The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-20

August sun; tansy was dust covered,
and ferns had grown ragged and gray.
The jogging horses left behind their
lazy feet suffocating cloud.
"My land!" said Mrs. Pike, elf that
amt goldenrod. l do believe ii comes
earlier every year, or else the seasons
are changing. See the elderberries.
Amt they purplel You just remem-
Der that bush, and when we go back,
We'll fill some pals. l dunno when
I've made elderberry wine"
Like her hus band she was vaguely
excited; she began to feel as If lille
would be all holidays. AT noon they
stopl ed under the shadow OF an elm
tree which, from its foolhold in field,
completely arched the road, and there
they ate lunch of pie and doughnuts,
while the horses, freed from their head
stalls, placidly munched a generous
feed of oats near by. Hattie and her
mother accepted this picnlcking with
an air of Apologize amusement, and
when one or two passers-by looked at
them, they smiled little at vacancy,
with the air of wishing it understood
that they were by no means accustomed
to such irregularities.
! uNSo LuSN llAluh We ~ EilpiSof
said Hattie, as one carriage rolled past.
Well, they needn't trouble them
Selves" returned her mother, rising
with difficulty to brush the crumbs
from her capacious lap. " guess I've
got as good an extension table at home
as any of 'em."
But Eli ate sparingly, and with pre-
occupied and solemn look.
" Land, fatherl said his wife, "you
amt eat no more n birdp And he
answered:
81 guess I'll go over to that well and
get drink of water. | drink more'n l
eat when / amt workin'." But when
he came back, carefully bearing tin
pail trimming with cool, clear water,
his face expressed strong disapproba-
ton, and he smacked his lips scorniully.
d" Dreadful flat water!" he said.
"Tastes as if come out o. the oistern. "
But the others could fird no fault with
it, and Serene drained the pail
" Pretty good / call it," he said, and
Mrs. Pike rejoined:
You always was pretty particular
about water, father"
But Eli shook bis head. and ejacu-
lated, Bracksh, brackishl" as he be-
gan to put the bit in Doll's patient
mouth. He was thinking, with a pas
sion of loyalty, of the clear, ice-cold
water at home. which had never been
shut out by pump from the purifying
airs Of heaven, but lay where the splash
ing bucket and chain broke every day
the image of fern and moss. His throat
grew parcbed and dry with longing.
When they were within three miles OF
the sea, it seemed to them that they
could taste the sadness of the incoming
bree re; the road was ankle deep in dust;
the garden flowers were glazing in then
brightness. 1t was a new world. And
when at last they emerged from the
marsh boldered road upon ridge OF
sand, aud turned sudden corner, Mrs
Pike faced her husband in triumph.
There, father!" she cried. "There
It is" But Els eyes were fixed or
the dash board in front of him. He
looked pale.
"Why, father" said she, impatiently
"ain't you goin' to look? It's the
sea-"
"Yes, yes" said Eli, very quietly
"byme.by. I'm goin' TO put the horses
up fust." r. yE4
;" Well, l neverl" said Mrs. Pike
and as they drew up on the sandy trac'
where Serene had previously arranged
place for their tents, she added, al
most fretfully, turning to Hattie, {"
dunno what's come over your father
There's the water, and he won't ever
cast his eyes at it."
But Hattie understood her father, by
some intuition of love, though not o.
likeness.
Don't you bother him, MAJ" sh'
said. "He'll make up his mind to i
pretty soon. Here, let's lift out these
little things, while they're unharnessin'
and then they can get at the tents"
Mrs. Pixies mind was diverted by thu
exigencies of labor, and she said NJ
, more; but after the horses had beer
put up at a neighboring house, ant
Serene, red-faced with exertion, ha'
: superintended the tent raising, Haiti
l slipped her arm through her father
= and LED him away.
"Come, pa" she said:in whisper
, lie g you and me climb over on then
a rocks"
9 Eli went, and when they had poke
4 their way over sand and pools to
I headland where the water thundere
below, and salt spray dashed up i
:, mist to their feet, he turned an
c looked at the sea. He faced it a
soul might face Almighty Grea
$ ness, only to be stricken blind there
Il after; for his eyes filled painfully wit
. slow, hot tears. Hattie did not look 6
t him, but after while she shouted i
= his ear, above the outcry of the surf
- Here, pa, take my handkerchief.
e don't know how It is about you, bl
g this spray gets in my eyes"
. Eli took it obediently, but he did NJ
81 speak; he only looked at the sea. Th
two sat there, chilled and content, III
. til six O'Clock, when Mrs. Pike cam
~ calling to them from the beach viii
10 dramatic shouts Of
Supper's ready! Sereno's built
y burn fire, and I've made some tea!
y, Then they slowly made their way baC
80 to the tents, and sat down to the eve
70 ing meal. Serene was content, al
" Mrs Dika huatlipn and triumpb q