The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-09-28
OUR CoxsWAIN,

VVN NV-0pWA AANl
We are intensely nautical, my boys
and I, taking the deepest interest in
everything that pertains to river and
sea, whether 1t be regattas or rowing
matches, or helping the girls TO find
new treasures for their aquarium, or
with rod and line lounging on tho bank
OF some pleasant stream, 10 reap as
much enjoyment in watching the birds
and insects fitting about us, or in
wading into some pool for water-blos.
SONS, as N carrying home a good basket
Of fish. II is, therefore, q great fault
in our eyes that the pretty scenery sur.
rounding our house is not diversified
by q nayigable stream. The adjacent
town Is built on q small though rapid
river, but flour, flock. aud oil mills
stand too closely together to admit Of
boating, while the briny ocean is so
far away as only TO be attainable for o
few weeks in autumn. The consequence
is that when the ruling passion becomes
oyerpowering we are obliged to content
ourselves with day on the Basing-
stoke Canal, bend OF which is not
more than five miles from our own
door.
There were enough Of us this year to
fill two roomy boats, fol Tom had
brought with him from Oxford o college
iriend-a pleasant, quiet man, some
few years his senior, whom he called
"old Roydon," and treated with an
affectionate familiarity ntwealllearned
In q degree 10 initiate. Old Roydon
was always gentlemanly, never intru-
Bive, though very studious, rarely
going anywhere without q tiny volume
In his pocket only let o demand for
help be made-no matter by whom, Or
how trivial the occasion-and the stu.
dent woke up, the book was laid
aside, and the aid kindly and efficiently
Mamma liked him because he was 50
indulgent TO the troublesome young
sters, who now swarmed into one Of the
boats, dragging pateriamilias in their
wake, and loudly entreated that Mr..
Roydon should Join them. he glanced
round, and Belle, whe had already Sc
cured herself seat in the other boat,
smiled, and made room for him /; but
then Belle Is an incorrigible coquette,
and her accepted lover was jealously on
the watch; SO Mr.. Roydon left the
field clear for him, and made his way
toward the Juveniles, who hailed his
coming with noisy delight.
"Much more comfortable here than
squeezed in along with q lot Of girls" |"
said Give, between. mouthfuls OF seed
cake-it Is astonishing how hungry
lads always are on such occasions-
"Fanny Is sure TO screech II We bump
against any thing; aud once when Tom
was changing places with somebody
else, and rocked the boat, she threat.
ened to get cut. What game II she
had
At last we are all in our places and
ready to start-but who Is TO be coz.
vain for the youngsters' Tom, who
had taken one Of the oars, with MIR.
Roydon at the other, positively declined
TO be steered by Olive, the only candi.
date for the office for the young gem
tleman had o propensity TO forget what
he was about, and take 0 course that
Will described as "from bank to bank
they worry me-" 5i
Would neither Of the girls yolunteerp
Apparently not, for they chose TO turn
deaf ear TO proposal that would, as
Belle plaintiyely murmured, quite spoil
their own party.
awe'll have Cousin Carriei she's oil.
ways good-natured, she'll come; 1" and
Cousin Carrie-a pale brunette, with q
willowy figure, and face so intelligent
md lovable that one forgot 10 ask
whether II were beautiful or not-rais.
ingno objection, she was handed TO the
vacant post.
don't think she liked II, for Carrie
always quiet and unobtrusive-loyed
TO lean over the side OF the boat, and
dream, and see strange pictures In the
gliding waters but somehow her de-
pendant condition-Bhe was the orphan
child OF relations who had died abroad
and her naturally yielding temper,
made the boys tyrannize over her.
Not unkindiy, Of course-mamma was
too tender Of the orphan to permit that
but claiming from her all those ser.
vices which their sister, were less will
ing 10 render, and being all the more
troublesome because Carrie bore the
infections with such sweet patience.
And now we are off past Aldershot,
with It's huge barracks, dirty unfinished
town, and uncomfortable dust yet look.
ing guy and pretty in the morning sun,
aa q squadron Of cavalry file up one Of
che rugged hills in the distance, and
group after group Of white tents come
into view. l.f
There Is q pause soon, for We have
reached swing-bridge Of very primi.
tive construction, and two Of the party
must land, to push and push at the
levers until the sides part and we can
pass through. The operation has been
watched by 0 party Of rustic, very rus.
tic, urchins, who appear TO take affront
at our invasion Of their domain for,
acting ON the Black Country principle !.
IA stranger-'eaye 'arf . brick Of
him. they send yolley. Of stones in
our wake. No one is hurt, though
every one ic angry, and sundry dis
duisitions are entered upon respecting
lha lnyver olasges. district visiting.