The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-10-17
An Autumn Walk.

Two friends took advantage of. "Oc-
tober's bright blue weather" on a re.
cent afternoon to take favorite walk.
Their route was out Congress street,
where the trees seem unusually bril-
liant this season, and down the so-called
Perkins road. The conditions under
foot were excellent, as the recent rains
had laid the dust and left hard sur
face almost as smooth as a pavement.
The foliage was beautiful along the
roadside, where the Virginia Creeper
and little naples gave note of scarlet
against the soft bronze background of
beeches and scared ferns. In most of
the roadside some brave little purple
asters, nearly faded out by the strong
sun, raised their heads like tlecks of
foam, and one sturdy little. oak tree
whose every leaf was dark oxblood
color was admired. The tall naples
here and there pointed scarlet finger
of scorn at the neighboring clumps of
white birches. but those "princely beg
gars of the wood in silver rags" rustled
their dainty golden leaves defantly,
while the stolid pines and frs in the
background looked on tolerantly as if
to say, "What foolish, giddy people. !"
A tiny spot of brilliant scarlet at our
feet attracted our attention and proved
upon examination to be a little maple
about three inches high, bearing three
perfect miniature leaves which mad put
Loyalty on the autumn bravery adopted
by the other members of the family.
AS we journeyed on the blue North
port hills filled in the gap between
the almost meeting trees, and
gave us a hint of other beauties to
come. AS we neared the parting of
the ways" by the Perkins bridge the
flock of sheep browsing in the pasture,
which was formerly part of busy
brickyard, gave a touch of life to the
scene, while the distance softened the
voices of the men in the fields busily
gathering their late crops. We did not
linger long at the bridge, for tree of
delectable sweet apples in the imme-
date vicinity, known of old, beckoned
us on. Disappointment awaited US,
however, for the special tree we sought
was not bearing this year and we We're
obliged to find substitute for our we'll
remembered favorites, which, like all
substitutes, did not quite come up to
the original.
The school team" rumbled by with
its gay load as we were stocking up and
the bright laughter of it's occupants
echoed over the fields after it had pass
ed from our view. Laden with all the
apples we could eat we returned to the
bridge, where we sat for few minutes
looking down at the stream below and
enjoying the "stolen fruit" A ledge
on the opposite bank looked alluring,
however, and the idea was not fully
expressed before we were on our way
there. The fence on the bank was
moderately high, and had a decided
outward cant, but two Wide-eyed cows
who mooed questiongly from the oppo-
site bank were the only spectators and
we ''stood not on the order of our going
but went at once" Over the fence we
came upon several colonies of delec
table puff balls, which were gathered
in haste with a view to supper later on.
when the end of our walk should have
found us at home with sharpened appe-
titles.
In our zeal we did not forget our mec
ca, however, and when the last little
white button was WreSted from the
ground we went on to the slate ledge
before mentioned, which juts out into
the stream that purred over the rocks
below. We were rewarded for our ex
plorations, for lovely bit of scenery
was revealed before US. Down at the
the foot of the steep bank Little River,
high for the season, rippled
along, now softly flowing through a
quiet stretch over the pebbles, now
singing loudly as its waters were divid
ed by rock which made dancing ed
dies and a little foam. froth. Up the
stream was bit of unsupported mead
ow, as soft and bright a green as ever
it was in June, with row of stately
elm trees in the background and glints
of the blue-brown stream in front. As
we sat on our point of vantage we
Observation-Disclosures