Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-30
4 FOGGY NIGHT.

A broad, blue river, ripping and spark
ling on its way TO sea. Widening, too, az
it flows on, first between high wooded
banks, then 10y low-lying farms, and then,
Just before it reaches the narrow inlet,
spreading out into almost lake. Here the
stream is broken into many channels by
sedgy islands half-covered at high water.
Flocks Of snipe and red-winged black
birds fly to and fro, or settle down among
the sedge, the red ePauleltes glaucing gay
ly in the dark green or against the clear
blue sky. Among the islands the water
rushes deep and swift, at ebb.tide hurry
ing down 10 meet the breakers; the "white
sea- horses" that sallop in over the bar,
tossin g their flowing names, and at food
tide going back with almost equal force TO
where the wide stream flows more gently
over sa ndy shadows and into deep coves
and bends on the low shore.
On each side of tho river are Hat meadow
lands, covered with rich swamp grasses in
every shade of purple, green and brown.
Here and there the ground is broken by
clear pools, where water-lilies float, guard
ed On all sides by red cardinal flowers, blue
and white marsh eentiau, and behind them
helmet flowers and tall milk-weeds wave,
trying 10 shake themselves free from the
close embrace of pink convolvulus and
yellow, thread-like bindweed.
On one side the meadows are bounded
by clumps.of holly, pines and cedars, and
tangled thickets of smilax on the other
stretch low, white sand-cliffs covered with
pale sea- grass, and slopng down TO the
blue, sunny plain of waters, that to-day is
dotted with white sails of fishing smacks
which this morning crossed the bar.
All is clear, peaceful, bright-intensely
bright under the August sun.
At night it is no less beautiful than by
day. The full moon rises over the black
pines, flooding the land with its pure
brightness; the river is a ripping sheet ol
silver and the dark shore is touched with
light. Seward all form is lost, for the low
banks and the dim river are wrapped in
silvery vapor, through which comes faint
ly the music of the sea.
long TO float down into that shadowy
region, TO seek know not what possibili'
ties of poetry and beauty, and as gaze, 10
a white, ghostly shape steals through The
silver mist silently it draws near, grows
larger and more defined, and the moor
| CLEANS on the large sail of pleasure boat
| A sound of music floats to me on the still
night air, the boat passes out of sight. W.
| bring our skiff to the shore and unwilling
| ly leave behind us the bright, fairy-land
| half fearing that it may vanish in the night
l had come down at the end OF a hot
dusty summer in town, TO the old farm
house by the river where my cousin Nor
ris and his wife had been passing the sum
mer, and this land by the sea was 10 me
paradise, a place of restful beauty, Lotus
land of peace.
Such at least were my first Impression
on the evening after my arrival, when
having spent the afternoon and evening oil
water, we left the river and walked ul
through the dark, sweet-smelling ceda
grove. On reaching the house, Norris pro
posed that should be introduced to ou
host and hostess. readily agreed, and W
went into the large, old-fashioned kitchen
where we found Captain Wilson and hi
wife sitting by an open wood fire, for tn
August night was chilly. Being duly pre-
sented, sat down with them to enjoy tn
comfortable blaze, and began to speak O
the beauty Of the country and the pleasnr
1 had had that day in the boating. "In
deed" 1 remarked, 81 felt as though
could loal on there forever"
ITS all good enough this kind of wealth
err" Mrs. Wilson said, "but come dow
here in the spring and fall rains, or rain
spell in winter. 1 guess you'd not like
so well, then. For my part l never coul
see why people sci such store by the boat
ing. I'm sure l can't see the sense in i
and haven't been in boat for fiflee
years, would you believer"
"Is it possible Why do you dislike boat
ing so much?"
swell, never did like it, but was in
boat once too often, and I've kept out {
them SINCE"
~ tell my wife," said Captain Wilson
"if she wants TO see the sense in boat
"she'd better be down at the shore in a bi
nor easter ia winter, and see the wreckel
20 out to a vessel and bring to land th
whole crew SAFE"
Our conversation then turned to h
wreckers, and their work on this danger
ous coast, and many evenings after that th
old sailor entertained us with accounts
his adventures at sea and in the wreckin
service. But 1 did not forget Mrs. Wi
sons allusion 10 an adventure Of her owl
and one night towards the end of my Wis
1 referred TO 1t, and again asked her Wh