Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-06-23

l w. O'SA - SotN WIN tACSS
words "Edgewood Road, Open to the
Public Wednesdays and Saturdays
Now we were ignorant enough OF
that sign board to venture out here
on Friday, and by no possible con-
struction of the language on that sign
board could we make out an invita-
| tion to ourselves to enter in and stare
| upon the authors seclusion. But we
had come too far and waited too
many years for this opportunity to
be diverted by a mere constitutional
objection. So in we went to the
grounds of Edgewood through a russ
tic gate, made simply of cedar rails.
The first thing that attracted our no
lice as peculiar were clumps of ever
greens, half dozen in a place, plant.
ed here and there in the pastures and
enclosed-until they should get their
growth no doubt. The road on which
we we're was smooth, hard way
winding through the tarm so as TO
display it to the best advantage it
was kept in excellent order bcing
free from weeds and tufts Of grass
Finding that it would take us away
from the house and back through the
pastures we turned our steps to the
highway which FED on to the house.
And proceeding along it came to
rustic fence inclosing the garden and
front yard. 1t is constructed in
simple, tasteful manner of cedar poles.
A stone wall, the eastern boundary
OF the garden, comes down to the
rood and forms an abutment which
from the highway resembles a stone
post. But on examining it we OBJ
served a double wall, tightly built,
narrowing in at the top, surmounted
with a smooth white boulder about
as large as q man: 3 head. And that
is all of the device employed to effect
so tasty an appearance. The boul-
der has deep scratches upon its surface
and may possess geologic interest
in addition.
AS we entered the gateways lead
ing to the house, we heard the voices
of children and caught sight of lit
tie curly haired girl of four summers
Fastening toward the house, evident.
ly in high dudgeon and indicating
her personal honor by seeding AS
we doomed in sight the playing ceas-
ed and a little girl and boy of six and
seven, perhaps, respectfully-were
before us, the little girl perfect
flower for beauty and naivete, suita,
bly, apparelled for outdoor exercise,
and the boy, pocket edition of the
original Ike Marvil, clad from chin
to ankle in over-alls. He informed
us of the whereabouts of his sire and
into the garden we proceeded and
discovered The object of our curiosity,
back to us hoe, in hand, leaning over
some bars and not to be distinguish
ed from any ordinary farm laborer.
The noise of our intrusion attracted
his attention and he slowly turned
until he got full view Of the cause
thereof and a momentary smile lit
his countenance, possibly he conceiv.
ed that another batch of legislators
from the rural districts had come out
(the Legislature sits in New Haven
this year and there was nothing in
our appearance to repute such an
idea. He advanced to US and recov-
cred his full dignity on the way, from
which he departed not in the slight
est during the hour of our stay and
questionings 1t became my agree,
able duty to refer him to himself as
the author of our curiosity and such
inconveniencies as he might suffer
thereby, in such language as would
raise a nolc prosequa in bis own.
mind, so far as any objections were
concerned on his part.
Like man of very strong sense,
as indeed every thing about him in
dicates he made neither "reprication,
rebmter" nor Surrebutter" Lancaster
is fortunately full of lawyers for those
who would understand the mysteries
wrapped up in those terms) and the
two of us proceeded to careful sur
vey of the garden, while the elder
held '1ke" in conversation.
The garden is that ola man who
takes the best Horticultural paper
and practices accordingly. Grape
vines in abundance trained to arbors
and to single trellis in the form Of
vertical toasting fork walks around
the garden, wide and edged with box;
the ordinary kinds of garden veget-
ables and fruits, asparagus, beats,
lettuce, strawberries, raspberries in
such state of advancement as the
season would permit, everything rails
ed out of doors, no employment of
money to get forced luxuries. We
circumvented the garden and found
Mr. Mitchell still engaged in CONVEX
sation with the elder Of our company
and quietly chopping his hoe on the
ground. He conducted us around
through the front yard in pretty
walk. close hemmed with shrubs an
der an old pine that was blown over
in the spring winds and lodged in the
lowest branches of fallen tree (he
apologized for it's not being removed,
but it seemed to me SO much in keep
ing WI Tn his rural tastes that L ex~
pressed myself as greatly pleased
with its appearance.) Honey,bees
were buzzing about and by little
looking were observed making their
way to Granny over the front door,
where in due time will be accumulate
ed convenient for use stock of ans
Der sweets. The house itself has the
appearance of bong very old, and is
sadly in need Of paint and also of d
roof. But everything about it has a
quaint, rural look and you are pre-,
| pared to understand not an ordinary
individual has made every peculiar
stone and pebble, and allthe beauti-
full trees and shrubs in the vicinity
contribute to his tastes. The well
curb is q piece OF rustic work; small
balcony is built out from an attic
window OF the ever present cedar
summer houses with matched roofs
invite the perambulator to refresh'