The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-08-19

breakfast which makes one feel that he ia
indeed better man he hurries ont on the
rocks, threads the narrow lodges to pluck
harebels, wanders among the low brches and
pines which creep along the summit for wild
flowers and berries until appetite is surfeited
and then joins the little knots who are sitting
In shady hooks on the western brow, or lazily
reading aloud or chatting while they watch the
he shadows creeping across the noun
tains, the pleasant and fertile pains which
surround the beautiful villages of Frye
burg and Browfield and Lovewell's Pond so for
tunate in this absurdly young country of ours,
as to have name and fame already century
and half old. ''What is it about that pond?''
says "a rosy little woman. shading her blue
eyes to look at the sandy beach shining on the
northern shore. ''Oh, man named Cham
berlain had fight there with chap named
Paugus-Muskets-and Chamberlain shot the
other fellow, but it didn't get in the papers for
some time" "Why, when was it?'' "a hun
dred and fifty years ago." "Poohl I thought
it was something new; go ON with your One
Summer Generally you are favored with
shower from the mountains which goes sweep.
down the Saco Valley, the: rain Gathering like
cataract, and, as Mrs. Martin says, "with the
sun before and behind it," and off to sea like
flying phantom; after its passage the whole
valley shines with fresher greenness, the
lakes sparkle with a brighter smile and the
dark mass of forest down through the
Hiram valley seems to sway and toss itself to
to shake off the flood into the dark river that
flows beneath. t u.rr
Nightfall brings great stiffness. Birds and
insects seem to abandon the summit, and
people retire early; but the moonlight narrows
the circle of the summit, while far below an
occasional gleam comes up from the
distant waters, and the heavy shad-
ows lie darkling on the tree-tops adown
the valleys 1t is difficult to say how
long one can stop here and continually find
something new and interesting, but the faith
er of the changing colony,a pleasant gentleman
from New Hampshire, seems to have solved the
question by coming early and staying all the
season, and the amiable way in which he
welcomes new corners, and the filial regard
with which the parting guest bids the Judge
good bye, bespeaks a decided respect on his
part for the attractions OF the spot after full
and varied experience with pleasure resorts
and we cordially commend the judgment of
Mr.. Wiggin. f'
The mountain is not the only pleasant place
to tarry.on this agreeable journey. Bridgton has
great attractions, and its pleasant waters and
lovely drives, with their fine mountain and
lake views have charms that sooths the savage
city breast Many houses are filled with sum-
mer boarders. and the village rejoices in
hostlery called the Bridgton House, kept for
many years by the Davises, father and son,
who gladden. the wayfarer by much persis-
tence in well doing. The art of tavern keeping
in the interior of Maine has fallen into decay
Of late and there are hotels which are only
lovely in leaving, but this at Brdgton is one of
those occasional exceptions where life. becomes
blessing. Down below at Naples is another,
the old inn keptIby the IChurches for unnum-
bered moons, where you play croquet under
the big elm or sit onslthe Istoop and wonder
who the next traveller will be that strays down
the road; where the sojourners all go down to
the little drawbridge.. to: see the boats pass
through on their way up and down the lakes
| and exchange greetings with their friends from
the city who are passing by. 1t is sweet,
| sleepy old place, and you do not wonder that
the loon loves to play in the beautiful cove
| behind the point lwhen you seek that lovely
beach to battle, and you feel satisfied that in
the time when the savages dwelt in our land
here was precisely where the Sebago tribe
| must have pitched their wigwams. The elder
| Church dearly loved a blazing wood fire, and
| in the cool evenings fof early autumn it was
very cheerful 10 see its glow through the win
| dows as you came down the road, and
| to find the old man sitting before 1t
in his big arm chair. Nathan and
| his wife have as full an appreciation
of the little trihes which make life
| pleasant, and the old fashioned homely house
will linger in the memory with recollections of
| soft, leepy beds, and the half forgotten scent
of sweet fern from the hillside, when you
are back in the city, and the winter SHOWS
are drifting high among its fir trees. Dear
| old haven of arest. Mr. Church wishes
| to sell it, but we trust that the year of grace
| 1920 will find him still there, and our grand
| children riding down the same road to find
| him seated in the same old corner by the fire
L.. c-4I