The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-07-19
MISCELLANY.
Romance Among the Pines

We had been on the march since early
morning, and about four o'clock came TO
Il wrctchcd cabin in the clearing-looking
like an intruder rs it was, and tcnanted
by beings hardly 10 be thought of i'll such
IA place even.
Which way how, stranger !" AS
gave the rein to my man Sam. "Guess
ye are far from hone," and tail, lanl,
specimen OF humanity made himself ,isl .
bic.
" Can you tell US anything of Esquire
Joncss saw-miII? thought to find it in
this direction, but perhaps | am out OF
the gay"
Reckon yc are, yell have to 90 back
10 the ford better than five mics from
This /" and the man seated himself on Il
fallen log
Five miles, MASTER" and Sam turncl
up the whites of his eyes. "lse awful
hungry
4" Can yon give us anything to eat ? II
weed missed our way we've also missed
our dinner"
- say, old woman, is there any corn
bread lcft?" And there was a snuthrrpd
conference with the oil womi in
Not II bite in the house, stranger; /;
sorry, but You'll have lu 20 on TO Mistress
Pools, the first plantation after you eros,
the fsrd. If YOU hurry you'll get ihcro
before dark" and with this Sam pulled
away at the horses who had slipped their
brides, and were busily cropping the
short, crisp grass, and seemingly not at
all anxious TO resume their journey.
An hours ride brought us to the ford,
and another TO the clearing; here was
log house, and real glass windows with II
veranda in front. Grouped around it
were the negro cabins and outhouocs. The
river wound through the valley, and the
road (it' only bridlc-path could be called
road), followed its sinuous course. Sam
was the first one to notice the geraniums
in the windows.
81 reckon there's somebody here
them jimcracks don't grow of themselves" 4"
| knocked at the door, and presently
heard footsteps as though some one de.
scending from above. The door opened,
and n sweet-faced, sylph-likc girl stood
before me, surprised. My tongue was
nearly p' alyzed, and hut for Sam per-
haps | should have forgotten the question
Of the moment.
We have lost our way, and we have
not rested since this morning. Can YOU
give us nights lodging and something to
eat 7"
81 will ask Mrs. Pool. Walk in, -
and away she tripped, this little brown
fairy in her coarse gray dress.
Yes, tell Hannah 10 cook them some
supper, and wait on them yourself. l
don't like strangers to be mcddcsome."
A fire of pine knots soon threw a bright
light over the little room, and the genial
heat acted as a soporifc, and for the time
| forgot the mill, tho loss OF our way, and
only saw the quaint, little figure as she
drew ont the table and spread the clean
white Lcloth. 1t quite surprised and
touched me. thought of my own little
sisters, and contrasted the advantages
they we're blessed with, and wondered in
my heart what this little wildwood fairy
would make if hedged about with other
surroundings. .
Are you ready for supper 7" And the
voice was low and musical; would
speak TO her -
"Havc you always lived here 7" | ven
tured to remark; sand can you tell me
anything Of Esquire Jones's mill l'
81 have not lived here always, neither
have seen the mill, though / think it is
only few miles from this, directly up
the river" And her cheek flushed. G
/" You have not always lived here !,
from what part OF tho country, may !
ask I" i
My parents were fiom Boston. My
father consumptive. When | was an
infant they came to New Orlenns, health
greatly improved. Two years ago the
doctor advised him to spend summer in
sl5a ~ y..zx av.J - sptsu ..x~.- ,.L c..-l.