Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-14
MAKING AN OMELETTE,

dined; baby, who had fallen asleep at dessert,
had gone TO bed, and we two-Louise and L
were standing at the open window, looking out
at the sky and humming to ourselves.
INV wife to me.
- see no rainbow, my dear"
So much the more reason for going out TO
look for it,
She left me, and came back hooded, booted,
and giOved. She took my arm with a good firm
hold, leaning close up to me, as If we had Just
met after long separation. OH how glad L
am to get out, Don't you feel how good the air
Let US 60 ever 50 far; t is broad da still
And she merrily urged me on, making great
strides to keep pace with me.
entered the wood. How we loved that dear
wood. At that hour il was silent, damp and
dripping, like the beard of a sea-god. The wet
moss yielded 10 the foot like saturated sponge,
and clear rain drop trembled to its fall on every
leaf of the dropping branches.
You will be very wet, dearest" said to
Louise, stopping as l spoke.
"Oh, 10 matter; have on my thick boots. Do
let US 20 on"
80 We went on. thanked my wife for her
courage that evening, for nothing on earth Is
more beautiful than the forest after rain, espe-
Cially at sunset, when all is silence and peace.
The wind has gone down; the weary rain has
erept back TO its clouds; the birds are falling
asleep and dreaming of dTyness. To me there Is
well-loved charm in feeling really alone, when
there are only two of U.s. and we are arm in arm;
IN viking under the great green arches; in
breathing the keen scent of the moist wood; In
striking my stick against the massive oaks, and
hearing the long, sonOrOus echo from the neigh
boring trees; in stopping short at the cry Of a
breaking twig, at the sound of the drops patter-
ing from leaf to Leaf; in drawing in long breaths
Of the fresh, rain-washed air; in listening with
Ray eyes OF L may use the expression) to the ex-
qulslte harmony of all these shy and subtle
tones The metaphor is 20 true that il has be-
come trite, but 1 do not use il for the sake Of
stTiuging words together.
On hne day, when the sun is near setting,
every thing grows rosy and high-cOlOred, like the
face of handsome girl spinning over the fire.
There Is warmth and viyidness of tone; boon
nature Is thrilled and touched, and we feel that
through the day she has had her share Of love,
and pleasure, and work. The forest Is warm; the
foliage sparkles with diamonds, and rubies, and
emeTalds, and every now and Their on the NOISY
trunks you catch a sudden, startling CLEAN or
gold Then YOU have an orchestra with all its
effects, rich and brilliant harmony, like the
unexpected sight of a royal treasure-chest-like
a cathedral where the loud trumpets burst out
and a whole nation shouts AllelujaI
Rut on a gray day il is quite another thing;
Nature goes TO her bed that night with fearful
eyes and a marked desired TO yawn. The yto-
ihs, dcadened that she may sleep, are at their
lowest and slowest; you can hardly hear their
music IL Is like dream, but so sweet Is its
voice, so exquisite its harmony, that il Is not an
easy thing for the lettering lover of the music OF
the eye TO decide which phase he prefers-the
Isftst yelled IN the gray mantle of twilight, or
The forest dazzling in its golden CLEANS of spen-
a
when gentle little wind passedove us, stirring
the tree-tOps, and they, with sudden shake like
bird from its bath, sent down on Us q shower
OF liquid diamonds.
"Oh, heaven!' cried Louise, stopping dead
short, ''the hOrrid wind, / am soaked"
Ter skirt futtered in the wind, and caught
ST. hi OF two tiny boots firmly planted close to-
Perfectly soaked" she repeated, my hood
was pushed back. and have deluge down my
neck-a whole river"
asNhnrR Aaa- xrha
Where? just in the middle OF my throat, 1
s3y-in the little place"
She looked at me, ard we laughed. 1t was
there i Away kissed her. Habits are easily
formed, even in youth.
brushed OF the rain, readjusted her hood.
and when She was comfortable again she said
with smile: "YOu are very nice"
rather think kissed her. And in high good
humOr we danced over the fern, she leaning on
my arm; then, as We came into the sonorous ST.
Ienee Of the high growth, she suddenly broke
out, to the tune of the "Marseillaise,S into a
foolish little song of her own invention about a
wicked husband who did not move at all, at AL,
at all She looked so mischieyous as she hurried
on. singing, and smiling, and showing her pretty
white teeth, that began 10 sing with her. We
behaved like children; we knew IL, and We liked
All at once we came to a place which might
have been a quagmire, a dried-up marsh, or q
wOTked-Out qUarry-I don't know which; but the
and gnarled roots looked angrily out from the
bries!
:" Are you sure we shant lose our way?" said
Louise, looking At me.
oh no, dearest"
"And il we are lost, what will that poor little
fellow, asleep in his cradle this minute, say to-
morrow? Shall We go back Say, shall We go
back -
:. But We are only twenty minutes from home,
rot more"
- Yes. YES, travellers who are lost in the woods
always think they are only twenty minutes from
home. j don't like those ugly twisted trees;
there must be crowds Of animals living in those
roots She shuddered, and, STOPPING forward
To listen, said: There, do you hear? Don't
You hear those heavy blows? Hush, hush
heavy, heavy blows At this hour, in the forest
what can it be? The sun is setting; shan't We
listened, and did indeed hear duh sound.
the cause OF which was easy TO guess / could
have told her at once, but liked too well 20 see
her as she stood, serious and bent TO listen, her
EVs parted, and her eyes fixed on mine; IL gave
me too much pleasure TO have her clnginy to
me in her fright, and IN my egotism answered,
do hear heavy blows Let Us 60 see what it is;
il can't be far"
- Go there Dear George, you are mad" She
threw her arms around me, and rising herself To
my ear, almost whispered: O. am frightened;
come away, please-please come away
What little coward Jon are! Didn't you
in the clearing?"
{" And you expect me to believe in your wood
cutters? What are they doing, pray?'
Z" They are cutting mp oak logs TO make slaves
for barrels; that's the whole OF the mystery"
- Are you quite sure? '
s'Nes, dear"
=" Are woOdcutters good people"
" Particularly these; i know them well. Let
Is 20 and see them: il won't take three min
ufes."
She consented to follow me, tagging q Ii tie
behind. In another minus or two We were in
the most picturesque Of spots. Before MS were
two or three cabins like the wigwams on the
sbOres Of Lake Ontario, described in Cooper's
novels, consisting Of pile Of boards and trunks
Df trees, blackened, moes-grown, damp and
lark, topped by q white chimney, whenSe Q
leather OF blue smoke escaped into the green
fault above US Around this settlement wore
Isaps of logs, mountains Of chips, pyramids OF
iellOwish-red planks, and, on line stretched
rom tree 20 tree, few clothes making believe
% dry. TLo ground next the huo wss troddea
lOwn. and at a little low door An old woman was
eeding q dozen chickens.
- Good evening, sir-good evening, madame"
aid the old woman, as we approached Wont
Ou come in and warm yourselves little? Its
,Tetty fresh this evening"
Louise was looking ~ everything as she would
ave looked at a successful stage effect We
vent in.
The inside was worthy OF the outside. The
tut was Of irregular shape, full OF chinks and
OTners; in the middle, ON the ground, blazed
magnificent fire, the fireplace being Indicated by |
our iron bars. which kept the burning brands in |
heir place. There was a hole In the roof, As In |
he imPluvium Of a Roman house, and the flames |
aaTfd high. beVOnd the Opening. thrOuOh a