Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-11-04
WOODBURY., N. J., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1850

Qu6rl6Q Mr. ATcner. NO one knows
we are coming, and quite long for one
more outdoor repast. Besides, we have
been 'roughing it so long as to be
scarcely wonted to civilized life as vet.
"Capital p echoed Fred. "What
have you girls got for breakfast?"
"Corn and potatoes roasted in the
ashes, and corn-bread and molasses.
You remember Thoreau's bill of fare; it
is ours, too,' replied Jessie, demurely,
with glance at Mr.. Archer as she spoke.
But the gentlemen professed themselves
entirely satisfied, and I said, oracularly,
"He that eats must work, and if you
gentlemen stay you must pay the pen
atty. Cousin Fred, there is the basket
and hoe, your post will be the corn field
and potato patch. Mr. Archer, this fire
will need constant replenishing, so you
may gather sticks" Having thus as
signed them their station, Jessie and I
turned our attention to the matter at
hand, and after much merriment and
great deal of waiting, we sat down to
very creditable repast of the above-men-
toned articles, further reinforced by
Boston crackers and cold tongue from
the gentlemen's lunch basket. We had
moved the table out under the trees,
and what with improvised seats, the
novelty of the situation, and the laugh
ter and iesting consequent thereupon,
passed pleasant hour.
Jessie and ! dined at the house that
day, but, positively refusing any further
concession to the world, returned to our
solitude and interrupted studies
studies, however, doomed to more than
one interruption Of the same nature, for
the gentlemen professed themselves to
be as much in love with Walden cottage
and life therein as we ourselves, and
countless were the fishing parties they
instituted, and delicious the chowders
they concocted, and many were the
hunting expeditions from which they re-
turned laden with small game, TO be
cooked IN hunters fashion, but most ap-
petizingly, at our gypsy fireplace, and,
fear me, Taine and Ollendorf were
most sadly neglected the while we gained
IN the art Of angling, or took long wood
land rambles, from which we returned
with happy faces, and brows crowned
with wild flowers.
1t might also have been noted about
this time that sundry changes took
place in our attire, numerous bright
ribbons and fresh lawns taking the place
Of our somber serviceable grays, almost
without our knowledge.
It was on one of these self-same ram
bles late in the month, when Fred and I
had fallen behind Jessie and Mr.. Archer,
which, by the way, had happened very
often in these latter days, and some way
they never seemed to mind it either
1t was on one Of these rambles, say,
that Fred bent his handsome blonde
head very low and whispered-though
why should he whisper, there was no one
to hear?
'sWe are going back in three days,
Nan; our vacation is more than past.
Shall you care very much ?"
And I, startled by the sudden an
nouncement, lifted my eyes quickly to
his face, which was not at all prudent
under the circumstances, and he read
what he chose in their depths, and then
but there, I shall not tell you a word
he said, that is my secret. 1 only kr v
that few minutes after Fred was ve-y Y
near, and was turning a jeweled circlet
on my finger, and seeing it through a
mist of tears that dimmed its glitter
strangely.
The time is very near, Nan {; don't
you think you had better break up at
Walden ?" This brought me to myself
with a start, as I exclaimed, remorse-
fully:
"What will Jessie say?"
"There is your answer" laughed
Fred, pointing down long reach of
trees, at whose farther end could be seen
the glimmer Of pale blue lawn, with q
most unmistakable coat-sleeve outlined
against it, while the ietty locks of its
owner were in dangerous proximity to
the others blonde crimps. Foiled at
this point, I tried another;
"Three days why, could never get
ready In the world"
Nothing to wear r said Fred, light
ly; "don't tell me. What does your
oracle, Thoreau, say about it-'H you
have any enterprise before you, try it in
your old clothes r"
So what could 7 do? And Jessie
found herself helpless before the same
arguments, and, three days from that
time, we were whirling away from c.,
on the fast express, ere the inhabitants
of that city had fairly recovered their
breath at the astounding announcement
of double wedding in high life, .
upon such short noticel