Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-07-12


with no thoughts of making hay, as the pro-
verb advises
The latter part Of the way to Wampanoose
pond was through a grass grown wood-road, |
so narrow that the trees met over it, and
sumac and blackberry bushes brushed against
the carriage peering in as if curious to see
these oddities called human beings who had
thus rudely invaded their solitude Each
side opened long COOL green vistas into the
heart Of the forest Once they stopped to
listen to the far-of, plaiutiye song Of wood
thrush without pang Of remembrance for
the time when he and love were young, and
Mollie was beside him, and il was summer.
Mollie picked green leaves and trimmed
Dicks hat Dick leaned lazily back in the
carriage. watching Mollic. The rens hung
loosely in his hand. He felt in no special
hurry to reach the picnic ground. Dandy,
taking advantage Of his masters mood, made
an object Of himself by trotting along with
great punches Of leaves hanging out of his
mouth, leaves snatchcd each side from the too
inquisitive bushes Presently they caught
gimpscs Of water through the trees on the
left. Then came a turn in the road, an abrupt
pitch, aud they were on the banks Of Wampa.
moose pond, with two or three picnicers od-
yancing out Of the woods TO meet them.
" | wonder who that is with Kitty Cook
said Molle Isn't he handsome ?"
Ye-es" said Dick, with an instructive
feeling Of dislike for the too good looking
stranger, who was gazing at Molle with OBJ
yious admiration. Kitty performed the cere-
mony Of introduction My cousin, Mr.
Dawless, Miss Brown. Mr. Beman Mr.. Daw-
less" and Mr.. Dawess having bowed pro-
foundly to Miss Brown, careessy to Mr.. Be-
man, proceeded to appropriate the young lady
and walk of with her, leaving Dick to follow
with Kitty Cook, as best he might lie i'm
proved the opportunity to ascertain that this
Mr.. Dawless was a member Of the junior class
at Harvard, come to spend such part Of his
summer vacation as he found agreeable with
his Uncle Cook in Craggville.
He has studied so hard' explained Kit.
ty, " that he has injured his health, so he
thought instead of going homo to the city, he
would try our country air, fishing, etc. I'm
delighted to have him here, he is such good
r company. | am sure you will like him" Dick
thought Just the contrary, but politely re-
Trained from saying SO. What a world thi,
would be- by the by, if we all said exactly
what we thought
If Wampanoose pond had only been LAX,
Anything in Switzerland, plenty Of Amerl
cans would have been miserable until the,
could have crossed the sea to visit it, an'
write home super-adiectived letters to all tn
= newspapers about its exquisite scenery. A
q it was, it reposed the year round in primitiy
loneliness, save when an occasional pic-ni
party came as now, TO wake, with laugh an
/ song, the echoes Of its woodland solitude.
lay at the foot of broken, rocky range O
mountains whose pine crested crags wer
a wildly imaged in its clear waters. OF cours
a it had no bottom, and was popularity suppose
- to be haunted by the spirit Of old Nampa
:, moose, the Indian from whom its name wa
> derived. Then there was a tradition of bear
!. and rattle.snakcs, just remote enough to Civ
n the zest Of possible adventures TO rambling
:, in its vicinity. In short, it was romanti,
" beautiful, cool the place Of places to spen
a summers day.
=, But, as far as Dick was concerned,
might as well have been the desert Of Sahar
"A When the whole company went to see Il
a cave of old Wampanoose, it was Dawless wi
gallantly helped Molie over the fallen tre
aud up the rocks, Dawless who quieted h
alarms at supposititious bears, Dawless's bu
4 ton hole that was adorned with a little bo
y. quet of hare bells and hemlock twigs, pick
by Mollie's hands. When, seated aroul
their table cloth spread on the ground, a
,t fciency in plates was discovered, so Moll
:; and Dawess shared one very costly. Y,
get 40 well acquainted at picnics and tn
Il Dawless was so jolly, sang such roaring &C
-. lege songs, told such comic stories, every o
10 was delighted with him. lie was voted
,s great acquisition, and more than one 9
ma secretly envied Molie his attentions.
| As for Dick, who had only heart tend
and true to oppose to his all conqueri
ira hero's numerous destinations, he grew gu
he mer aud GUNNER. When the sun shot
oss sunset rays down through the western tire
Ike and the recesses of the woods already beg
mr. TO grow dim and mysterious with darkue
mn and the air damp and fragrant, Mollie cal
70. to Dick and said, " Shall you care, Dick, il
II go home in the big wagon ? It's so mu
en Joiner' anu N'''y OooN says suo "''' o'''
lor vs." ., ~.
tu. Certainly not yeraeiousy replied Di
Ter who had been lotting for days on
IT'S twilight drive home with Mollie. Then,
is Mollie was rushing OIL IN her usual impuls
Nj. way, Here's your shawl, Mollie. Dc
on. forget to put it on going home. Where's y
basket|
~.