Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-08-01
! sAsHTABUbA, OHIO; SATURDAY, AUGUST + 1868,

ride of twelve miles is an excellent way
to create an appetite so we cast about
us at once for a good place to kindle a
fire. A hollow stump was found, and a
fire was soon leaping in little flames un-
der the ooffee-pot, which sent out fasci-
mating hints of its contents.
After dinner the ''men folks" betook
themselves to the beach to bathe, while
we lounged under the trees and looked
over the sparkling water. There were
plenty of sails IN sight now. Little plea
sure boats, with their tiny white sails,
stood out a mile or so from the shore,
and with our spy-glass we conld see the
waves lappiug against their Sides A
stately thrce-mast vessel sailed along the
horizon, like a shadow in dream; while
small schooner was leaving, and an
other about to enter the harbor.
Looking out upon the lovely scene,
my thoughts went back to the time when
five long years ago, sat upon the eray
pier and watched the sails, as | was
watching them to-day. Beside me sat a
dear brother, and we talked of the cruel
war, and of how happy we would all be
when it was over. Peace came but he
rejoiced over it in heaven; and today,
he, with his pure heart and clean hands,
sits beside the river which is ''clear rs
crystal" while we, with the sad, lonely
feeling ever in our hearts, watch the sails
drift by, and murmur to ourselves
''And the stately ships go on fi
To their haven under the hill:
But. oh, for the touch of vanished hand,
And the sound Of voice that is still. l ai
One eontd dream away days on the
lake ShOre'if it was always so pleasant,
for the sound of the waves call back
memories of the past, and of those who
belong to the past. 3,
l was roused 'front.' my revery by Ii e
appearance of the bathing party. They
informed us where to find natural
dressing room, followed out OF the bank
by the water. So we got our bathing
dresses and scrambled down to the beach.
/ think if the descent had been much
longer our courage would have forsaken
us quite. There was so much water that
a near view Of it was appalling. But
the timidly expressed fears of some were
promptly met by those who had only
sufficient courage left to talk bravcly.
Finally we were equipped, and by de-
grccs vcntured in, and after tumultuous
retreats shoreward, we became so well
acquainted with waves that we went out
until the warm water went rocking in
around our shoulders, and then we would
float in with the waves. The ground
slopes so gradually that we could have
gone out fifty feet without getting be-
yond our depth. But we found the wa
ter had a very unceremonious way of
pouring into ones mouth nose and ears
One of the little boys afterward exc
cuted for my benefit a sort of war dance
on one toe, which he assured me would
remove the water; but as / was not a
little boy, | found it impossible to imi-
tate him with any degree of success, and
had to bear with pPtience-whenever
| attempted to cat-a sound i'll nv head,
very much like what wonld bc produced
by pounding on barrel. We were very
reluctant to exchange our bathing dres-
scs for dry clothes, but with the remeIn-
bered prophecies of sun-burnt faces, that
were 10 oe our portion ii we stayed III
too long, we finally did. And after a.
gain attacking our lunch basket, we pack
ed away our things and started home
ward. Our road lay along the shore for
some distance, and the farms by which
we passed gave great promise of an a
bundant harvest, in grass, grain and fruit.
After leaving Fort Hill we could only
catch Din occasional glimpse of blue wa
ter shining through the trees, and we
were soon i'll the pretty little village o.
Ashtabula. ali l.gr
1t seems strange that the lake shore is
not more favorite summer resort than
it is. Itis SO easy of access, aud, with
its continual breezes, would be SO invit-f
ing to the inmates of warm dusty cities.
We. drove into Jefferson about sunset,
tired and dusty, but feeling well'paid by
the pleasant day we had spent. A. 7. II.