Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-05-31
And now, SHARK! H.rk! The lark at


trlous the name OF the skylsrk. What {
thrill goes through the veins at the sount
Of that note Of liquid sunshine! | onc'
knew Scotchman who had been In ou
own country twenty years, who sale
that one day while out in the fields II
New Jersey, he heard the song OF birt
that almost lifted him from his feet. III
took off his hat and went down on hi
knees, the tears streaming down his face
His friend who was with him anxiousl!
asked the reason for this strange c)n
duct. "That bird ia 4 skylsrk," was hi
trembling reply. Nonsense" said hi
friend, "There are no skylarks In thi
country" But nothing could convlnc'
him that he was wrong, and IL was after
wards learned that gentleman In tn,
vicinity had returned from Scotland ant
bought pair Of skylsrks and liberated
them in meadow near by, but 1t is pre-
sumed they perished, AS nothing Wa
ever heard from them afterwards.
The song Is indeet glorious one
long and loud and liquid notes, Ike I
string OF j'wels dropping from the sky
One can imsgine how that homestcl
Scotchmsn felt, when, II dandelior
could make such havoc with the hesrt
strings, what would happen II the nOte
of that unrivaled song bird, the wood
thrush OF our old Maine forests, shoul'
stsrtle the ear some day, wandering owe
these lone and dresry moors.
Other little birds inhsbit these silen
ouldering ruins, and seem not IN fea
the encroachipg steps Of the intrude'
more than the silent footballs OF ghosfl
lords and ladies that resouDd no more ''
the listening ear. So they joyously q
and wsrble, aud gaze with inquiring eye
on "the stranger within their gates"
But you are tired OF ruins, and castle
and ghosts-what we want 10 see now u
people, and so, passing by a crofter'-
dwelling, 1t suddenly occurred to US that
the long walk had been very fatiguing
and ss the door stood open and the guide
wife sat by knitting, the stranger sp,
preached and asked for drink OF water,
more as an excuse TO get inside than any
thing else. The good dame arose and
politely invited the intruder In, giving
her the best chair 10 the room, y wooden
bottomed affair. with home m sde rockers
and cushion Of braided rags. These
dwellings are built OF stone, and seldom
contain more than two compartment
some OF them but one. A bed stood In
one corner, a wooden bench or settle
grsced the other, both evidently OF home
construction. A peat fire burned on the
hearth, and the cooking utensils, = fea
tin plates and wooden tray or two
were ranged about the room. a rough
stable stood against the wall. On q
shelf we're few books which constituted
the library, the Bible, Pilgrims Progress,
Life OF John Knox, several bound
volumes Of the Edinburgh Review. and
q volume Of Csmpbell's poems. These
articles of furniture nearly filled the
room, which WAS luxuriously furnished
In contrast to the cabins OF the Irish
peasantry In Ireland We have just left.
The drink OF Adams ale was forth
coming, and though served In pewter
cup, Il tasted far sweeter from such .
vessel from the toil-stsined hand OF on,
OF the Ayrshire Ploughmsn's cotters
than would drink Of champagne at fiv'
dollars q bottle, served In a cut-glss'
goblet or golden chslice, from the snow
white hand OF princess.
Wishing for an excuse to remain and
draw out our hostess Ia conversation
the privilege OF resting bit was asked
and hospitality given, and the visitor
ventured to ask y question for the SAKE
OF hearing the sound Of the musical Scot
tish language.
"Psrdon me, guide wife, but where are
the bairuies? l always look for th'
BARNS In every household, for methink'
there could not be quite home without
them"
"Ay, mem, We msun weel say that,
says the guide wife, "but the guide Lore
has seen fit to gle US but ane. She's
wee bit lassie and gangs wi her dsddi'
to fetch the sheep and the kye."
Our interesting conversation was hers
interrupted by q neighbor, who, aftel
def.rentislly greeting the stranger. ex
citediy informed the hostess that kirtse!
McClellan's hush and had just died.
"Weel, weel," said the GUIDE wife, ian
this Is the third ane. Was ever wum
nun sac plagued wi deein' men," Aftel
a moment the solicitous neighbor asked
AN what did he lesves" He left this
warld," said the other with twinkle II
her &c.
This is almost as good as the answer
Of the old Scotchmsn We heard OF 10 th,
neighboring parish OF KirkconnelI
When the new minister called and asked
no the wife Was, not having heard ths
Sandy had just been left widower io
the fourth time-"Deed, meenister, Ia
oot o. wives noo," said Sandy will
a tesrdrop in his ee.
MARTHA MAXIM.