Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-11-04

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frowning faces some Of the fair inmates
of the cushioned barouches carried
away with them upon learning "The
girls have gone farther In the country
for seclusion and study" for Beech
woods was most delightful place for
weeks sojourn, as they well knew but
Aunt Kate, once won over to 1car side,
protected us manfully, SO that none in
vaded our solitude.
But everything must have an end, and
SO did the pleasant days that had graced
our weeks stay al Walden, and we awoke
one morning to hear a quick shower
pattering against the windows.
"Dear, dear our fire will be all out
What shall we do, Nan?"
"Do? I don't know. Go up to the
house for breakfast, 1 suppose. Every
thing will be too wet to kindle it again. "
$50 up to the house I'' echoe Jessie,
Indignantly. Indeed, I shall do no
such thing. Haven't they been telling
us all this time that the first storm
would bring US back? I've no doubt
they're expecting us, and that plates are
laid for US this very minute (which we
afterward found to have been the case).
Go back I'll go hungry frstl' and
Jessie looked very determined and pret-
ty, indeed, as she finished her toilet and
announced that the rain was over.
"There's blue sky over yonder, Nan
get your rubbers and come on" and
suiting the action to the word she sailed
forth, and I followed suit.
Just as we expected, every spark of
the provoking fire, that we had covered
SO jealously the night before, was out.
Making the best, however, of bad mat
ter, we set to work bravely, and that
devoted fence suffered as never before.
But it was slow work. Everything was
drenched and dripping, and we were
inexperienced hands-so inexperienced
that after an hour of toll breakfast was
still fair but distant prospect; and the
faint and struggling flame we had con-
iured up fickered dolefully, and threat
ened every instant to expire in smoke.
This was the state of affairs when,
Jessie having taken her turn in the
chopping department, was bending
with an anxious face over the fire, striving
to place at the greatest advantage new
relay of kindlings, was startled by the
ringing sound of an unmistakably manly
voice, exclaiming:
"Well, never if there isn't Jess |"
followed simultaneously by an ecstati0
little scream from Jessie, of:
"Brother Fred, where did you come
from ?" as she dropped her uplifted
hatchet and rushed to meet him. rose
to my feet hastily, only to find myself
confronted by tall, dark, aristocratic
gentleman, whose smile Of recognition
brings deeper roses to my cheeks; for
was not this same gentleman Mr.. Archer
from the city, and one of the greatest
lions of the last season, and my Qato7adana
partner for more than one German dur
ing the previous winter? I place my
hand in his outstretched one, only, how
ever, to withdraw it quickly as I discover
how many and deep are the marks it
displays of its recent conflict with that
refractory fire, and an added color springs
to my face, lest that also bear the same
traces.
"This is Nan, I know" said tall,
blonde Fred Cameron, releasing himself
from his little sister and turning toward
meas much of gypsy as ever, I
see "-and-well, his greeting was very
brotherly, indeed.
"But what does it mean, Jessie? you
girls out here at this hour on rainy
morning? anything wrong atthe house?"
and a look Of anxiety darkened his face.
Nothing wrong, but where have
you gentlemen been, pray tell me, and
how did you arrive in this out of the way
place, at this time of day?'
"Been camping out took fancy to
come up home and bring Archer along
walked up from the station to surprise
the folks, " replied Fred, briefly.
Camping out that is just what we
are doing, Fred, Nan and I.
appealingly, but that gentleman, with
the relics Of Boston conservatism still
clinging to him, answered never a word,
only smiled aggravatingly-whereat I,
aroused, answered coolly-using the
very words of our oracle-''We came out
IN the woods because we wished to live
deliberately, to front only the essential
facts Of life, and find out what it had to
teach u.s." A look of astonishment grew
in their faces.
eyes, chimed in Jessie, quoting from
the same source, "We were tired of
cabin passage, and wished to go before
the mast, and on the deck of the world.
"Thoreau, as I live" cried Fred, and
the look Of astonishment deepened.
eyes, Thoreau," said Jessie, calmly,
but mischievously.
"No man (or woman, either can ever
unfold the possibilities of his own intel
lect who does not at least checker his
life with solitude"
Mischievously-I say-for the scene
was, to say the least, slightly amusing.
Time-early morning, and rainy one at
that. Place-the river bank overarehed
by dripping trees. Properties gypsy
fireplace, a smoky fre-two young
ladies engaged In attendance upon it,
and pausing In this occupation to quote
from the classics was somewhat aston
ishingi
A look of amazement, mingled with in
terest from Mr.. Archer at this last quota
tion-wondering doubtless, that young
lady should read other than the latest
novel, or the newest society poem.
$50 you read De Quincy. Miss
Cameron? He is one of my friends, tool'
eyes, admire De Quincy very much,
but Thoreau is our oracle just now; let
me bid you welcome to Walden. ;"
And Mr.. Archer's eye frightened as
he caught sight through the open door
of our ponderous volumes, but inter-
rupted here with dolorous cry,
"The fire has gone out; what shall we
do?"
True enough, that provoking fire. tax
ing advantage Of luli in our Efforts, had
disappeared in smoke.