The Portland daily press., 1877-02-10

room are carefully closed anu Ill uiteeu HILL
inter- we have donned our blue flannel and
corduroy, repacked our trunks, which are to
be checked to Littleton, and emerge into the
daylight with haversack, blankets and fishing
tackle, ready to abandon ourselves to the
elements.
We had eight miles to walk before reaching
the Glen. The road lies along the valley of
the Peabody river, one of the branches of tie
Androscoggin, and the pure air, sense OF free
dom and sublimity of scenery, that we en-
joyed along its winding length that afternoon
made the exertion of walking positive
pleasure. We were constantly on the watch
for the first glimpse of Mount Washington.
But the heads of Adams and Jefferson imme-
diately towering above us, for a long time
defeated the desired view. And then the
stimulation that the hills and turns in the
road afford the traveller. each one discovering
some new beauty to the eye, continually
urged us on. II was gem of an afternoon.
The hum of insects and the twittering of
birds, now and then lost in the rush of the
stream over its rocky bed, when break in
the forest opened up an unobstructed vista,
were the only sounds. AS the sun fastened
its decline into the West the rays of light
came slanting down the mountain sides shat
tered by the rough and many-sided peaks
above, and sitting through the tree tops fell
in mellow shreds upon the grass. The sight
of the stream was the signal for an attack
upon the trout We bent our fishing tackle
and went to work. The water as it flowed
over the smooth back of granite ledge or
fingered in some deep, delicious pool, was as
sparkling and clear as crystal. No wonder
that the fnny breathers of this liquid air are
as nimble and shy as ghosts. The display of
all the skill we were masters OF could kill
but half dozen. Contenting ourselves with
the thought that there were two apiece tor
supper, and warned by the frightening shad-
ows. We FASTENED to find a camping spot
for the night. Half an hours walk brings us
to the Glen House. 1t has just been opened
for the season. We step into the office and
see one or two porters carrying furniture to
the rooms above, the solitary clerk behind the
counter is runmaging over last years books.
We remain long enough to assure him that it
would be no object to attempt our capture as
guests and are generously allowed to pass on.
Nearly mile we walk up the carriage road
of Mt. Washington before we fix upon our
camping ground. 1t is a mistaken notion to
suppose that camping parties are always
located upon some grassy slope, shaded by
spreading trees, the romantic fire burning
brightly in front of the open tent, while
the jolly campers are smoking their
evening pipes, to be followed by sweet
sleep and star-iit dreams. Be not de-
luded by such imaginings. AS a matter Of
fact about an hour is usually spent in vain
endeavors to find the grassy slope and spread
ing trees, when forlorn impotence ensues
and your pictured ideal of a camping ground
is realized in the presence of underbrush,
moist hollows and back breaking knobs. But
the virtue of camping out is in taking these
things good humoredly. We clear a space in
the underbrush, build our tent of boughs,
light our fire, cook our trout, smoke our
pipes, sing our songs and dispose ourselves
but not to sleep. Harding and myself had
maintained that we enjoyed the idea of spend
irg the night in the open air. but Bradwell
did not commit himself to any uncertainty.
OF have my opinion of a bed that has no
beginning end'', said he, 'and that leaves
mans feet to rest on the door-sill.''
'But," said Harding in the way of encour-
agement, '.your feet will be kept warm by the
fire and your head cool by this bracing air."
and he filled his lungs and ran his fingers
through his hair by way of emphasis-"And
you can watch
That orbed maiden, with white fire laden,
Whom mortas call the Moon,
Glide gimmering DER the fleece white floor
of the clouds, and then count the stars until
you fall asleep.'
$50 cam" responded the inconsolabe
BradweD. 81 hadn't thought of that. Does
Mr.. Washington pay we'll for advertising the
privileges and beauties of his mountain,
Harding? l shall begin to supect you of
being materialized advertising medium"
Tired nature began to assert itself, aud
after repenishing the fire and drawing lots
for the most promising berth on our bed of
boughs, we rolled ourselves in our blankets.
The night was clear. The moon was resting
upon trellis OF branches overhead and each
trembling leaf held star upon its point.
The warm breath of the fire came in upon us
and drove away the dampness; but the nov
city of the situation was too great to admit of
sleep. For long time we lay perfectly quiet.
Then series of gentle twists and turns be-
gan, each of us endeavoring to fay himself
into the stubborn inequalities of his berth.
So long as we were confident Of falling into
an endurable succession of knobs and cavities
to disturb each other, but as the prospects of
such good fortune faded away, after repeated
trials, our movements grew more positive,
and we thrashed about with considerable
freedom. Not word was spoken. Finally
we tacitly gave up trying to be very comfort
able and managed to doze away an hour or
two. By this time the fire had burned low.
We grimly pulled our blankets more closely
about us and occasionally lost ourselves in a
nap. At last felt Bradwell arouse himself
w =" oi.oih5 pootulC dud lOOh dUOuL ILL., 1t
fetched most despairing, dismal yawn and
broke out, so moon, beautiful moon! Blank
the moon.
Each separate star
Seems nothing, but myriad scattered stars
Break up the night and make it beautiful
Don't they boys?"
ooh keep quiet, Bradwell, I want to
Sleep" growled Harding.
$50 do I, and if ever get in the neighbor-
hood of Christian bed again I'll be better
man. 1t was your seductive tongue that led
me into this arrangement, and am your
mortal enemy"
Well, it was Of no use to attempt deceiving
ourselves any longer. We had not been
supremely comfortable for the past tour hours
aad it was best TO acknowledge it, and seek
consolation in discussing what we might have
done and what we wished we had done. We
built up roaring fire, which went far
towards restoring our equanimity, and re-
turning to our blankets resolved to possess
our souls in patience until the morning, the
first faint tinges of which were now appear
ing. In this state of mind we fell asleep and
slept as only those can who have undergone