Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-10-19


fronds. e0quettiug with the water, are
myriads Of tiny forget-me-D varying
in hue from the azure, the best known,
to pale pink. and even white. Ieis here,
too. that the pure flowers Of the water
ranuneulus float on the surface. though
the lily buds are only swelling, and viii
open their waxen cups too late for us to
wonder at their beauty.
1t was beneath these ferny banks that
great pike. lying lazily among the weeds.
scarcely bestirred themselves to get ont
of our way. and deceived the lads into
the belief that they might be easily
caught Ii was here. too, that we rest
ed on cur cars to watch the perch dart
ing TO and fro. till all the party grew
excited. and began regretting that they
had come out unprovided with fishing
tackle.
Our canal is not one unbrOken course.
never varying in width. In some places
it has overfowed the original banks,
and expanded into pools-or. as they
are called in the locality. flashes. of
considerable size. narrowing afterward
SO much that there is merely width suf-
heient to row with comfort: nor does 1t
take one straight. wearisome line. but
pleasantly winds and bends, and contin-
ually presents Us with fresh views An
other bridge passed, and a water-side
tavern, and few eottages-quaint and
ugly but for the roses that overhang
their porehes. and make their gardens
gIoriOus-and then the merry voices
take softer tones, and Cousin Carrie gaz-
es 50 rapturously that she forgets her
duties and has to be called to order.
We are entering sylvan vista; the
towering oaks and elms Of Dogmersfeld
Park are met high overhead by the
branches of the trees surmounting the
steep bank opposite, aud we linger in
the cool shadows till Mr. RoBdon sighs,
and Tom. fancying we are al growing
melancholy. reminds rs that it Is noon.
and We are not TO lunch until We have
reached NinehGeld. mile or swo fur
/ ther on.
| Picnic dinners had been voted bore,
entailing as they do an infnity of trou-
bic, and too many risks of being render
/ ed uneatable by some accident or omIs-
sion So mamma had prudently eschew-
cd anything of the kind. There were
sandwiches for the elders; cake and bis
cults for the lads. These were discussed
beneath some willows On the grassy
bank, and then we were refreshed auc
ready for the honeward row. and th;
more substantial meal that awaited III
at its close.
It was during this rest on shore. anC
q stroll across some inyiting-lookins
| fields, that Cousin Carrie unEittingl,
came into notice. Without intending d
be unkind. we had let her sink into some
thing very ike drudge to the who'll
family. Carrie VIII do this or the 9th
er'-''Carrie doesn't mind"-or. Gar
RE always gets on best with the boys,
were speeches that We uttered too often
Accustomed to see her give her place
others. and be silent while Belle firte,
and Fanny chattered, we had fotgotte
that she was equally fair and young
and deserving attention. 1t was Ml
Royden who contrived to awaken Us t
our selfshness his p0Iiteness made I
ashamed Of our own neglect 1t vas b
| who came TO the rescue when the exaC
. tions Of the youngsters made her loo
. pale and tired; it was he who gocd-hJ
pOredly. but decidedly checked Tor
, when he evinced disposition to teas
{ his little cousin, and who snubbed WI
when he rudely broke in upon somethin
: she was saying
| Stirred by so good an example, Fam
l now made faint offer to take Carrie
E place, saying that it wasn't fair that 81
: should be shut out of the pleasanter pa
4 ty: but the offer was declined, and y
] rode home In much the same manner
:, We came
/ The lads had taken turns at the car
0 landing occasionally to make excursion
: after nests. and get up snake and squi
5 rel hunts, till their wild spirits and the
0 legs failed them and Give, lying in Il
; bottom Of the boat with his head On Ca
s rie's knees, bade her sing him to slee
When Tom seconded the request. she a
!, ceded, and gay voices in the other bo
4 caught up the strain, Dir. Roydon adj
z ing mellow bass Then we all gre
a very still. till a chance allusion to fo
e eign scenery aroused Give once more.
p Tell Us something about New Ze
o land. Carrie She was born there, N
Royden, did you know it? Begin
e once, there's dear. can always Il
/ ten best when I'm sleepy. Tell US abO
J the row with the Maories"
= Carrie was not disposed to volunte
$ any information about herself, but
i well-timed question or two drew fro
? ber-a tale, which the rowers. Tom a
II Mr. Royden, rested on their oars to be-
=. ~rrn< fe-- --oz~u E.ofa-. 81 11..L