Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-30
OUR EXCURSION.

WAYNE, Sept 22d, 1871.
Homeward bound We made our last stop
on the way home, at this pleasant and pretty
village, fronting on the beautiful Androscog-
gin pond, with its groups Of green islands
scattered over its surface, and its many little
capes and indentations. We have found our
excursion an unusually agreeable one, and
have met with as few cross accidents as we
could reasonably expect. The weather was
favorable, for although the nights were frosty,
the days were mostly sunny and pleasant
We were fortunate in our places of entertain
ment. We stopped for night or more at
eight different public houses. and found them
every one such as we should he willing to
visit again. We crossed the AndroscoQgin
river at four places by the quaint but conven-
lent rope ferries, which prevail on that river.
The trees and forests when we left home
wore their summer livery of green, with only
an occasional exception. But before we re-
turned from our brief excursion they had be-
gun to put on their autumnal glores, and the
change became more and more striking from
day to day. Riding along roads skirted with
woods, the sweet scent of ccdars, fir and
pine RECALLED the senses from time to time
The mongrel maple, some ten or fifteen feet
in height, with flowers resembling those of
the maple, was in full bloom. The golden
rod seems to flourish in every soil. The wild
asters, blue and white, adorn the roadside
here and there. The clematis hangs its grace
full festoons on many a shrub along the road.
The moose bush displays its bright red plums
in profusion. The darker colored elderberries
are abundant along by fences and roadsides.
The beech trees are loaded with beech nuts
for the delectation of boys as well as pigs.
The sight or sound of living animals is
very unfrequent in the wilderness. We heard
the songs of birds more frequently than on
former excursions, as we passed along the
forest roads, as though summer still fingered
in these northern regions and the vocal warb
Iers were unwilling to take their annual flight
Even the unmelodious cav of the inevitable
crow testified that winter had not yet made
its approach. The most melancholy sound
heard, was the scream of the loon on the
Rangeley lakes.
We were amused by noticing on the walls
of rough tenement in one of the interior
plantations, where all the household goods |
were apparently accumulated in one room,
Monmouth pictorial handful setting forth in
good set terms, with cuts to match, the enor-
nous burdens of national taxation. Broad !
cloths, silks, gloves and other luxuries were
enumerated, and the heavy taxes assessed up
on them portrayed. Looking at the surround
ings, we were at loss to discover what article
of our good friends scanty possessions was
affected by the taxation, however onerous it !
may be. But doubtless these handbills are not
without their effect.
Our excursion is at an end. We return to |
the routine of every day life. Shall we say
that Cinderella, having danced and ieasted
her hour with the prince, now goes back to
the ashes and toll of the kitchen fireside: Or
that Mahomet, having been transported for a
biief season to the joys Of Paradise, is com |
PEELED to take up once more the drudgery of
mundane existence? Or that the convicAwho |
has escaped for while into the freedom of
the wilderness, is dragged back to the tread |
mill by the relentless officers? Not so. In
the every day scenes and duties of home life |
there are pleasures as well as pains, enjoy
ments as well as labors. And whilst it is we'll
when practicable, to take short vacation
for health and recuperation, every right minded
person will find his main source of happiness
in 'duties well performed and days well
spent" in the sphere where Providence has
placed him.
SENIOR.