Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-05
OCT IN THE COUNTR \.
WELD, Oct. !, 1870.


wrote this morning from Livermore Falls.
After taking a ramble through that pleasant
village, we started up the Androscoggin river.
Whoever has travelled on The banks of this
romantic and picturesque stream, as we have,
from time TO time, from Lewiston to Berlin
Falls, and to Evrol Dam in New Hampshire,
has seen some of the finest and most interesting
scenery in the country. AS we rode along its
margin this morning, its waters tumbled and
roared over its rocky bed, not in the full power
and majesty of spring flood. but all the more
noisy because its stream was shallow. On
the opposite shore, the autumnal forests were
clothed in the richest and most glowing hues
of the season. We passed many fine farms
and pretty residences, on our road, and sew
eral small but growing villages. Jay Hill,
North Jay and East Dixfeld were scattered
along the route. After leaving the Andres
coggin, we followed up a stream which is one
of its tributaries, flowing through valley en-
vironed on all sides by an amphitheatre of
beautiful rounded hills, some cleared and cul-
tivated to their submits, and others crowned
with their native forest trees
The rain of last evening had laid the dust
in the highways, and washed and freshened
the grass and shrubbery along our path. AL
though the sun did not shine in full meridian
splendor, the clouds were not dark or
gloomy. The air was sweet and fresh, and
just of that temperature when you neither
wish for it to be cooler or warmer. We en-
joyed our ride thoroughly, and only wished
for few mere friends to enjoy it with us.
The pure pleasures of nature are not selfish
in their character. Instead of losing any part
of our enjoyment by the participation of 9TH
ers, it is enhanced thereby, as solitude is said
to be sweeter, when we have companion to
whom we can say, ''How sweet is solitude"
The country grew wilder and less inhabited
as we went on. Our road lay through Car
thage, though not the one of which the IA
nous Roman Senator used to declare, at the
close of every speech, "Delenda est Carthago"
Carthage must be destroyed This modern
Carthage is one which Hannibal never
dreamed OF. Its rocky Businesses and noun
tain barriers would defy the best disciplined
legons of all-conquering Rome; but its peace
full jewellers would never have inspired terror
in the patrician fathers of the old republic by
sending armies to invade the Eternal City.
Shut in amongst mountains and primeval for
ests, it is yet not destitute of good farms and
pretty farm houses and ample barns. We
saw fine specimens of the Baldwin and Green
ing apple by the side of our road, and whole
acres of yellow pumpkins.
Farther on, we passed into the forest itself
skirting both sides of the way for miles at
stretch. How sweet and fragrant is the air
loaded with the aroma of the pine the fir, the
cedar, and all the various trees and shrubs of
the forest. The combined scent of the trees.
shrubs and Towering plants is delicious to the
sense. We have seen to-day less of the blue
aster and the golden rod than usual in roads
through the wilderness But the wild clematis
has hung its graceful festoons along each side
of our way, wherever it could find convenient
support. The forest trees have been of al
most every kind and the foliage of every hue.
The naples still wear their gala attire, and
the sumacs strive to rival them in their glow
ing tints, careless that they both may blush
unseen, and waste their sweetness on the
desert air." The evergreens adhere with UNI
swerving constancy to their native verdure,
regardless of changes in season or surround
ings. The groves of slender white birch, of
which there are many in this region, cothe
their foliage in no gaudy dyes to set off their
modest white dress of both summer and winter
wear.
Our road was mostly smooth and much