New-York tribune., 1870-08-13
SUMMER LETTERS.

FARMER AND HIS WIFE THE FREsHETs OF
THE GALE RIVER.
BETHLEHEM, n. H., July 25.-Day after day
the scorchng which is killing its thousands
and tens Of thousands in the cities paes the blue OF the
mountain skies and parches and whtens the mountain
slopes But 1t only makes the days beautiful the
hot gray haze extends and muples and the distance
soens the sharp outlines OF bare hills melts them into
air, and clothes them with something genter tnan
verdure. We have grown so wonted to the clear oiou
less domes heads, that we feel almost 'no
right TO it as to tent whose tint and texture VIC n
ordered for Summer we take no account VI s.
in planning for pleasure has passed utoi ou 'ou
that It can be anything but sunny and nj ior oui
ing And all the time, feel quietly conscious '"" W
ought TO wish for rain, nay, pray for H. Pi"'0i
avail For on all sides Of us, fire is burning up INC
woods by day cloudy pillars mark lts cfuei pa'n' anu
at niebt mooking semblances OF watchhres In lonely
bolIows and on hIlsdes whore no human foot
goes to carry help. 1t is almost Ike Sec
ing martyrs burnt at the STAKE
soe here and there lonely tree standing
erect oharred black, while tongues of slow
flame wreathed and climbed around it, Sometimes we
see fallen full length along the roadside, with the
branches stretching the track Of wheels as If in
vain appeal for aid Just the other side Of the road per-
hsps wild, stony river rushing by pitilessy In the
woods myrads OF sweet things silently dying 1t is
almost than loving the woods can bear TO walk
through them. II is like going through great hospital
and finding friends every ward The springs are drying
up everywhere. Hour by hour the stream which comes
tricklng into the big pine tank in our house grows
smaller 1t used to hurry in with noise, and ttook
skill and fll tumbler under 1t without gettinga
shower OF spray; but now it takes patience TO wait till
the tumbler is full Grain is shrivelng up vegetables
stand stock s in thirsty dismay and the farmers look
moro and more anxious every night. II this sunny,
coudess beautiful weather lasts week longer, there
will great loss and real distress but spite of know
ing this jump geefuly into the wagons, and drive
of every day to south west north, to climb
hills explore valleys, and enjoy old and new views
Yesterday it was a hill eight miles to the west OF
Bethlehem which climbed; not very high one.
II would quite to drive by and not observe it, 1t
did not take more than minutes to climb to its top,
and yet its situation such that it commanded full
view OF the FrancOnia range and Of the White Mountains
and the Lisbon and Landau valleys The view was so
wide that studying it long brought sense Of wearness,
and glad to rest eyes by looking through
pocket microscope at the hierogyph hchens on the
rocks At last warned by the brilliant sunset sentines
we reluctantly and slowly left the hill The farmer near
whose house had tied horses came out ostensby
TO helm us but really to have few minutes talk and
bring himself into communion with that outer and
buster world which represented to his imagination
"Did we not want a drinkP The water in his well
was reckoned leete the water in all FTancony"
OF course we all politely thirsty. Crossing the
threshold Of his Kitchen were met by such overflow
ing hospitality even in these hospitable mountain
farm-houses is not often found Keen and eager and
could help thinking what deprivation there must be
to a woman Of such temperament in solitary life
oyerowed at the bare sight and sound of friendly
faces and voices.
"Yes, this is a dreadful pooty place; but it's lone
some. NOwI tell you; il I wa MT fur my folks comm up
Summers 10 STAY I seems ter me we shd Jest git dumbs
the critters Ny uncle he's broker in Boston, m he
m his wife, they're comm next week, n L e1peck
they'll stay nigh ter all Summer. If 7 wa MT fur
that we Ish'd take folks" Take folks" in mountain
dialect means keep bOardersl LAS Summer we'd two,
n his wife; he was dreadful scky; the doctor
at tetOn he sent him up here, m jest orter seen
him when he went away; he was as spry g anybod
But we KEEP 'em fust rate; we've plenty Of chcngs n
eggs We don csl1ate to make much of folks we didn't
ask but 81 for the two on 'em; b'eye that was II;
We Thought that d ikiver what they ct m little more.
I've ben maxim some rag carpet and shouldn't wonder
ef may be you'd like TO it; du think it's about
the hansumest pattern m I've got forty yards
on it," all the while leading the way into the sitting
room where it lay in huge roll on the floor.
up end and shook out long yards OF II as
dexterously as If had been salesman in Broadway
shop 1t really and pretty carpet far pleas
anter the eye than the average carpet on city floors
dyed every one Of them air coors myself said she,
with still greater pride and glow in her tone, as she saw
that we admired and appreciated the carpet Green,
blue scarlet crimson purple, and brown-a were there
woven into sort Of weird, irregular ehene pattern,
much more effective than the blocks and stripes OF
ordinary rag carpets "Pve got some down in the din
ef q Ike 10 see now IL
so we followed on into the dining-room and admired
again. "Now, would MT you like TO see Gurus flower
yny son sent me from the Rocky MOuntainsf He's ben
N Californy two years, my son has N he says we
domino anything about flowers here; m donno's he'll
ever come back again long Is he lives He was allus
dreadful fond OF flowers when he the httlest
mite of fellow 1t did MT make no differ
,ence TO him ef It mayweed n var
row right out o. the road, he'd set m play
all day with anything that yer could much g call
flower"
All the mother was her lips and in her eyes as she
brought out Of those indescribabe conglomerate
shell and velvet boxes held dear in country hearts,
standing in post Of under looking glasses best
bureaus Its contents seemed to be almost mixed as
the ballast Of boys pocket but in compartment all
alone by ITSELF carefully folded in bit of newspaper
was the precious Rocky Mountain flower 1t looked ike
species Of eOnpolrulus, long and trumpetshaped, Of
satin smoothness and gray color We had none OF us
seen it before and this deepened her already aeetonate
reverence for IT, She handled it tenderly mothers
handle things which belong to lost children, and
looked at little gray flower, could not help wonder
ing IL not somehow vitalzed into an immortality
kindred the love which gave, and the love which cher
ished It.
was not easy TO escape from this good hospitable 10
ouaeous soul but at last had and admired and
listened as long could it was positively necessary
TO 20 toward home. But where were the
bOysf Sharp, authoritative calls brought them,
lingering and reluctant from the kitchen, one with
huge piece Of apple pie in his hand, another with quar-
ter OF rz cake" Even now the hospitable instincts OF
the house were not satisfied "YOud better stop n eat
few cherries; here's all these trees fuller know
what to do with"
Who could restrain boys under such suggestion as
thsi In twinklng apple pie and riz cake" we're laid
on wagon seats for home consumption and the boys
In the trees eating away like robins.
"Ob, indeed shall get home Pray, do not
give anything more, cried, but the farmer said,