St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-09-04

4
Salem go to see Donald G. MitchelPs
old home where the above book and
some others were written many years
ago. Off from the main street, on a
branch road, about a half mile from the
village, stands "Ike Marvelsn old
home, n quaint, Old-fashioned farm
house falling to decay. Glancing into
the clear water as the dripping bucket
swings up aud out of the well, we al
most expect to catch a glimpse of the
old ''bachelor" and not ourselfi Back
from the house, the river is still run
ming, while birds and squirrels sing
and play in the same woods but a
think for little, we wonder if to-day
in his more modern home in Westville,
CT, our good friend enjoys life as
much as he did here. However, his
old farm is only one of the beautiful
spots near by. A ride of an hour or
two over the hills to the west, past
"Fairy Lake" - where on summer
evenings Il thousand little tOrch-bear
ers may he seen gliding over the quiet
waters-brings one to a wild, secluded
spot called "The Devils Hop Yard =" !
The man who gave such name to so
grand a spot was surely full of the
wrong kind of spirits J A pretty water
fall deep cut chasm a clear, cold
mountain stream a valley rich with
varied ferns and grasses; the whole
watched over and guarded night and
day by the gray-headed, white bearded
cliff towering high above, is worth of
prettier name. If we pass to the east
again, where the village of some
twenty houses lies, and then go
south, we soon come to large build
ing famous in the past but now falling
to decay. At one time "Music Vale
Seminary" was widely known, but now
the harp on the vane is as motionless
and still as that (Which once through
Tara's Hall sweet music gave ~ Here,
we Judge, bats now live and owls hOot
their dismal music, where but few
years ago harp, piano and guitar were
touched by dainty fingers now notion
less as their former dwelling place.
There is grim sort of humOr in the
signs, now worn and olden, which are
over the doors of what were the
boarding houses. On one we read
VALLEY Home" and over the other are
the appropriate words, "Sunset Cot
tage,' for truly the sun has gone down
and the night of decay and waste is
now upon it but Father Times fin
gers are gentle after all and he will
trim these falling walls with fresh
green drapery in spring and summer,
and all the winter long spread over
them his warm, white cOunterpane and
let them sleep in peace. A ride of two
miles to the south takes one near "Lov-
er's Leap" and "MOuntain Lake." while
near by, in the woods, lives real her
nit ! Who is not fascinated by the
name Who would not visit his hut
if pOssible7 This the writer did, but
after staying there some fifteen min
utes he was glad to go outside where
God smiled. Poor old hermit O1
what use is your Greek and Hebrew
Does your Latin help you now that
you never try to help others 2 Thank
God, the truest education lis knowing
His voice and doing His will us tru,
day as when those simple GalileeaI
fishermen became His wondrous CO.
workers. Turning from the foul
smoky hut of this fallen man, we pas,
along by little daisies, as pure as the
dew they drank last night here in thei
meadow home. | would rather hav,
this wee, modest daisy by my sid,
saying many sweet, uplifting things t.
me, and never rebuking my inner life
than all that earthly royalty could Civ,
or paltry riches bestOw.
As one comes ont of the woods an,
looks upon the "MOuntain Lake."
choice bit of scenery opens up befOr
him. The lake covers only about te
acres, and lies very quiet except nov
and then when its ripples run up tin
northern banks, as if to nestle close
to the mountain which bends dow
and looks into the water below, Will
the trees, like many fingers, seem t
brush back the hair from his brow
The sharp spur of rock, northeast o
the lake, is called "LOver's Leap" be
cause, the legend runs, n disappointe
Indian lover sprang from it's height int
the lake far below and never rOst
That is a pretty story and one tina
would be especially impressive b
D moonlight, but | suspect the real snito
more likely did what some mOder
lovers have done, lost his balance whe
j out on rock after water lilies, an
S simply tumbled in. The lilies here al
especially beautiful; we see their heaC
bObbing up and down as a breeze ru
fies the water, and they seem yer
+ near until one tries to reach them wit
e pole by walking out on fallen tire
or wading where the morass shakes {
II if it had the ague which it is constan
y ly giving to others. However, patienc
It pluck and perseverance win the da
o and he who works slowly and wait
g gains the lilies, and in fact, all thin
5, worth striving for.
ii Let any who wish rest and freedO
d from care; those who never tire of
,Fl