The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-02-23

I fore l reached my temporary nome. ~
sky had become overcast, aud fine drizzl,
was falling as l alighted from ramshackl'
kind of vehicle which the driver called ;
gig-but which struck me as bearing con
siderably more resemblance to worn Ou
taxeart-at the gate of Orchard Farm
could see the misty outlines of CLOSE
growing trees. aud amid them shoue the
CLEAN Of a light here and there, while tn,
patch of radiance east by an uncurtained
lattice lay almost across my pathway.
Through the faint mist of rain came
sweet scents iunumerable, swectbrier, roses
jasmine all giving out their sweet breath
unstintinely, aud over all, aud dominating
all, the old familiar perfume Of sweet
lavender | say familiar beeause--so
subtle Is the association of pertume-il
took me back at once to the memory Of my
boyhOod in my minds eye | saw the
little white curtaiued room that welcomed
me home from school As each holiday
came hound; the little room where my
mothers touch seemed to linger every
where. most Of all in the scent Of the Law
ender that came from tiny muslin bags in
which the purple spears were prisOnod,
Thus the lavender set me TO thinking Of
a long dead past; bat all this vas after a
hearty and thoroughly eountrifed supper,
at which a neat handed, round faced girl
waited upon me. and With a quaint little
dip Of courtesy asked me when |
would be pleased to take my breakfast,
and athe mistress said. would | have =
bowl Of milk, warm from the COW, sent up
at seven, like the last gentleman who vas
at the farm"
There was a certain ready sympathy in
the girls look aud tone that convinced me
that Orchard Farm vas sort Of perpetual
sanaiorium; and that broken dowa eFca-
lures If various kinds we're il she habit Of
auding an asylum there, and being rcsus-
oitaied with bowls Of aeu milk aud ether
country comforts evcu felt iusuitiyeiy
that a person 10 state of rude health
sOuld hardly be acceptable to the iuhabi-
tanss Of this Midland homestead, wherc al
sxeet perfumes mingled 50 delieiously, and
where the question how she ledger might
BE- getting on, vas doubtless an io'ersSt-
iug part Of TIE day routine.
The sense Of deep restfulness was % me
like cool hand laid caressingly upon a
feyered brow Those long, weary hoars Of
wakefulness which had besci me for many
week pas,-hours, each one worso and
more weary than the last--seemed as a
dream that IS past.
The hne rain had ceased 10 falli sott
aecey clouds moved gently across the sky
and concord Of sweet sounds rose from
the deep bosom Of the woods.
The nighiinxalss wcru mad hciisaih The noon.
Ana With strange ecstasy Of garEiing s9as
Made night all lnbtlsnt
New, thought to myself, as ! struck
/ match and lighted my pipe, did | ever
hear nightiugales before
Perhaps. Bat surely | had never beer
+ in so receptive humoT-nevcr 20 attunee
to the harmony Of their exqisitc elamor,
Seated at the open window, peacefully
smoking. coutentedly musing, became
conscious Of the fact that the woodlanS
choristers sang to an accompaniment
low, monotonous, deep note
1T is the river, though, | delightedly
Il must ask NJ r. to morrow about h,
fishing
London. with all its whir aud stir; NJ,
EDITOR sanclum; the stairs tina, led thereto
by 70 means a jacobs ladder; long, inter
minable slips Of proofs impatient printer
devils beating the devils tattoo upon IN,
door; all these things faded away like 5
I many ui-S1lNiu- ftchrs ~ NtefAc
hours had become complete rustic; m.
highest ambition was to catch fish il th
river that was singing somewhere Their
among the woods and fields, bring then
home in a erecl, and get my rosy-face
Phillis to broil them for my tea. 4 hum
bic aspiration, truly, but one which to an
tired and overweight brain seems TO hol
the gift of rest aud healing.
To turn in at half-past ten, instead 0
sitting up in company with the creation
of ones own brain till far into the sma
hours, was novelty, and seemed ike
tempting of Providence in the matter o
sleep. But no. Haunted by the perfum
of sweet lavender, and looking dreamil
forward to the bowl of milk, warm froI
the cow, quickly fell asleep, my last col
scious thought running thus: "Now tn
: mistress must be NJ. r" So | fell int
the poppy valley of dreamless night
luxury, to me, new indeed.