Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-27
Vacation in Autumn.

for being away, and then l did not fe i
specially ircd. But when n favorable
time camcthe middle of October, hurried
aw.y to the old home in New York Til 1t
old home was at Schroon Lake, the crowds
of summer visitors were gone, and the
qlict so restlul to the preacher was
oblairaJle. They said | ought to have
been there earlier when the city visitors
were there, but did not think so. Or
should have been there in the season OF
not weather, so cool and fresh among the
hills they said. But had been there with
both those conditions, and privately said
TO myself, | was glad to be there once
with neither of them. For who feels like
resting in crowds, or visiting in such heat
ns one ee's among the hills of North New
York, even. If the weather is hot, con-
sign me TO the quiet of my own home, or
some Of the farms of my New Hampshire
charge, or some of the deep woods to be
found.always near one there, or some of
its charming lakes or rivers. There one
y
existence rs he will, with much more
sense Of pure restfulneSs, than anywhere
else lie can test his skill as a fisherman
to he utmost with the black bass or pick
crel TO BE- found everywhere-if he is
successful fisherman. Then if many of
his parishioneis alo absent, enough will
rymain to demand what energy is to be
aroused in the sultry summer sun. II
can be seen, therefore, that enjoyed my
fall vacation.
Autumn seemed fitting season, too
for visiting among the old friends. For
the gliding years bring changes which
speaks of the passing of life; the mother
is steadily Yielding to the encroachments
of time. the brothers and sister, all show
that the whole family grows old. And
how so well to detect ones own speeding
Years as to read It in the looks of those
with whom he has been always associated.
The sports which the preacher is expect
ed to enter on during his vacation, to rest
and recuporatc him, were not lacking
now in O;.obor. A bolt gave tho most
unlimited chanccs of rowing, and tho fine
pickerel-genus Es0r-that were pulled
olt shove that i. WAS not to- late 10 drop
line to familiar acquaintarces. To be
sure the long hard turns Of pulling the
boat made my arms lame for II day or two,
but how could sleep the following night
Mind, too, that Il burning sun did not
render those pulls intolerable, nor cause
d niger ofsunstroke, as August days would
have done. Nor did thermometer at 100
all night roast the weary rover, as he
needed TO SLEEP. But delicious all.ni9ht's
sleep with neither heat, nor musquitoes,
nor the glarng sun rising at four o'clock
10 pierce into the c e;cs, .ive such relish to
breakfast IL Tie weary preacher seldom
finds The shooting too was excellent.
Cray squirrels aboundcd, partridges
could be oun by some hunting, and the
mjsrl,ion Of 'duosS filed .the lakes and
ponds Every preacher should have one
steward on his oli 3iai bolrl adapted to
vlctt!oa5-one who has 90. new double.
blwe!ed, brelca-loldins, shotgun, which
he W tnti to hly. "tric [ have such a
one, an his new gun was capital shoot
er. My first shot with it rolled pretty
duck over, an later shots gave me ducks
in abundance. OIr band brought down
two heavy back ducks on tn, wing. 1t is
a piece Of pretty hunting to approach
them in alboAt on an early morning hour,
while yet lOggy; to see their first alarm
a. the silently approaching hunters and
then when they rise to shoot and see them
drop heavily back into tho water. But
even the black ducks are not very good
citing, according .to' my taste, though
the best bird found in these northern
regions. WoodcOcks are too small TO have
their meat become ofrequired consistency.
One Of my trophies was u jet black squirrel
the foolish fellow came right up to me,
as was seated on a log in the woods.
His skin, stuffed, adorns 4 pretty home at
Ballston Spa, N. Y.
Then such n day as l had in quest of a
cave among the mountain. Years before
my brother and another man saw the
On'rance to Il cave, which they had no
Tine to explore, but Of which I had been
told again and again. Now we went TO
ill and explore the well discussed won
der. 70 North Hudson, u dozen miles or
moe, was a splendid drive, that October
morning. Yes, they knew there was a
cave away in the mountains but were
uncertain Just where 10 have us find it.,
and my brother could not fully recall all
Me directions SO long time had passed;
AID % many changes bad occurred in the
umb'r woods But no call for discour.
a-cmn', 20 we plunged into the woods.
VITO could foretcll the result Ct the days
scramble mong the mountains and through
THE woods, save that we would not find
no cave, anl would get terribly tired.
But, il with rhcse drawbacks, who would
not lave the cnjoymcnts of that day.
Dinner, IL Sohdier, at the foot of a
mountaia, with coffee made from water
dipped from gurgling stream plunging
over the rocks; the mountains thousand
'ee' above cur highest climbing. with
glacial powders as big as haystacks on
the tip top of 'thom; the dim old WOODS
Untouched by mans destroying hand; the
Lnj rAdorite lo3k, its pale steel blue every
whore meeting the eye and sometimes
Yielding the exquisite Labrador iridcscent
crystal, once so highly priced in Europe
asa gom; ther, not the least, the sp lendid
p'rridge that graced our praises Of the
"TRIP next day. But the cave kept out o
''r slSht--and it WIS tantalzing, indeed
TO IInd The old road which must have led
TO 1t, so late in the afternoon. when we