Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-03-03

had enough Of that through the long
Winter, and that IN the summer she
must retire to the mountains anC
"build herself up a fayorite expless
ion Of her fathers. Gust as if" she
would say, a were church, or barn
or some other cditice.'
However, Mr.. Hatfield always had
his way, and a very sensible, pretty
way I considered it, when on that dry,
dusty evening the wagon from the
town of Sagsfed stopped before the
low-roofed house he called the "Moun-
tainside.' Right on tlte mountain
side it was, too and behind it the
gloomy forest rose thick and green,
extending high up in the distance,
while beside it trickled gently down
the slopea ripping br ook, that became
a mountain torrent before it wandered
down to the big river.
Such welcome as I got from JOY,
and Aunt Hatfield, and even silent
Mr.. Hatfield himself. I felt at home
at once, and drew in such inspira-
ton of the fresh mountain air with
renewed thankfllness, and blessed
my fortunate stars that had brought
me to the "Pennsylvania wilder
ness"
What we did in those happy days I
could not half remember even if car
ed to. Joy was brighter, more like a
fairy in gossamer than ever. The
woods around were presently noisy
enough with our wild shouts Of laugh
ter ; and the babbling little brook
where we fished for trout-and caught
them, too--seemed to echo our enjoy
ment, and keep measure with its mu.
sic to the songs we sang.
Then We went pony-riding up the
wild mountain ROAD, startling the
squirrels and rabbits or we gathered
roses and ferns for our scrap.books
and lunched luxuriantly beneath the
shadowy gloom Of the huge forest
monsters. Sometimes we astonished
the neighboring town by cantering on
the ponies thronoh th, e;,.ola trna-
''storc ) while the country beaux gos-
siped and looked askance at us, as be-
ing from another world, | forgot that
I was a homely little New York school
teacher, as the reflection of Joys Won
drous beauty seemed to shine upon
me, and render even my freckled phi
attractive.
OF course | wrote Charlie long let
ters describing our various doingS,
and equally Of course-like the wit
less thing ] was-I pictured Joy il
all her radiant beauty as something i
7 was a daily delight to be associated
t with. And Charles letters wer
quite as long as mine, and made es
+ pecially charming by frequent men
ton Of Joy, and an occasional mes
:; sage to her, to which she was nowls
y slow to respond, and that so wittil
t that could not but forward them DIT
: ly, as halfjestingly desired. And S
! by the time Charlie wrote that he wa
d actually coming, these two peopl
a were as we'll acquainted as two youn
It folks well could be who had never see
e each other.
y ,ASd when the stationwagon dro'
up, and Charlie leaped out of it, an
d shook me warmly by the hand-I
it didn't kiss me--Joy received him
d an old acquaintance, and we we
" pretty soon all as happy and friend
d, as possible.
m Now 51xeambles and mounta
ed rides obtained q new zest, since Oh
n had a cavalier and though CHAR
Ig treated me as kindly as ever ! cou
lie see easily enough that Joy found gre
pit satisfaction in his society, aud he
at hers-which, after all, was not wondt
Is ful.
ef In the evenings and on rainy da
we played Bezique, or had music,
W played billards-that is, Joy and CHI
{; lie did, for I couldn't play billiard
we had facilities for all sorts Of indo
TO- amusement, and time nev
es hung heavily on our hands. On
'm now and again l had little hea
ny twinge, when Joy seemed a bit MT
L tender with Charlie than l thous
was quite necessary ) but it did
er' disturb me much.
.he One day, though, 1 did have a I
her sharp pang, which might have tau!
lad me q lesson-ifI I had not been 81
on a confident goose. What a sort
mn of beauty was |, to retain such III