Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-07
A PHOTOGRAPHERS LOVE
STORY.

have grown tired of photography, partly
because my fingers were continually black,
partly because people who meant to praise
me always said my results we're very good
for the work of an amateur; but some years
ago was wild about it. My mania was to
photograph bits of scenery and ruins which
had never been focused before and in seek
ing to indulge it, l was perpetually getting
away into corners. The cornerest corner l
ever explored in these rambles was in the
west Of England. The widest parts Of Scot
land, Ireland and Wales have tourist.taint
about them Shiny touts and ciceroni have
crawled over their surface with snail-like per-
severance and stolidity, and left traces.
But no one has ever written a handbook OF
Dowd no one would buy it if he did.
Dowd has no scenery in particular, no water
fall, no antiquities of historical or philosoph-
ical interest. There was ruin, indeed but
commonplace impecuniosity, not romantic
war nor mysterious haunting, had caused IFS
decay, and, what was more, fellow lived in
it,-not smuggler nor coiner, either, but
the rightful owner.
l should not have found that out, if it had
not been for thunderstorm. was hard
at work with my apparatus and imagination,
-" Ruin near Dowd, West Front :" " Ruin
near Dowd, supposed remains of Keep" etc.,
when the sky became 50 black that you
would have thought it was going to ram ink,
and the first electric gun was fired. Now,
Dowd, a village consisting of farm, few
laborers' cottages, forge and small beer
shop not licensed to sell spirits, was quite
four miles off. l had my knapsack, and
some bread and cheese with me so it was
perfectly indifferent where passed the day
or the night, so long as l got shelter. Part
of the roof seemed to be in good repair so
| struck my camera and little tent at once,
and commenced an exploration of the interior
as the first drops began to make their half
crown.sized splashes. After penetrating the
dilapidated outer walls, l ought to have seen
that the kernel of the place was in more
habitabe condition for there had been an
attempt at cultivating vegetables in an inner
garden, aud the framework of certain win
dows was glazed. But was so eager to get
my apparatus under shelter before the rain
came on in earnest, that noticed nothing Of
this; and so it happened that | blundered
into furnished apartment. Not that the
furniture was extensive; but there was
enough to swear by; a deal-tabe, three
cherry.wOod chairs, and portrait of gen.
teman, In oils, about totaled it. A man was
sitting at the desl-table when entered. He
jumped up at the intrusion and | cav that
he was tall, young thin and dressed in a
suit Of shepherds plaid considerably the
worse for wear.
beg your pardon" stammered 1. al
ran in out Of the thunderstorm, not knowing
that the house was inhabited"
"You thought that bat, or, at best, an
owl, would be the only tenant of 50 tumble.
down place" he said, smiling somewhat
bitterly at my questionable apology; " but
come in. have nothing but shelter to offer
you, fear but to that you are welcome
A thousand thanks, said |. " would
not intrude on you, if it were not that have
been taking some large photographs, and dc
not wish them to be spoiled. Not that am
sorry to keep my skin out of such delugt
as this"
For the storm had now burst with great
fury. Flashes of lightning averaged about
three to the minute the thunder was rather
succession of explosions than the norma
roll and the rain came down as if the gar
goyles of Europe were having an internatiOn
al spouting match overhead.
deposited my traps in corner, and i'm
mediately became aware off third parsonage
hitherto unnoticed. This was a very large
black cat, which emerged from under the ia.
Bile, stretched himself, aud, without taking
the slightest notice of nyself, proceeded to
examine my luggage with great interest
DO not tell me that he had no reason. The
way he peered about, gently lifting up the
cloths, and letting them down again, alone