Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-01-20
THE MOUNTAIN CAVE.
"A story for Children ]

n SNoIN
Once upon a time-not so many years
ago-three cousins were passing the sum-
mer in one of the pretty villages of Maine.
A huge mountain lifted its pine-capPed
head above the cluster of dainty white
cottages, and a silvery lake sent back a
perfect picture of mountain and village
making one of those beautiful bits Of
landscape for which Maine is famous.
On the side of this mountain, these three
children-Addie, Johnnie and Effie by
name-passed many pleasant hours. And
il is of one of the numerous adventures
with which they met that am going TO
tell you.
One day, while rambling trifie higher
on the mountain side than usual, they
made a great discovery,-nothing more
nor less than care, and a real large one,
too, plenty large for them all to go in
and walk about,-providing they did not
hold their heads very high; and YOU may
be sure they were delighted. To be sure,
it was not quite so mysterious as the Won
derful "Smugglers Cave" Of which
Johnnie had been reading, or so bounti-
fully supplied with rich treasures as
"Aladdin's Caves" but to three city chill
dren, roaming at large in quiet country
village, it was sufficiently wonderful, and
promised an untold wealth of fun.
Johnnie was ahead, as usual, on these
tours of exploration, and startled the
girls, slowly toiling up behind him, with
his shout of "Oh, I've found cave !
I've found cave"
The girls hurried up to view the Won
der. and after expressing a suitable
amount of surprise and admiration, set
abou, clearing it up little and planning
in what way they could best enjoy the
new-found treasure. II was decided to
gather together good, large pile Of dry
twigs ready for a FIRE, and then 90 down
TO the house and ask Aunt Sophia for
some potatoes to roast, and something
nice 70 finish out the lunch, and then
come back and have a jolly time. No
sooner said than done, and away they
scampered over brambles and rolling
stones, soon reaching the border of the
pretty lake, which sparkled so brightly
in the morning sun, at the foot OF the
mountain. A very few moments sufhced
for them to reach home and make their
errand known. And as they were large
enough TO be trusted, Aunt Sophia kindly
furnished them a little basket filled with
nicely washed potatoes, bread and butter,
cold meat and doughnuts. What could
children ask more: Only kiss, and
away they scampered back to the cave on
the mountain side.
Here the fire was soon kindled, and
after having been kept burning sufficiently
long to form a good bed Of Goals and
ashes, was allowed TO die down some
what, and then nice place was raked
open, the potatoes carefully laid in
and covered up and left to bake, while
the happy playmates went inside the
cave to prepare suitable place for a table
on which to serve their lunch. This
they soon found could be nicely arranged
on large rock, near the opening, which
proved to be quite fiat and even when the
loose rock and earth were cleared away
and in a short time the table was laid and
all was in readiness for the potatoes
They were accordingly raked out, placed
on the cover of the tin pail, in which
they had taken the precaution to carry
up some water, and so placed upon the
table. Whether half-done baked pota-
toes and salt (which Auntie had thought
fully put into the basket would have
been considered delicacy at home is a
question; but "hunger is the best sauce, y
you know, so the potatoes were soon ali
eaten up and everything else, for that
matter.
l must not stop to tell you of the
cracked and even broken dishes that
found their way, from day to day, to the
mountain cave; or Of the wonderful fur
niture constructed for its establishment
but 1t was soon made very comfortable
and convenient, and many were the din
ners and suppers, yes and even breakfast.
eaten there. But must stop just long
enough to tell you one incident that oc-
CURED at the cave after it was all ar
ranged in "apple-pie order," as the girls
expressed it, and then I will close.
The early summer had slipped away
and the garden vegetables were begin.
ming to appear upon the table. when the
cousins planned q grand dinner at the