The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-18
The Old Mill.

AUD De tTlenus now IL suusnlny weather.
The Old MIL.
Rural lite has always a charm-a romance
which clings around it, especially to one
whose childhood was free andlhappy amid the
society of brooks and wales and foliage and
pleasing rural hsunts. Continually will some
germ of old remembrance uncover itself from
the dust and cobwebs of dim recollections and
come up, fresh and possessing an interest.
with "a kind of weirdness of pleasure, causing
pangs of severe regret that childhood had
not always lasted
A little stream which formed the outlet of
lake embowered among the hills, as if to add
only the charm of ray OF sunlight TO the
beauty Of the landscape, ran, concealed along
by the aiders and flags, the mead and pas
lures, till at last 1t crossed the highway and
plunged into a thick forest and was lost to
comprehension.
One summer day, l tired of wondering
where this trout stream ran to for, like the
brook" of Tennyson, there was poetic ro-
nance about it which was Irresistible
Tempted by the wildness OF the scene.l made
Journey to its source and wandered along
its tringed banks. \ slight rushing sound
as of distant falling water, or the fastening
OF the wind through the foliage, led me down
the gradually sleeping declivity and by the
increasing rugged banks. now across the
stream upon high suspended log,or picking
my footholds among the rocks which rose
above the rapids.
Over the bed of the steam, as it deepened
into the forest. hung the birch and elm form
ing continuous shade and vista down which
my eyes peered with ali the admiration of a
young poetic soul. Here and there white
cascade broke the regularity of the descent,
and wound around the base of Jutting hill or
f! rock, growing every step more wild, varied
and picturesque.
/ As the descent grew sleeper, the roughness
! of the banks compelled me 10 leave the shore
and Chamber around distance Of a few rods,
when | again came full upon the stream and
4 beheld the pouring waters the sound of which
( had grown more and more distinct as | app
/ preached. Turning suddenly to the lett
around projecting ledge. the stream plung-
/ ed down height of q hundred feet or more
/ into & rivane stIll more dark and wild, form
/ ing a beautiful cascade which broke In spray
/ and sprinkied the moses and wild flowers
/ upon its banks with delicious roolness.
! Upon the brow of the opposite shore and
! the shelving rocks, the fir and hemlock grew
/ SO close and dense as 10 completely shut out
all view of the scene beyond. The vine and
| gOOseberry intermingled with the dark gray
/ roSks, while over the fall the mingling bran
ches of the trees formed beautiful gateway
| from which the white cascade darted like
thing of life,and fled away down the deepen
ing vista.
At the foot of the fall stood the ruin of an
| old mill, the stones grown over with moss
aud weeds, while little green plat of grass
| and wild flowers spread out before it. As
clambered upon the ruins, lost in the roar Of
the falling waters, and unconscious OF outer
things discovered a pretty summer hat, dec
Grated with ribbons and wild flowers, lying
ILL la1 H.
branches, and suddenly recollected having
caught an indistict strain of a song as it min
gled and seemed lost in the sound of the wa
! tiers, so as not to have before left distinct
impression upon my ears. | listened and gaz-
ed about carefully, searching for some indi-
| cation of the fair owner, but TO no purpose.
Whether the wearer had noticed me and
fastened away, fearing to stay to claim il, or
whether some accident might not have befsl-
len her, were thoughts which engaged any Gu
riositv until near the sinking of thi evening
sunshine into twilight. The soft air grew
cool and balmy, and :he fall more beautiful
in the contrast of the deepening shade, but
still / waited thoughtlessly carving a device
upon a shelving rock, and musing until the
moon was shining, when / wound along by
the ravine outward. bearing and admiring
the hat, to my youthful fancy the embodiment
of beauty and artless loveliness. | doubted
not the waving tresses OF the falrest mower oil
l6 summers had often been concealed beneath
il.
Many a year later, strayed again to the
thicke. and the fall, still hidden in the depth
of larger forest. There lay the old mill
stone-a tree of considerable size growing
through il, and the wild flowers and the
brambles were thicker and coarser. The ru.
lbs suddenly called to mind the incidents OF
the former visit, so long before that the pre-
else time was not recalled but before l lief,
my eye fell upon the following inscription
"June Is. 1916. Found a hat, and lost my
heart. S s."
Just below, cut in a similar style, by the
chiseling of piece of quartz. was:
Lost my hat, but found no heart. A.
/ recalled to mind my impression of the
time that the hat was out OF style and trim
ming, usually worn in the country, and that
il was no doubt that of a visitor TO the locsli-
ty, who had, unattended, strayed to crafty g
| foy yorua ufio seanarv sinilap m