserved for the morning
to reveal. To the dropping vision OF the
three cramped, inelastic figures lifted in turn
to the sill of the low, wide open door, no
sight could bs more grateful than that which
curling flames made clear rs they Illumined
the ample kitchen, whose waiting tea-tabl,
stood drawn up before "a coquettish littl,
pine fire. kindled in anticipation of our shiv'
ering need.
The exquisite repOse Of our first night al
Rock Farm may be imagined by those who
have tested the charm of unbroken rest un,
der like circumstances. And lying down ia
the chamber, whose uncarpeted floor the
moOnbeams checkered with their slant silver
rays, l slept my first sleep under the broad
country sky.
Nelly Nelly The voice Of my sister
| Alice broke the thread Oi my morning slum'
bers-Alicc, who was never known TO arise
until the family stock of patience had ex'
hausted itself. But the fresh, rosy face bent
above me bore no trace OF the habitual Ian
guOr which il wore when in town, and SEE
Ing my surprise. she said, laughingly, You
perceive that the change ot air has already
bewitched me. have been up and out to
view the sunrise an hour ago, while y)u--
will You wake now, sleepy girl ? Opening
the shutters while speaking she loft me to
drcss, with cool brce1e tanning the win
dow drapsries, and a glimmer OF sun-touch.
Cd leaves and nOdding blossoms, to convince
me that ! was beyond the sight of brick
walls and sidewalks.
Upon descending To breakfast, 1 found Al.
leo and Margery nearly through with theirs
engaged in an animated discussion with re
gard to our plans Tor the day.
II was dificult TO choose between the con
iiicting charms OF this new mode Of existeuc,
when the very leaves Of the old elm SCENE,
, TO hrim with gladness, and sunshine yeie,
,, with Transparent gold the waking wOrl'
, without.
: Finally, our hostess was summoned tn al,
r n the momentous decision; and framed b
theo open door she stood before US, the ide,
e Of a woman-purc. lovely, and well tried b,
y the discipline OF life. As such, my memoi
paints her now-swcet Jane Ellery.l
o She smilcd ON us as We explained our a
}. lemma. and good naturcdly replied to ou
q eager questions. We thus ascertained tha
II the village Of Ridgeton, containing tn
a church, store. and post-odiee, (kept by
Il wOman! Alice interposed, soto rooe) va