Middletown transcript., 1868-11-28
sr.mory,s stersossope.
Wransn .tar tAe Middlslown 1tan.eriip
nY RAYpoM

Written for TIE Middlstown Transcripts
By RANDOM.
Half sunk in the earth, beside the riv-
uiet, the old mill clatters with its huge
wheels and noisy s.boltcloths," the spray
rolling at each revolution of the ttover-
shot" and scintillating in the gilded beams
Of the rising sun. sa
As Of yesterday, the auburn-bearded
miller stands in the doorway, fun and frol-
ic dancing from his blue eye, and marvel
lous stories coming in his fertile mind
The wooded heights tower well nigh oves'
the moss grown roof, so near that che
lenghthened shadows of the old 1Aks cool
the fever-heat of the sultry LILY days, as
A. the hours wane, and the aetattering bark
Of the grey squirrel son be heard from the
hickory boughs1where he hides his winter
stores, ag.s Sports up and down the gnarled
tree t.1a1ks.a 4sffs affs- Ttssirf7
The big pond, scarce rufled by the
:s1ight summer zephyrs, parts in foamy
streaks before the white breast of a wild
duck that disappears at intervals, chasing
- the silyer-fnned minnows, rolling the min
Il ature waves shoreward, contrasting strong
ly with the verual foliage Of the thick
A fsh-hawk piercingly cries as he how
ers Ger the limped waters, in alright at
s the bold position Of bald-eagle, whose
outlook station ho decries on tall tree
top. kaE 1AaH
atA Weeping willows hang their graceful
pendants as if won't to hedge the turbid
waters of the "gate-hole," shading the
branch pickerel, who steps to the sur
face-light, TO peep at the golden herald Of
day. 2z's 'a' ss* esse 1.it aA'a
q And the bright dew-bead on the bramble lies
Like liquid rapture, upon beauty S eyes"
Sloping towards the race, lies a campus,
carpeted by infnity, spangled with violets
and gilded by dandelions, trod by the
white hoofs of the old grey, whose mouth
crushes the natural grasses lusciously, and
whose sleek coat is dappled by good cheer,
and kindly usage. A brace of geese
"A graceful as swans, cut hyerogliphics on
the smooth surface of the water, joy-
ing in their hygenie. and gutturally talk
- ing Of Greece and Marathon. ~ - s
Lion, tawny bulldog, rolls his great
eyes in the gateway, cycling the patient
checked daughter plies he crochet needle
= = U6UeHbu
- cal ditty, tuning her voice to the sound Of
feathered melody above her. sss +
"A bevy Of young lasses gleefully lave
their snowy feet in the cooling stream from
off the milk house log, and their dark eyes
dance as the water-drops fall, like orient
peayls back to join the bubbling tide. A
water-snake thrusts his head from the
inf<rstices Of the rotting log, licking
out his 6ery tongue, subtle as the tempter
III Eden, marring the calmness of the
scene by his poisonous respirations. A
long-billed woodcock, with sober coat, sits
in more sober mood on the lower side,
wondering with staring eyes, stretched at
~ the bright glare Of day, while negro,
# black as -Ercbus, wipes the salt. grimy
gAes sweet from q midnight countenance, as he
casts o line to tempt the studying sunfish
The lazy farm-boy, with legs astrids
the seat Of his mill-wagon, stretches hi
q good naturod mouth as old Dobbin stamps
wicked defiance at the green headed sheep
flies, who, Unsuitable blood-suckers, sting
his shining coat. In the distance the eye
~ djscerns the cavernous abode of goblins
and 4 wclrd-lik glamour hedges the sunk
n en- money -pits, mounds of earth upheavet
by crednlous ones ,--dream believers, VIII
sielscd for Kidd's money with mystic cir
a.. ola, and hazel wand. s. :, ,ss.,,s,
Shifting the lights, new scenery greet
the vision the moss-coyered roof an
s.eternal hills are the same, but thei
II SUBMITS are no longer wooded. The mil
ler met death suddenly, and the old mas
~. ter 4 placid face is forgotten in the whirl
ing eddies Of busy life, while the youn
hearts who saw the domes and minarets 9
fancy tower beside the bubbling streams
X haye gone ont to joy and sorrow with th
Merld; others breast the storm and hurr
cane Of night in the vigils on the old mil
3. d m and commune in loneliness at theros
of the waterfall and the splashing ofspraJ
Time's progressive stride has slevelled tt
live monuments Of grand forest, and tn
hunters rifle swept the game from hill an
coppice. The red Indians pathway whic
marked the sleeps and meandered in th
valley. is now 1uxuriant, with golde
harvest. and the finny tribe 50 sparse thl
the sportsman angles in disgust but
wider and Ear more glorious beaut
abounds Ia cultivated fields, while I'll
same arch Of Heaven, 'old, but ever new,
spans the whole.
There is no fortune so good but that
NAV be reversed, and none SO bad as