The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-06-18
THE HOUSE ON LONG HILL.

q. tio way pdck from Fftchburg to
view maven, after Yale College va
cauon' l rode across Connecticut on A.
Dlcyele. The second day of the trip 1
stoppeu ut Pomfret to visit Putnam 3
Woil den' This took more time than L
expected SO that 1t was dark before
reached the Nathan Hale monument at
South Coventry.
Here left Lake Wangumbaug on my
right and soon entered a lonely road
where woods added their shadow to the
darkness as evening rapidly fell The
track was grass grown, stony and bad
for wheel. Many cart-paths made the
way uncertain, because, in the dark
ness the main road could hardly be dis
tinguished from them. The mountain
Gus character of the country increased
as | proceeded; sharp declivities and
steep hills frequently alternating and
compelling me to walk much of the
way
After a few miles of this slow work,
saw that l was nearing huge eleva-
tion that lay across my course like
dark, partly rocky and partly wooded
range. l thought that the road would
soon turn and lead me through some
pass between two hills that the dark
ness had shaded into one, but instead
of that 1t approached the base directly
l jumped off my wheel and began
to climb hill so steep that | did not
see how horse could be driven up or
down. After while 1 began to think
it had no top; but at last was at the
summit, where, In a small clearing
stood half-fallen chimney, like the
monument of a family wholly gone. The
landscape beyond looked dark and wild.
few lights glimmered so far away,
and remote from each other as to in
tensify rather than relieve the loneli-
ness
The descent of the hill was not quite
so steep, but 1t threatened to be even
longer than the ascent. | had carefully
run down the rough road for a long
distance when a light suddenly flashed
out on my right. l discovered that 1
was passing the entrance of a lane that
led back several rods to a house from
which lantern just then passed to a
well. The light revealed the stone
chimney and the ancient windows of
house that had, perhaps, survived
former century.
The well-sweep tipped and rose
again and the lantern quickly disap-
peared at side door. Here / raped
woman about twenty years of age. She
was modest to the verge of diffidence
and one more unaffectedly dignifed
and graceful / had never seen. Her
answers to my inquiries convinced me
that in order to reach the nearest hotel
l should have to pick my way in the
deepening darkness along several miles
of road no better than l had already
found.
l made bold to ask If l might remain
till morning where | was. She turned
and referred the question to Grandma,
who appeared aged and lnfrm as she
sat in an old wooden rocking chair.
ASK the gentleman in, Carrie" said
she.
The room into which / was invited eX-
tended almost across the rear of the
house. At the end opposite to that
where l entered, door standing partly
open gave a glimpse of a small bed
room. Half way down the room on one
side was an open fireplace with its
crane, its andirons and its stone hearth.
Paneled woodwork extended around
The sides of the room and as far up as
The window-sills. In one corner was
tall, oldfashioned clock In another
corner, at the end farthest from the
bedroom, stood a closet that was like
square box set on end and pushed back
into the angle where the side meet the
end of the room. The corner Itself made
The back walls of the closet, while the
two front sides made an opposite corner
that projected into the room.
Its doors were fastened with a wood
en- bottom put on with a big wought
nail. This closet was used for a clothes
press for overalls and other things worn
about the farm. Like almost every
tbing else to be seen in this room, it
0alped the illusion that transported me
Oack to colonial times
accepted the chair near the old lady,
who was deaf, and found her an inter-
estiug and intelligent talker But con-
Eersation was made little difficult by
the deafness of the elder and the diff
dence of the younger one. Both char
aeteristcs. however seemed to fit the
place charmingly
They asked about my trip. When 1
mentioned my destination, the young
Lady surprised me by remarking:
Il have a brohter at Yale"
l inquired his name.
Your brother is well known in coll
lege, said l. 'he is one of the best men
among the juniors"
She blushed at this praise of her
brother, and turning toward the door l
had noticed, said;
You will occupy his room; that one
behind you / am afraid 1t may seem
little lonely" she added, but our
hlred man will come home before very
late and his room Is directly over it,"
Nothing so lonely as that road from
coventry is likely to fall to my share
Eo-nlght," l replied
IT must seem so TO a stranger. l
suppose, too, that this Is the longest hill
you have seen on the way"
Yes and | hardly saw this for the
darkness. But l realized its length"
Long Hill is its name"
1T is a fitting one. We have a high
hlll or mountain, in full view near
tltchburg, almost as aptly named 1t
mas bare stony look as If stones might
roli down from the top. and we call it
Rollstone."
Isn't Mt. Wachusett near Fitch
burg?"
In