National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-09-24
DFJttng Uith the Ijdc.
BY EDITH LEE.

The river flowed smoothly and
peacefully along. Over mountain,
hill side and tree, the struggling rays
of a Summer sunset poured their
last tintS, and cheered into song the
woodland warblerS fitting from
bough to hough. Here, Nature was
rugged. but grand. rhe mountains
were lofty and majestic, and raising
their broad fonts on either side,
cradlcd the flowing river, and hush
ed it into noiselcss slumbcr. The
SunbeamS went slanting down the
hill.SideS, ,imparting their own bright
colored tints to the clinging moss,
and glancing in and out the gay ioll
age; then falling upon the river,
made long tracks of rosy light,
whose bright courSingS were intent
~ watched by one occupant of a
pretty little boat that was drifting
with the tide. Philip Randolph
dropped tie oars, and followed i'll its
course the circling light. lie was
wondering what the angclof dreams
was whispering to the quiet stream !;
foi if ever river slept, this one was
slumbering now. Over its surface,
the winds chanted Il sweet lullaby,
and the strong mountains folded IT
in their strong arms, and all was
still.
A quaint little boat it was, and n
| quaint little maiden she, who sat at
one end, with head bowed down on
! her hand. \ rustic hat shaded her
face. from beneath which the soft
brown curls fell in GRACEFUL ncgli-
gcncc. Her only beauty was a pair
of hazel eyes, both roguiSh and
sparkling; but when word Of love
would call into.bcing the most beau
! tful bushes and the mcrrcst dim.
pies, YOU would travel far before
/ finding a swectcr or gcntIcr face.
SO thought Philip Randolph.
OF what was She so Stcadfastly
thinking, on this bright Summer
cvcning,whe all madcnhood should
he merry and gay? Perhaps, like
| the river, she was dreaming of the
one bright SKY the waters of her
heart reflected. But her dreams
were not pcacciIli; and. raising her
head with a sigh, she glanced at he,
companion. Very grave and earn.
est was his look as he asked the
question, "Nettic, what is your de.
ciSion ~ Again her head dropped
down on her hand. with the answer :
"IIush let me think"
Wcighty and momcntouS thoughts
were they that filed that pretty
head: her whole life rose up before
hcr-scencs changing and shifting
like the pictures in a Kaleidoscope.
Philip Randolph and she had grown
up from childhood togc' her, under
the guardianship of Philips father
How well she remembered the old
red school house, where both had
gone day after day to receive knowl
edge the snow covered hill, up and
down which Philip had drawn her
on his sled, and made her checks
glow like roses when hc would stout
~ refuse any rival the honor Of do
ing likewise. Her first ride on cod
Whitley" she standing on the farm
yard gate and springing into the
saddle, and Philip leading the dcat
old horse then, when she could gal.
lop and leap ditclcs, he had brought
home the prclticst Of ponies to bc
all her very own aitcrward, their
separation; she being sent to board.
ing-school and hc to college. All
the homesickness Of that drcary
night came bacl, TO her now. and
Nettic's tears flowed down her checks
~ the very remembrance. How
Madame a -------frowncd when u