Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-11-23
TIE OLD MILL.


b which clings around it, especially to one
, whose childhood was free and happy amid
, the society Of brooks and Wales and foliage
and pleasing rural haunts Continually will
some germ of old remembrance uncover it
self from the dust aud cobwebs of dim recol.
lection 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 embowcred among the hills. As if
to add only the charm Of a ray of sunlight
to the beauty Of the landscape, ran, con.
cealed along by the aldcrs and flags, the
mead and pastures till at last il crossed the
highway and plunged into thick forest
and was lost to comprehension
One summer day, | tired of wandering
where this trout stream ran to for, like
the "broo'' of Tennyson, there was a poetic
romance about it which was irresistible. -
Tempted by the wildncss of the scene, |
made journey to its course and wandered
along its iringed banks. A slight rushing
sound, AS of distant falling waters, or the
Fastening of the wind through the foliage.
led me down the gradually sleeping declivty
and by the increasing rugged banks, now
across the stream upon high suspended
rocks which rose above the rapids.
Over the bed ofthe stream, as it deepened
into the forest, hung the birch and the elm,
forming continuous shade and vista down
which my eyes peercd with all the admira.
ton OF ayoung poetic soul. Here and there
white cascade broke the regularity of the
descent, and wound around the base of
juttlng hill or rock growing every step more
! wild, varied and picturesque
AS the descent grew sleeper, the rough.
ness of the banks compelled me to leave the
shore and clambcr around distance of a
few rods, when | again came full upon the
stream and beheld the pouring waters, the
! sound of which had grown more and more
distinct as | approached. Turning sud-
denly to the left around projecting ledge
the stream plunged down height of a hun
dred feet or more into ravine still more
dark and wild, and forming beautiful cas-
cade which broke in spray and sprinkled
the moses and wild flowers upon its banks
with Il delicious coolncss.
=. Upon the brow of the opposite shore and
the shelving rocks, the fir and hemlock grew
so close and dense as to completely shut out
all view of the scene beyond. The vine and
goosebcrry intcrmiugled with the dark gray
rocks, while over the fall the mingling
| VI VI Tic llccS lOTtfltu " DCautl1lll
gateway from which the white cascade dart
ed like thing of life, and fled away down
the deepening vista.
At the foot Of the fall stood the ruin of an
old mill, the stones growing over with moss
and weeds while a little green plot 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, l discovered pretty summer
hat, decorated with ribbons and wild flowers,
! lying partially concealed by some overhang-
ing branches, and | suddenly recollected
baving caught an indistinct strain ofa song
as it mingled and seemed lost in the sound
Of the waters, so as not to have before left
distinct impression upon my ear. listened
and gazed about carefully, searching for
some indication of the fair owner, but to no
purpose.
Whether the wearcr had noticed me and
hastened away, fearing to stay to claim it,
or whether some accident might not have
bctallen her, were thoughts which engaged
evening sunshine into twilight. The soft
air grew cool and balmy, and the fall more
beautiful in the contrast of the deepening
shade, but still [ saited thoughtlcs,ly cary
ing device upon shelving rock and mus
ing until the moon was up and shining, when
wound along by the ravine outward, bear
ing and admiring the hat, to my youthful
fancy the embodiment ofbcauty and artlcss
lovelincss doubted not the waving tresses
of the t;iirest flower of 6 summers had often
been concealed beneath it.
Many a year later, straycd again to the
thicket and the fall, still hidden in the deptb
of larger forest There Law the old min.
stone-a tree Of considerable size growing
through it. and the wild flowers and the
brambles were thicker and coarser The
ruins suddenly called to mind the incident.
of the former visit, so long before that thc
precise time was not recalled but before |
left my eve fell upon the following inscrin.
ton:
June Is. lS45. Found a hat and lost
nv heart. S. S"
Just below. cut in n similar stvlo bv tho
chiscling of IA piece of quart. was
Lost nv hat but folnd nobenrt AR"
| recalled to mind NV impression Of the
time that the hat was ont of STYLE and trim.
ming usually worn in the countrv. nnd ,hnt
it was no doubt that of n visitor to tbe In.
cnlity, who had. unattended str,vnd to
CRAFTY a curiosity for romantic scenery
similar to nv own. and that rnmbling AWAY
from the locality, had mistaken the nloce
where the hat was LETT. ~ '''
1t WAS i'm n moment nv fn|l determination
a.. J;,.a,'a, 49, - ~ a.. ID ,,, ,