The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-11-04
TpOREAU 0UTDOAE;
How Jessie and 1 Camped Out
BY NJ. @. O.


Jessie and were not sisters. o, no.
Pretty nk-and-white Jessie lived at
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 Free" 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 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 olive face, with 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 Nan" as q very prodigy
of learning-a walking encyclopedia, in
fact, to the uncalled-for detriment of her
own well-stored little head.
1t was 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 a love of nature, pure and
simple, and such distaste for the artif-
cial refnements 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 wont to resale us,
with muttered exclamations such as
these: go, the hurry and waste of
life, we are lost in the whirlpool of
dinner" and refused the wonted SOL
ace afforded by the morning paper, al
]eging, in excuse, that "aH news, so
called, is gossip" And Jessie began to
pity her father openly for having Gin
herited houses and lands" and for be-
coming, as she was pleased to style it,
'' a serf of the soil" until genial Uncle
Ned lifted hands and voice in comical
amazcment, crying out, "What ails the
girls, pray tell ?" "They read altogeth-
er too much, was Aunt Kate e'sreioinder
"they must have more company. "
Whereat 1 exclaimed, theatrically,
Company What is there that can
bring two minds nearer together p" And
Jessie chimed in with the assertion of
having 8" known many coats but few
men. And what was there for Aunt
Kate to do but leave the field in despair
ing silence?
One morning we received q letter
that - Thoreuu, 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 "campinE-out ex-
periences? This communication was
the metaphorical "last straw" and we
sat in gloomy silence-a silence broken,
at last, by 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 dewr
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 te
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 O
time.
OF course L gave enthusiastic assent
but queried doubtfully,
"What will Aunt Kate say ?"
Jessie shared my look of doubt fol
an instant, but quickly added
Never mind; 1 can coax her over. y
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 ole
hut is safesenough, and they'll enjoy it.
And think the memory of certain o.
his boyhood pranks rose very pleasantly
before him Just then, prompting hal
wish to share our retreat.
So it was settled, and Jessie and l de
voted the remainder of that day to al
inspection of our new home.
The cottage, which We christenet
Walden at first sight, in honor o
our illustrious prototype, was small
one-roomed edifce, destitute of paint
but mantled with a most Luxurious
growth of woodbine. A fence, with di
lapidated palings, inclosed the small
garden spot which sloped down to thu
banks of Clear brook. with the stretcl
OF beech woods on one hand that CAV,
name to the place-said bit of wood
land having been left in the earlier day
for convenience, but in these later anc
more degenerate days for "effect." Blu
whatever the cause, the result was one
TO us, namely, that Of producing the re
quired air of retirement as well as tn,
wherewithal to build our morning fire
for we refused all such modern con
veniences as oil-stoves, chasing then
among the snares of civilized life, anc
turning in preference to the more-primi
tive campfire.