The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-09-08
SELECT STORY.
THE RECLUsE IN THE COUNTRY.

Wy ire
II has been my favored fortune to
spend the greater par. Of my life in the
country. ! succeeded in my youth, by
the death Of my uncle, to a small but
beautiful estate. upon which, throughout
life, have with little iniermission con-
iinued to reside. II il situated in the
west Of Scotland, in one Of those inter
mediate ranges Of country, possessing
few Of the uniform and less inviting
features Of an agricultural district, but
delightfully."- diversified by those pictur-
esque undulalions Of hill and plain which
mark the near approach to the more
grand and majestic scenes Of the High
lands. In its general features, it par
takes much Of pastoral air; and when
! wander, in a calm Summer evening,
amidst that singularly rich and varied
scenery which il displays, either care
lessly tracing the picturesque windings
Of one Of its clear and swift streams, or
reclined upon some wooded bank be-
meath dark and grateful shade, while
look out upon the windings Of the wa
ter, which, far in the distance, streaks
the richly-wooded valley with Its silver
CLEAN, while the sun is seen in splendor,
slowly sinking behind the majestic
mountains Of the west-I say feel dis
posed tn doubt If any Of your pastoral
writers, in all their fablings Of Tempo
and Arcadia, have ever conceived
scene more rich and delightful to the
eye, or more soothing and grateful to tbs
heart.
The family mansion in which ] reside
is one Of very old erection, to which, as
the wants or caprice of its successive
owners have led them, variety Of ad-
dition- have been made. Its site is de-
lighifully romantic and beautiful, upon
the summit o. n somewhat steep and
ragged eminence; and confess, when
see my old fabric with its numerous and
variOu.ly disposed turrets-its broad
and massive winding stair in front-its
tall and Irregular ehimneys which shoot
alof, into the ai- Its venerable windows
looking out in every variety Of size and
antiquity of shape, while several ma
jestic trees, vigorous and luxuriant in
their age, tower above the whole, with
their far ont.preading and over -arching
branches, I often think my old mansion
a more pic.uresquely beautiful object
and that it harmonizes more fittingly
and impressively with the scene than
many Of our more elegant and fairly
proportioncd fabrics.
Like all true lovers Of the country
1 delight in gardening. My garden is
spread out upon the irregular and slop
ing bank in front fmy house. 1t looks
towards the south, and the entrance to-
wards il is by an old arched gateway
overgrown with briar and honeysuckle
which salute you as you enter with thu
rich diffusion Of their sweets. | have
beef anxious that my garden should, a
the came time, partake somewhat of thu
nature Of an orchard. My fruit tree
are not disposed in corresponding row
and succession, but fancifully thrown in
to groups, and occasionally mingled will
some rich and graceful forest trees. A
the foot OF the bank runs a rapid ant
clear rivulet, which still flows copious
ly, even amid the heats of Summer. 1t
margin Is thickly wooded, and here ant
there ! have introduced an apple o
plum tree, or several tn Towering
shrubs, whose blossoms give additIona
beauty and animation to the more sobe
livery Of the other forest.trees. Whe
faligued with my garden labors, ] ofte
retire from the noOntide heat to the dar
and grateful shade Of this grove. Their
hear the murmers Of the stream, hi
by the luxuriant foliage around me, O
through some remote opening seen steal
ing softly and swiftly along. like the re
port Of noble action, which its doe
seeks not to reveal. Here, while tn
progress and varying appearance of ev
cry plant and tree interest me in wa
which you cannot, perhaps, easily cor
ceive, / derive health and recreatio
from those occupations which the cham
ing seasons and nearly every month
the year present; and when the time az
.vances for gathering in the produce
my orchard, while ! shake my trees, ar
am pelted by shower OF my own Lee
ingtons or Pippins, and see my advei
turous little boy perched high upon
branch, and stretching his hond to son
apple desirable in his eve, and IL
daughters gathering the fruit as it droI
while my servants convey it in sac
and baskets to the garner, feel some
those emotions Of delicious and tranqu
satisfaction which Rousseau, the me
eloquent Of moderns, has described
such glowing colors "a experiencil
himself when engaged in similar occ
patton.
But the amusement in which, Of ;
others, take most delight, is that
angling, and especially that of fly fs
ing, in which, you must know, I rega
myself nearly M dexterous as old Isa
Walton, or his sporting friends, r. r
or "honest" Nat, who 'angled till he "
ninety.fve. The river is distant sew
al miles, and can only be reached
threading the fields and traversing
long range Of wild heath. Having
lecled day which promised to suit I
sport, set of, accompanied by my
tie boy, with the first dawn of the mo
ing, while the dew lies heavy upon
grass, and the clouds yet hang in {
dark unseparated mass in the heave
by the time we have reached the
tremity Of the heath, the Aeecy vap
are seen slowly rolling up the side
the mountains; we hear the rushing
the stream, as we descend the rug.
path which leads to il; while the sun
seen slowly breaking through the clio