The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-08

proved too slender and 1.-the to remain
in the cage into which il had been in
weighed. Through the winter the
sprightly and pretty jays in large num-
beers occupied the tbickets and the shell
tered hillside; and, il any unusual pinch
in the weather pinched them, it only
enabled us to become for the nonce
their benefactors, by giving them the
rations they could not pick up else
where. Even visions of superior sets OF
mink furs would now and then come
upon some members of the family as
these denizens of the lake would give
us glimpse Of their quick movements,
or as they showed by their tracks that
they might yet be coaxed into the traps
similar to those so deity set by neigh
Dor country lads who understood their
vagrant ways. Even the wild deer did
not yet give up their haunts, did not
disdain close visits to us; and when one
of the smaller boys told us one night,
with dilated optics, that in the absence
of the rest of the household a huge
wildcat actually had the audacity to
stare at him through the hall windows
from the lawn in front, that he left the
house and followed it until it got up
its fur and spit at him." finally gallop-
ing away, we did not even then think
the place less desirable, since all this
made us variety and excitement, giving
lis more indications that there was fun
and possible sport in store for US, and
this, too without following Gordon
Cumming Ga favorite author in the
housed to the wilds of South Africa, or
Baker in his hunt after that other lake,
somewhat larger than our own
"Nyanza."
Finally, spring came-the first midi
cations, at least, of it. The weather in
our little valley had been more than
moderate, no fierce Northwestern could
reach us over the hill and through the
sheltering belt of leaf-covered oaks-for,
as before intimated, the leaves refused
to drop until pushed off by the advanc-
ing foliage of spring. So it was, then,
that, on the hillside, above the house,
the ground froze only about six inches
deep during the whole winter, as ascer-
tanned by digging post-holes for stable
and sheds, and therefore the soil was
ready for cultivation on the sunny hill
side at an early period, surprising and
pleasant to contemplate in connection
with our needs for fresh vegetables.
And then with spring came such a
prodigal display of wild fora as quite
astonished us all, outshining as it did,
in many respects, the gaudiest and
brightest display of more southern lat
itudes. First, cowslips with their
golden cups, then the brilliant crimson
Indian pink, the Indian moccasin, the
blue and yellow violets, the honey
suckle, the columbine, while number
less other things of beauty. the curious
pitcher plant, the maiden's hair and
other exquisiuely-shaped ferns, all con-
tributed to make the woods and
meadows attractive and beautiful,
while the broad green lawn, stretching
away from the front of the house to the
borders of the lake, made the spot, ere
long, when it was cleared up fairly, look
like an Old Country place, freed as it
was from stumps or dead branches, or
trunks of fallen trees.
But there was bridge to build across
the deep ravine of the little spring
branch in front of the house, which
stream was to form our trout crook and
pond; and this architectural wonder,
twenty and more feet in length and
strong enough for the passage of horses
and vehicles, called for the sturdiest
efforts of myself and the lads. But that,
too, with some little engineering was at
length accomplished, and with a wind
ing and picturesque road over it, past
the front of the house, and around to
the stable in its sheltered nook, it
seemed for the time to complete our
efforts at the useful and the ornamental
combined,
1t was not long until the stray cattle of
the neighbors found out or remembered
that We had sweeter grasses on our lawn
than grew in their rambles elsewhere
at least it was plain that was their view
of the case-and so fences became a
necessity. Many hundred feet of fenc-
ing once more tested our patience and
uttermost effort, but at last even that
was accomplished, the place was cozily
shut in from the outside world of inter
Looping beasts, and SO the lowing and in
truSive herds troubled us no more.
But now, as the summer was upon us,
and the advent of our national ami
versary drew near, it must be celebra-
ted, or with us sighalized somehow and
pleasantly, and so We determined to do
this by contemplated and, indeed,
long-intended voyage of discovery, to
enable us TO become more fam liar with
our beautiful lake. About half mile
in length, as already noted, and with an
irregular shore outline, for there were
picturesque capes running out into it
here and there, grassy lawns extended
from the surrounding hills to its bor-
ders, while at one point a grand sweep
OF huge old forest trees nodded patron
izingly over it. Fish, too, were in its
cool depths in abundance, and, at its
northeastern extremity, beautiful
stream, navieable for small craft, en-
tered it, which all were anxious to ex.
plore Robinson Crusoe did not launch
his canoe to circumnavigate his island
with more interest according to his BIZ
ographer-than We, the boys and my
self, built and launched substantial
boat, to celebrate, as intimated, orr
welcome national anniversary. The
lumber had all been "gotten out" for
1t, plaued, fitted, ETC., at mill in the