The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-18

SOME MISDIRECTED LETTERS,
CHAPTER I.
THE COTTAGE FLOWER-SH0W.

1t was the close of an exquisite day in
the early autumn, and Twas wandering in
vast park-like meadow on the outskirts
of little old fashioned town in one Of
our rural counties. 1t is locality hardly
mentioned by guide-books, and unvisited
by tourists; and yet in the broad expanse
Of meadow-land, through which flows a
sluggish stream, with fatter trout than
belong to Wales and the Highlands; in
the quiet country lanes, where the inter
lacing boughs often form natural clois-
ter; in the large opulcnt farms and home
steads; in the noble range of downs that
southwark closed the prospect-there al
ways seemed to me transcript of a per-
fectly idyllic English life, which poet and
painter and the student of manners
miglt lovingly and lingeringly contem-
plate.
The little town was far secluded from
raiwavs; and the railways which have
brought so many second-rate places into
notice have deepened the obscurity in
which those village towns rest that are
isolated from those slender rails and
wires which have rcvolutionized the
glcbe. Still Bullingford had its points
of vantage. 1t had its good cheap gram
mar-school, suited to the scions of genteel
poverty. Then it had kind of connec-
ton with those august institutions, the
two Houses of Parliament. One of the
many seats of a great earl was close at
hand-a big modern edifce, but designa-
ted, from some old ruins found in the
grounds, as the Castle. Moreover, one
Of the county members, in whose domain
was wandering, had small shooting
lodge here, with a stud-farm attached
This had been a high day for Bulling
ford, to be marked by the white stone OF
by the red letter.
1t had been grand shOw-day-s
show of fruits, flowers, and vegetables
for the six rural parishes, of which Bul
lineford formed kind of metropolitan
center. The show was really grand
show, which would claim its columns in
the local newspapers, and even it's para
graphs in the London press. The Earl
and the member had both subscribed
largely, and had made little speeches in
the luncheon-tent, both of which had
been taken down by reporters-every
word. The beauty and fashion of six
parishes had gathered largely; and where
will you find six parishes in merry Eng.
lane: (which will not yield large quota Of
both? l was given to understand that
there had been such display of hot
house plants, grapes and cut Aowers
from the gardens and conservatories OF
beauty and fashion, that Bullngford had
never known the like. The Bullingford
band, too, consisting of the best perform
ers, not only of Bullingrord, but Of. its
adjacent dependent parishes, had fairly
surpassed itself. The prizes had been
very liberal, and so numerous that very
few deserving competitors had been alto.
gether disappointed. There was not a
whisper at that happy date to be heard
about agricultural depression, and the
joval reign Of the great Pan seemed to
be revived in the glorious landscape.
This much l was given to understand.
/ myself had arrived a day too late for
the fair, so to speak. So ignorant was
of the illustrious renown of Bullingford
that, having come to the place late in the
afternoon, l was taking my evening
stroll quite unconscious Of thejunketings
and performances of the festal day. The
heavy carts, loaded with competing pro
duce, had departed; the light wheels ol
carriages and heavy wheels of carts had
rolled Away, The gentry had paid thei,
half-crown at noon, and now the com
! monalty poured in at sixpence head.
= came in so late that the cheque-taker, in
a very rare fit of public generosity, de
clined to take my sixpence. 1t was al
over, or would be over in less than nc
time. And yet l should certainly have
considered that l had my moneys worth
For though much had been taken away
from the show, much still remained
There were some lovely little rustic
beauties of children, with their heaps O.
wild flowers, nosegays for competition
Heaps, too, of piled-up vegetables ant
fruits, and multitudinous specimens O
that window gardening which is now s,
much the fashion to encourage in lowl,
homes. The whole gracious scenery O
the landscape seemed an embodied
poetry. The evening scarlet lights wer
splintered on bough and leaf; the evenin,
shadows threw forward their soft shields
The serious business of the show bein.
over, the amiable Bullingfordians sur
rendered themselves to the charms of tn
sweet autumnal evening. Allowing fo
the difference of latitude, it was like
vintage-gathering of the sunny South
Despite the falling dew in one part o
the meadow, there was a genuine dance
In another part many of the rustics wer
disporting themselves at kiss-in- -the-rine
whereby their tender minds had been al
too early trained in the mysteries of o.
culation.
The meadow, as l have mentioned
was we'll timbered, and at one end ther
was wide natural avenue. / had with
drawn from the busy groups to the ave
nue. for seclusion, and to chew the Gu
of fancy; being given, like Isaac of ole
to walk forth in the fields at eventid
and mediate. Suddenly there passed i
front OF me, emerging from the trees 0
my right hand, a young couple, wit
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