Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-11-04
THoaEAU OUTD0AE;
How Jessie and l Camped Out.
By NJ. G. Q.

D4 1A- ~ ~
Jessie and were not sisters. o, no.
Pretty pink-and-white Jessie lived al
Beechwoods, some miles out of historic
C., while 1 was Cousin Nan, down
from the city to spend the summer holi-
days in the grand old place, where we
two worked our own sweet will through
the long bright days; for was not
Brother FREQ" in distant city practic-
ing his profession, and was not Aunt
Kate the most indulgent of hostesses?
1t would be hard to imagine greater
contrast than Jessie and 1 presented in
outer aspect. She, with her fluffy,
crimpy waves of golden hair, peach
blossom complexion and pansy-purple
eyes, beside my glossy ietty braids, my
tawny olivo face, with a smothered red
burning in either cheek, and nay large
dark orbs, was no more striking differ
ence than her slight, fairy-like form be-
side my own goodly stature.
But, despite all this, our tastes were
very much In common, and our minds
wont to run in the self-same grooves,
though Jessie would persist in looking
up to 'Cousin Man. as very prodigy
of learning walking encyclopedia, in
fact, to the uncalled-for detriment Of her
own well-stored little head.
1t was l that brought Thoreau down
from the city-the whole set-deeming
them suitable mental pabulum for our
country summer. We had been reading
Walden" and became thereby SO i'm
bued with love of nature, pure and
simple, and such distaste for the artifi-
cial retinements of civilized life as to look
with disdain upon such modern appli-
ances as cushioned chairs, lace curtains,
and temptingly cozy couches; even turn
ing away from the dainty repasts where
with Aunt Kate was won't to regale us,
with muttered exclamations such as
these go, the hurry and waste of
life, We are lost in the whirlpool of
a dinner" and refused the wonted SOL
ace afforded by the morning paper, al
leging, In excuse, that all news, SO
called, is gossip" And Jessie began to
pity her father openly for having in
herited houses and lands," and for be-
coming, as she was pleased to style it,
q serf of the sol, !" until genial Uncle
Ned lifted hands and voice in comical
amazement, crying out, "What ails the
girls, pray tell?" "They read altogeth-
er too much, +" was Aunt Kate'srejoinder;
they must have more company.
Whereat I exclaimed, theatrically,
COMPANY What is there that can
bring two minds nearer together p" And
Jessie chimed in with the assertion of
having 's' known many coats but few
men. ?" And what was there for Aunt
Kot1a fn do h11f laorva 4hn IL
ing silence?
One morning we received a letter
that Thoreau, Notwithstanding
worth paying the postage on for was
it not from certain other cousins of ours.
and did it not contain glowing accounts
of their delightful camping-out !" ex-
periences? This communication was
the metaphorical "last straw" and we
sat in gloomy silence silence broken.
at last, by a triumphant exclamation
from Jessie:
II have it !" Then, seeing my in
quiring look, she proceeded to a more
thorough explanation of her plan.
You know that little cottage down
by Clear brook, Nan, where jim. the
gardener, used to live? Well, it is in
good repair, not far away, but quiet and
secluded, and just the place for us to
camp out"
Seeing the gloomy delight in my face,
she went on: "We can take our books
down there and study as well as not.
There Is my German and your English
literature that we've scarcely looked into
what with our drives, our sails. and
our toilets which was literally true.
for Beechwoods was known far and wide
for its hospitality, and the "fair women
and brave men" of c. were well
content to sojourn there for days at a
Of course gave enthusiastic assent,
but queried doubtfully,
What will Aunt Kate say ?"
Jessie shared my look Of doubt for
an instant, but quickly added:
Never mind; I can coax her over. :"
Which proved to be the case, for
hard, indeed, must be the heart that
could Withstand the pleading look in
those pansy- purple eyes-though for one
instant the prospect was rather dark.
until Uncle Ned came to the rescue with
his hearty,
Let the midgets go, Kate the old
hut is safe!enough, and they'll enjoy it. !"
And | think the memory of certain OF
his boyhood pranks rose very pleasantly
before him just then, prompting half
wish to share our retreat.
So it was settled, and Jessie and I de-
voted the remainder of that day to an
inspection of our new home.
The cottage, which we christened
Walden " at first sight, in honor Of
our illustrious prototype, was a small
one-roomed edifce, destitute of paint.
but mantled with most luxurious
growth of woodbine. A fence. with di-
lapidated palings, inclosed the small
garden spot which sloped down to the
banks of Clear brook, with the stretch
OF beech woods on one hand that gave
name to the place-said bit of wood
land having been left in the earlier days
for convenience, but in these later and
more degenerate days for "effect." But
whatever the cause, the result was one
TO us, namely, that Of producing the re-
quired air of retirement as well as the
wherewithal to build our morning fire.
for we refused all such modern con-
veniences as oil-stoves, chasing them
among the snares of civilized life. and
turning In preference to the more-primi.
tive campfire.