National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-04-05
The Pine-Tree House.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

| hui iNu my hol &c diouS lUc ulSilld
country road, anxious to reach a
place of shelter before the threaten.
ed storm should begin in earnest.
Three miles back had passed the
last house the next would be .'The
PineTree House," an old forest Inn,
where was / to pass the night.
That was ten years ago, and of
course l was younger than am now,
and the prospect of spending the
night in questionable locality, had
| all the charm for me which any
thing partaking of the romantic, has
for the mind of youth. | was enga-
ged as a travel ing agent for a min
ing company,-paying dividends,
collecting dues, and extending the
business of the corporation general
ly. | always had more or less mon.
ey IN my possession but | went
we'll armed, and in those days flat
tered myself that at least | was not
a coward. This was in the far West.
where villages are scattering, and
human habitatiOns II e exception
rather than the rule. All day long
| had travelled through ,he excess
i've mud, over the abominable roads
of that section. for the most part
through impenetrable forests, brok
en- only at intervals by the rude
huts of the adventurous settlers.
The Pine Tree House was res
pectablc enough, | had been told at
the last clearing, in reply to my in
quirles ; but it was tumble down
old affair. and was said to be haunt.
ed
a haunted house The very
place | had been hoping for all my
life ! was delighted with the pros
pect of passing night with the
ghosts; and as rode along through
the gloom | amused myself with re
calling All the weird stories | had
heard of lonely travellers murdered at
waysidc lnns-of trap doors lead.
ing to cavcrnous unknown depths,
Of sliding Panels and treacherous
landlords,-when my employment
was interrupted by the gleam of a
bright light through the place a few
rods ahead of me. | was near the
Inn. My weary horse pricked up
his ears, and uttered a whinny of
delight, animated by the prospect of
TODD and shelter. The light shone
from square uncurtained window,
and showed me | was riding up to
the door of a large, low, singularly
built house, singularly lacking in
windows, and guiltless of paint or
shingles. Before the door grew an
immense pine tree, and from its
lowest limb swung with dismal
creak the proverbial weather beat
en- sign, impreSSing the public that
here was rest for man and beast.
The door unclosed as the tramp of
my horse announced my coming !;
and a burly, coarse featured man
appeared. He removed the stump
of pipe from his mouth, and ad.
dressed me in a not uncivil tone of
voice,
- Ruther a droary even, strang-
cr."
"Decidedly," l returned, getting
off the saddle. "Take good care of
my horse, my friend, and let me have
something hot for supper. | have
travelled far, and have sharp ap-
petite"
He pointed to the house with a
jerk of his thumb.
$50 in thar: the old woman will
attend to YOU"
/ Accepting the invitation, | enter
ed what answered tor parlor and
kitchen. a large unfurnished room;
the rafters bare, and strung over
with dried pumpkin, dried apples
herbs, red peppers, to say nothing
of dust and spiders webs.-A huge
replace extended the whole length
of the apaI Itment, in which burned
gloriously pile of logs, the ligh,
making red and cheerful the remot
est corner. In Iickety armchair
before the fire, sat the landlady,-a
thin faced, middle aged woman, will
black eyes an1a light tlaxen hair.
know that poets rave about The
charm attending women whose hail
and eyes are thus "c3cntrasteo o"'
for some reason, it is charm whicl
always repels me. l feel as If M
turc had made mistake, and pu
her work together unskillfully.
| looked round for a cat searcl
| inevitably make when go into {
strange house, for l have a sort o
faith in the house which shelters
cat. No household can be eXactl
as it should be without one of thcs
four footed appendages. But her
there was none. There was no cos,
corner nor nyenient basket wher
one could be hidden, and the win
dow sill was not half wide enoug
for mouse to have summed himscl
letting alone poor puss. l lifted IN
hat to the landlady, who returne
the salutation with sullen boy
/. "Good evening dame," said l. "B
kind enough to give me somethin
y hot for supper. have TASTED sine
nine this morning"
She gave me no reply, but putin
down her knitting, went about pr
paring the meal. Vt was coar
!, enough when 1t WAS ready, but
n n was too hungry to be particula
i Fried eggs and bacon, potatoes, co
= Tread, and rye coffee. ! made
n hearty supper, smoked q cigar, al