The Republican journal., 1876-12-21
Christmas with the Pippernick1es.
BY ALBERT G. WIGGIN.

BY ALBERT G. WIGGIN.
| Every body has now heard of the delights
of Mt, Desert Island in summer, and of its
cool. breezy situation, just at the threshold
of the wild Atlantic. The fame has gone
forth through the world Of those evergreen
| forests peryaded by pungent balsamiC
odors, and OF towering mountains com
mandlng glorious panorama OF the radi-
ant blue sea. But this wide knowledge
and popular appreciation of the wonderful
rural advantages of the island will, alas,
in Il season OF two more, have converted a
quiet Arcadian retreat into the convention
| al seaside resort, crowded by the "hig gh-
flyers at fashion"
1t was, indeed, a restful life | was pass
ing one summer at Bar Harbor, Mt De-
sert; a rest. however. which did not con-
sist of inaction. held aloof, with perhaps
some scorn, from my inert fellow-visitors
who lounged about the little hotels, and
bored each other with conversational in
antics and croquet. My scorn was born
OF q superior knowledge of the bracing
and exhilarating mountain air, of the
pleasure there is even in getting tired
from long tramp and also OF the excite
ment OF pulling in n rOck-cod or even a
Gunner, while the little boat was rock ed
by the restless waves. So it was my wont
to return each evening to my tiny cottage
like hotel, cot pretentious name and poor
accommodations tired and woe-begone
OF appearance, and really q little lonesome
at heart though possessing an indistinct
idea that | was right cheerful, and that
too, at the twilight hour when the summer
visitors We're taking their promenade up
on the one rough street, innocent as vet.
Of a side walk. | remember how a few
oldish young ladies from the cities stared
at me, as if | did not belong to the genus
homo, and adroitly saved their skirts from
brushing my dusty pantaloons. Perhaps
it was uncharitable, though it theG accord
ed with my mood, to think that the dress
es were all OF the style OF previous year.
and that the Wearers were, for economy's
sake, taking "a secluded summering at The
Harbor, wearing old clothes in sort of
chrysalis state, only to emerge and shine
reSplendent butterflies next season at Sar-
atoga and Newport. Possibly my criticism
was unjust, tor we are ever severe when
sick, as Lowell says, OF no worse distem-
per than ourselves. Be that as it may, |
scanned their faces, and = sour bachelor
that was-declared they did not possess
a single attractive feature My commun-
ings with Nature in her treest moods
lacked the charm OF an appreciative COM
panionship, for | was never so selt-sutfi-
cient as not to need social stimulus. And
so one evening, as | pulled off my boots
at my then usual bed time, 9 O'Clock, con
tessed to myself that this was, after all,
but a lonesome life. sat up long enough
to smoke another cigar and think it over
before that glowing cigar stub went out OF
the window, the determination had been
made to leave the island very soon | went
to bed in that ttreary, inexpressible state
OF mind known only to lone, lorn bach
elor5 OF pensiye inclinations.
Next day the little steamer arrived
bringing more visitors. | was at the wharf
when she bumped it. and gazed with idle
curiosity on the new comers as they filed
along the gang-plank Among them was
a young lady who held my attention from
the first She was with sedatc elderly
gentleman, and a we'll preserved old lady
The young woman walked ashore with
graceful step, revealing unconsciously Il
pair of charming little feet, such rs men
always look at when they can. Her figure
was tall and elegant; her dark hair worn
i'll braids; complexion not exactly fair +;
features classlcally regular, and of WIN
ming expression. Her eyes pleased me
then. and afterward | found them con-
stantly surprising. Sometimes they We're,
i'll color. a light blue or hazel clear, rides
cent and changetul, and at other times
they appeared decided grey, with lam
bent lights in them, and always full of
magnetism. Does my description seem
extravagant? Then bring 10 your mind
the finest woman OF your acquaintance,
and consider her counterpart the heroine
Of this little story
The fair new conner and her friends
stopped at my hotel. and were registered
as .'Rev Elias Pendleton, wife and niece :"
Accommodations we've so meagre that
gave up my room to the young lady. and
flew one flight higher-up under the roof
1t required great stretch of the magma
ton to consider it a Nlansard roof. This
was gallantry on my part which surprised
myself as much as it did the landlord
No introductions took place, but we be-
came acquainted that evening over our
supper of fish -chowder, biscuit, and blue
berries, the regular bill-of fare at Mt. De-
sert At this first meal the conversation
of the reverend uncle and his spouse was
pleasantly commonplace, but even this
was re!ief considering the former social
unattractiveness Of the place The young
lady-who was addressed by her uncle as
Miss Letitia-soon gathered the reins of
conversation into her own hands, much to
my JOY. She was bright, quick to smile or
laugh. and her cheerful gayety soon in
fected us all And as witty saying sounds
most funny from lair lips, all She said
seemed to sparkle. The advantages of a
rich blooming health Miss Letitia did sure
ly possess, as well as social spell which
came of the combination of many other
pleasing qualities Her airy manner was
not welded to conceit. though she had the
palpabe self-consciousness of a proud ma
ture; she seemed endowed, too, with
sense, and force Of will.
All" thought on this occasion, "old
Seneca was right in taking more care with
arAon he ate than a0hat, saying that with
out pleasant company the table was no
better than a manger'
Having seen trunk in the hall marked
81 p" settled in my mind without fur
ther conjecture that the young lady's name
was Letitia Pendleton no accident during
our stay served to further enlghten me on
that point.
Of course | prolonged my stay at the
island. And for several happy days Miss
Letitia was my companion on all excur-
sions; she caring as little as l for those
stupid straight jackets called the "conven-
tionalties of society,"" We fished together.
took long tramps through the woods, and
to the tops of the mountains where we in
hailed the salt breath of the ocean. To be
sure the reverend uncle had for the first
day OF two made me uncomfortable with
his presence. but he soon kept with his
wife near the less romantic precincts Of
the house, You probably foresee that