Litchfield enquirer., 1878-06-20

it is disorganized, but cheerful Nobody ad- mits much sleep; but everybody is refreshed and declares it delightful. The guides have erected a table of spruce bark, with benches at the sides SO that breakfast is taken in form. It is served on tin plates and eaken chips. Af ter breakfast, begins the days work. It may be mountain climbing expedition, or rowing and angling in the lake, or fishing for trout in some stream two or three miles distant. Ham mocks are swung, bowers are built, novel reading begins, worsted work appears, cards are shuff1ed and dealt The day passes in ab- selute freedom from responsibility to ones self. At night, when the expedition returns, the camp resumes its animation. But whilst the hilarious party are at supper, drop or two of rain falls. The head guide is appealed to. Is it going to rain He says it does rain.
 But will it be rainy night? The guide goes down to the lake, looks at the sky, and con- cludes that if the wind shift pint more there IS no telling what sort of weather we shall have Meantime the drops batter thicker on the leaves overhead, and the leaves in turn pass the water down to the table; the sky darkens, the wind rises there is a kind of shiver in the woods, and we scud away into the shanty, taking the remains of our supper and eating as best we can. The rainincreases. The fire sputters and fumes. All the trees are dripping, dripping, and the ground wet. We cannot step outdoors without getting drench- ing Like sheep we are penned in the little hut, where no one can stand erect. The rain swirls into the open front and vets the bottom of the blankets the smoke drives in; we curl up and enjoy ourselves. The guides at length conclude that it is going to be damp. The dis nal situation sets us all in good spirits, and it is later than the night before when we crawl under our blankets, sure this time of sound sleep, Iulled by the storm and the rain resound- ing on that bark roof How much better off we are than many shelterless wretch? We are as snug as dry herrings. At the moment, however, of dropping off to sleep, somebody unfortunately notes drop of water on his face; this is followed by another drop; in an instant a stream is established He moves his head to dry place. Scarcely has he done so when he feels dampness in his back. Reach ing his hand outside. he finds puddle of wa ter soaking through his blanket. By this time somebody inquiries if it is possible that the roof leaks. One man has stream of water under him; another says it is coming into his ear.
 The roof appears to be discriminating selve.
 Those who are dry see no needsOf such fuss.
 The man in the corner spreads his umbrella, and the protective measure is resented by his neighbor. In the darkness there is recrimina- tion. One of the guides, who is summoned, suggests that the rubber blankets be passed out and spread over the root. The inmates dlsllKe the proposal, saying that shower bath is no worse than tub bath. The rain continues to soak down. The fire is only half alive. The bedding is damp Some sit up, if they can find dry spot to sit on, and smoke. Heart less observations are made. A few sleep. And the night wears on.. The morning opens cheer less. The sky is still leaking, and so is the shanty. The guides bring in half-cooked breakfast The roof is patched up. There are reviving signs of breaking away-delusive signs, that create momentary exhilaration.
 Even if the storm clears, the woods are soaked.
 continue as long as the reader desires. There are those who would like to live in this free fashion forever, taking rain and sun as heaven pleases and there are some souls so constitut- ed that they cannot exist more than three days
 without their worldly baggage.