The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-07-05
CHAPTER |.

The sun shines ON no more hnaUt.fui
and ,arranring region than tn" vale Of
Big Elk Creek. 1t is the r!y>um of
lovely Cecil county. MHryland winding
between the rich alluval meadows, I'LL
the way through grand old Cecil. IT.
sparkling. dancing and hahhlin@ waters
pass mcrrily around Elkton. an! loll into
Elk River. at Ell, Landing. and their
joyous plattlr is heard no NOR" forever.
The -rrrn land of the valley seems to
roll IL gentle umduatiomS. lik" the waves
of calm sea. Between the swelling
hills ~ rather waves of vrrDiu!r. flow
cry>t i streams towards the luSpm of
til" "'arly Elm.
T...Sr baby streams are >ha !, with
the llu>t fragrant ana d"lightiul of tn"
flow, my shrubs and vines. llor' nature
thru'.S around he" riches with au III
SPAR = hand and II wonderful rNuh"r-
nnr, If luxury. Birds of the most "I!-
chanting melody till all the summer
groves. nj early morn and eye. with their
perfect music. Flowers of countless
vali tics. and most hrHuttu! forms and
hu"> Laden AL the air with their amhio-
>ial perfume. The breeze is charged with
mus" and fragrance. aS rlpu thu spicy
gl"v.~ of -,"ry itself.
If IN this garIrr-thiS Conservatory of
nat"Ir. where I'LL her chG!cr,, Injuries
are a$Srn lArl there is "n' spot nor"
iav".cd than all tn" rest. it i "Nlapl"
ShadrS." the beautiful SCENE If our story.
Eut how strange that | should call my
yu". readers at such an early huur in
the morning. for SCr. the first cray
>trvaks Of dawn have only just hogan
to turrow tLr orient. and everything just
now is 1T u weird hush save III" tinllug
of u cow bell in the meadow below.
The birth Of uur story is May tn" :iOth.
1874. And ~ | have already said tn"
Scrln is ui. the west side of the dancing
waters of the lovely Big Elk Creek. but
far up tn" >tr"amlrt from Elktnn. And
II luorc romantic or picturrsqu" locality
doe not exist in Jphovah'S universe. Al
this point the laughing waters of til"
cvcr habhing brook is almost shut III by
Il natural trclliScd arch from bank to
bank. and tn" southern hooking bird
sang on this beautiful arch from early
dawn until evenings twilight. was com
plcrely banShrd by the srmhr" shades of
night. flight near. and only across yon
green meadow. stands Il delightful old
homestead. and the stone domicilr seems
~ ne HDl'lllt- 'Ul arms VI N'l''Ili' ~ NV
coming guests And everything denotes
thrift and industry about it.
Now. rs we are about to tax" on our
two first characters just here, and in rs
much rs they are the master and mistress
of This grand old home. we will try and
describe John and Mary Mason. They
had been welded for about ten years.
but were chidle>S. They were only
short way on the shady side of thirty
years in life. and a handsomcr pair never
crossed the Big Elk. They were entirely
happy. save the want of Il sweet little
tot which would place the finishing touch
of brightness in the lovely home of John
and Mary, or Molic. as he called his
charming wife.
But how still it is, and am keeping
my readers here waiting for the coming
dawn. But bark. hear that furious bay
ing of the great Newfoundland canine,
over ut the Mason home Surely some
thing is amiss out at the barn. John and
Mary were aroused from their peaceful
Slumbers, and Molie got out Of bed and
went to the window next the barn. to
note the cause Of the sudden outbreak.