Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-23
=" ONLY JEAN"

CHATTER 4.
Minister of parish in densely popu-
lated manufacturing town in the south of
Scotland, and having suffered severely
from fever, gladly accepted an offer made
me by friend TO go for few months In
summer TO take charge Of parish in the
west Highlands, remote district on the
seacoaBt.
In order to appreciate thoroughly she
beauty of the scenery to which | went, and
realize the exquisite freshness given by the
sea breezes, one must have suffered as l
had suffered from the constant smoke and
dirt which made open windows almost
forbidden pleasure. How l had longed
ard painted for fresh air and here the very
act of breathing was pleasure. As health
returned | began TO wander far and wide,
and one day found myself exploring a
long stretch of moor seemingly intermina-
BILE. Heather, not yet in full bloom, and
countless marsh flowers were mingled to-
gether piles of peat were drying in the
wind !; all this lay before me and around
me on the one hand, while on the other,
far below my feet, the sea lay sparkling as
each wave caught the sunlight on its crest.
On the opposite coast rose the beautiful
hills Of Skye the breeze swept the clouds
shadows made their forms seem ever new
myrisds of sea birds whirled high above
me, screaming to each other in ceaseless
uproar laTks sang ioyously through it all !;
and ali the time the grand monotony of the
rolling waters breaking upon the rocks
chanted an accompaniment.
After walking some distance | came to
one OF those sudden breaks in the land
forming narrow glen. 1t was watered by
burn charged with the brown memory of
the peaty soil through which it passed, and
growing purer and clearer as it filtered
through the stones, leaping over others as
the descent grew deeper, till it fell in one
lovely glittering shower into the sea.
The ground rose abruptly on either side
of it, and on the banks all the way down
primroses grew In utmost profusion-late
primroses, such as can hardly be found
elsewhere, with such exquisite freshness,
such long stems sHd such luxuriant leaves !;
their very look brought sudden sense of
GOODNESS and spriugtide. Beside them, in
somewhat stately beauty, tall foxgioves
reared their head, just coming into bloom,
and of every imaginable hue-pure white,
delicate pink, with splashes of darker
color IN their hearts, and beautiful crimson,
with dainty brown pencilings. Ferns grew
IN their teuderest green's; club.mosses
showed every graduation of tint, from rich.
est emerald to olive-green a few silver
stemmed birch. trees dipped and moved,
swayed by the wind, and forming lovely
contrast to some sturdy, stiff Scotch pines
that stood at the head of the glen, as
though they were it's sentinels.
Near these pines, and sheltered by a ris-
ing ground behind it, stood a shielding or
cottage, humbly built, but with evidences
Of unusual care in its surroundings Moth.
ing of the untidiness that speaks of hur-
ried life was there paling, almost con-
cealed by honeysuckle and the common
AYRSHIRE rose, fenced the little garden
more honeysuckle was trained against the
wall and the windows stood wide open.
1t was the only sign of man or his habits-
ton had seen in my walk, and as | sat
down on the bank to rest and eat my
luncheon, wondered if the people living
IN this solitude were In any way influenced
by the beauty which surrounded them, or
whether they lived unappreciative lives,
not knowing that their lines had fallen
in such pleasant places.
In moment or two my thoughts were,
in measure, answered the door of the
cottage opened, and girl came out with a
dish under her arm piled with clothes she
had been washing. She paused for mo.
ment, as though a little dazzled by the sun,
and looked round as if she thoroughly en-
ioyed the beauty that lay about her and
then, with a swift, light step she came
down the bank till she stood on fat stone
close to where the burn was imprisoned in
sort Of pool. Setting down the clothes,
she began TO rinse them in the clear water
and wiring them out, then holding them W
she shook them out one by one, and threw
them on the bank. It was the homeliest
possible occupation, and her dress differed
in nothing from the dress of most Highland
girls short lnsey petticoat, Jacket OF
some washing material, with the sleeves
rolled high MP above the elbow but her
gestures were full OF grace, and her hair
was OF rich rudy brown, that shed a
sort of light round her head, and reminded
me Of old pictures had seen.
was unwilling to remain so near her
without letting her know of my presence,
go | rose and went down the bank to
speak to her. She answered me with the
utter absence of self-consciousuess and with
the simple directness possessed by all fine
natures her manner was reserved bu,
kindly, and her voice was low. toned and
musical. She was not beautiful, if beauty
depends upon feature and outline, but she
had most interesting and pathetic expires
sion in her dark eyes, aud when she smiled
her face lit up wonderfully, She offered
me refreshment, which | declined, but