Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-03-01

@'N~N-
upon it, however, looked around with n
small degree Of admiration, as Lucy di
the honors of the two room to which
was admitted.
1t was little bower Of place, perche
upon the banks of that same merry broo
which had so beguiled me, and with it
windows facing south and west. l d
not know if the sun was coaxed into doin
double duty there, or not, but am sure
never saw rooms so full of his golden ligll
before. Every door and window was al
ways left open Of pleasant day; ant
through the hop-vnes and the honey
suckles came the warm and perfumed all
the song of birds, the lowing Of cattle
and the busy hum of bees, till the room
1t was by no means an uncommon thin!
to see u swallow dart through from on
window to tho other, and Il frisky litt
squirrel crcpt into the kitchen each morn
ing, and chirped saucily for his broadcast
By-and-by he brought his family will
him; and | found Lucy, one morning
seated on the floor, scarcely daring tt
draw her breath, while the pretty crea
lures nibbled away, close beside her, Al
the crumbs she had scattered for them
Her love for pets was not her least charm
in my eyes. TO be sure, when l found
her, one day, with spoon and pitcher,
just outside the gate, trying to persuade
a trecklcd ribbon-snake, who opened his
brilliant eyes, and displayed his thread
like tongue in scorn, to drink the milk
she poured for him in little grassy hollows
along the road, did object; but toler-
ated her spiders and flies, and bugs and
beetles, dogs and eats, and even mice,
because she had then under immedi ate
protection.
1t was my first day at Gan-E den; but
ah it was not my last. Many sunshiny
afternoon was spent in the little parlor,
with its wreath, framed pictures, its flow
ers Of every hue, its vincshadcd windows,
and Sloping terrac ID door. | read to Lu-
cy's aunt, but looked at Lucy, and made
strange blundcrs with my reading. |
walked over the hills, and traced out the
spring Of the dancing brook; and the
little garden-hat was always by my side,
reaching up to my heart, and no farther,
when its owner stood beside me with her
lands full of flowers and MOSES, chatter
ng as fast as her tongue could run, about
Ter treasures. She treated me much as
she did Tiger; and was only too glad to
)e his fellow-slave. Yet am sure the
rank child never dreamed how dear she
vas growing to me. TO her | was only
James," or 'Brother James'-only
grave and serious man, too old, even
hen, to be more than protector and con-
idential friend; but not, alas for it too
I'D to love her, and with Il strength and
enderncss young man could never have
elt. My staid manners made me seem
ven older than l really was; and her aunt
her to me, in all our excursions
S complaccntly as if had been made of
ron, instead of bearing about living,
eating heart, within my breast.
o, the golden days of that happy sum-
ler fed SO quickly! Lucy met me, one
fternoon, at the gate, with as sad face
s she could wear.
"We are going!" she sighed. "Aunt
ays it is time to go back to the city; and
o we leave Gan-Eden to-day; spend
ew days in town, and then return to noisy
lew York. l am sure if it was not for
ONE we shall meet there, I should never
'ant to see the place again"
1t would have been well for me if l had
TENDED more to what she had just said
ut the thought Of her going away from
ne only place on earth that seemed fit for
er, swallowed up everything else.
~ should like to visit the old place with
ou to-day, Lucy"
"Come in, then, and we will go. while
lie servant is packing the furniture"
The trees had just begun to put on their
lorious autumn colorS, and banners of
cd, purple, gold, crimson, russett, pale
elbow, green and brown, were flung out
n every side. The September sunshine
as yet warm in the middle of the day;
nd the smell of the beeches and the rus
G of the dead leaves under foot re-
ember them all, as if it were but yester-
ny! But when the light began to fade,
I'd we turned towards home, l looked
lck at the lovely scene, and all was bare
I'd gray, and perfectly desolate. Even
} has my life been, Lucy!
1t was hard trial for her to leave the
'etty place. There were SO many leave
kings of old familiar spots, so many
larges to the farmer who owned the
)use, to let the oak wreaths hang as
ey were till a new tenant came in, and
Oh, to be sure and feed the squirrels
cry day of his lite;" so many hunts af-
r Tiger, who was always supposed to
we been drowned in a we'll, or smother
under the luggage; and so many out
Irsts Of joy at finding him safe and sound
id generally fast asleep, that it was near
dark before got her to take the last look {
ID let me lead her to the pony carriage .
hich was waiting at the gate. got her
1ely in at last, and saw her drive away; {
e little garden hat always turned tow {
DIS the cottage as long as it was in
5ht Little she cared about Gan-Eden,
all was losing with it. But consol- =,
myselfwith the thought that was in |
perably connected with it, in Lucy's O