The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-28
beautiful vineyards be turned to better

account?
Returning to the hotel, we found our
selves there just in time for dinner. After
that meal was finished we sat under the
trees and watched a game Of leap frog.
The Spring is the principal point of in
terest to some visitors. 1t bubbles near the
hotel, flowing through leaden pipe and
falling on stone floor beneath. We lifted
a glass of the water to our lips but our
nasal organs were SO much offended by the
unpleasant odor, that we refused to drink
the smallest quantity, and wondered how
some of the boarders could take six or seven
glasses day and like it as they say they
do. About half past FOUR when the sun
had seemingly settled his round, yellow
face in the tops of the trees, on the western
hills; we rowed out on the lake to troll for
fish. The lake abounds in salmon, trout,
pickerel, bass, perch and white fish; but
they would not bite for us, so giving up in
despair we drew in our long lines and row.
ed to the shady side of the lake. Here the
prize being cheers from the gentlemen on
the shore. Though half-smothered with
suppressed laughter they rowed right brave
ly. One of Bath dark eyed beauties came
out ahead Returning to the hotel We had
supper,-then stroll on the beach and to
wind up the pleasant day, dance in the
parlors in which some of the boarders
joined.
The "iStenton " came back from Ham,
mondsport for us. We left with hearty
cheer from the boarders grouped on the
verandahs and gave them song in return.
The boat crept along through the waters,
as though the pilot did not know the way
and the surrounding hills had weird
effect in dim starlight, for the moon did not
rise until we reached Hammondsport, where
we found our carriages awaiting us. Tired
and sleepy as all the party were, we could
not help enjoying the serene beauty of the
nioht, When the moon at last rose per-
fectly round, and so bright as to make
every object for miles visible, the effect was
grand and cannot be described in words.
Many years will have to roll into the
scroll of the past ere we forget our excur-
sion to "Grove Spring one Of the pleas
ATTEST of the many pleasant days our young
life has experienced.
"Mossy Banks" is beautiful spot on
one of the surrounding hills. Yesterday
a party of young ladies-twelve in number
had little picnic on romantic looking
bridge thrown over a wild ravine that
points to "Mossy Bank" We called our
selves the strong minded clique; for the gen.
tlemen were not allowed to accompany us.
After long walk over rocks and ridges,
we reached the bridge. 1t is one of the love-
Hest retreats, it has ever been our good
fortune to see. Here we gathered and
pressed beautiful ferns and the delicate
wild maiden's hair, and trimmed our hair
and hats with the scarlet strawberries
that clothe the hills with little lines of
flame. After our dinner of sandwiches,
cake and fruit, with water from the spring,
started for Messy Bank; the others had
been there, and dreaded the long walk
The distance was two miles, up hill nearly
all the way. Now and then we would sit
down on some lichen-covered rock to rest,
aud after timing ourselves FIVE minutes,
resume our way. On every side of the mar
now grass-covered road stretched the dim
aisles of the forrest and when we stood
still with bated breath, not sound could
be heard save the chirp Of of bird and
the whisper of the wind through the pines.
Messy Bank we'll deserves its name. For
hundreds of yards stretched one continuous
mass of rich, green moss, in which the foot
sank as it would in Turkish carpet.
With many wild oh. and ah! how love-
w. exquisite and ETC., we seated ourselves
in the rustic seats founded for visitors, to
take in the grand view. One could not do
it at once. For miles beneath us stretch
ed the beautiful valley of the Conhocten.
The river itself looked like band of silver
winding through the green meadows. in
which stood some cows, appearing about as
large as sheep. The town looked like a
group of little toy houses we have seen in
childrens' play gardens, and it seemed as
though we could almost pick up some of
the buildings in our hands. Whilst sitting
there the cars came along through the val
ley and we could follow them with the eye
to Kanva, little village six or seven miles
from Bath. Sitting there with one of ma
lures most exquisite pictures before us we
wondered how any one could doubt the
creed that sets forth Gods attributs in the
highest degree. Could deist stand there
and afterwards doubt the Creative Hand
that reared these hills, penciled the clouds
above them aud sprinkled the charming
valley beneath with SO beautiful a growth
of trees and waving heritage.
At Messy Bank the rocks iut out very
abruptly in some place and the greyish
white stones peeping out from the beds of
green moss and darker lichen has very
beautiful effect. One of our companions,
gay, sweet girl, but rather reckless stood
on the edge of one of these and dropped a
heavy stone down. 1t went crashing
through the intervening trees and touched
bot tom in t,eelrc seconds.
This high hill would make an excellent
eyre. Indeed, several large birds flew
above our heads, but we were not far
enough advanced in ornithology to certain
ly call them eagles. Returning to our
companions we rested awhile on the rustic
bridge, took last drink from the gurgling
spring and then slowly walked homewards
the sun dipping behind the hills in bed
of crimson, ending another delightful day
spent amid the hills of Steuben County,
Now York. MARYDEL.
IMPORTANCE OF READING.-No matter
how obscure the position in life of an in
dividual, if he can read, he may at will put
| himself in the best society the world has
ever seen. He may converse with all the
best writers in prose and poetry.-He may
learn how to live, how to avoid the errors
of his predecessors, and to secure blessings,