Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-08

and TIL tightening playing in the heavens
How well recollect our taste OF camp
lifc,-for we camped in real wall-tent,
close under Aunt James Window What
a busy day that was,--the day we pitched
the tent.--carryng bedding from the
house. pinning flours and pictures on the
canvas walls. Then, finally when the
interior had been satisfactorily arranged,
we sat down to supper served from the
top of big wooden box. Afterwards, in
the deepening twilight. we caught hre-flies
and made them prisoners under glass
tumblers. How exciting 1t seemed as
we sat there and watched them
sparkle and glow and told stories
of ghosts or OF wild and daring advent
ures. Then when aunt and grandmother
had babe us goodnight and sweet
dreams" and tucked us into our little
beds on the tent floor one of us arose
and tied the curtains of our doorway
very securely. But how difficult it was to
sleep!-how many peculiar little rusting
sounds all about us!--how mournfu and
sad was the breeze stirring among the
tree-tops! At last, Just as sleep was
overcoming me, | discovered a stately
grandpa -long-legs' deliberately walking
across my face. Then my courage quite
departed: like culprit l cautiously
arose from my mattress, and not waiting
to unite the many knots OF our door,
quickly and silently crcpt under the
edge OF the tent walls. and with throhbing
heart mounted the steps of the house
and turned the knob of the door which
was never locked: stumbling up the stairs
in the darkness 7 made my way to the
high posted bed where aunt Jane slept.
Much to my surprise she was wide awake
and did not betray any establishment at
my appearance. ! related my encounter
with the horrid spider and she drew me-
close to her and declared that he was
very rude indeed. that she did not wonder
that made my escape from such monr.
ter.
How wildly stand out those red-lcttor
days when we walked down to grand
fathers saw mill which had been silent
/ then for many a day. Aunt Jane would
help us close the moss covered gate Of the
old weather-bcaten nume, then-the water
would rise Until sometimes it was nearly
two feet high. O the sport.-such dane
ing and spashing.-and aunt looking on,
would laugh and clap her hands at our
reckless and daring antics.
How clearly l recall those sugar parties
We enjoyed in midsummer. Aunt Jane
! would fiji a great kettle with the soft,
brown maple sugar, and while it was
boiling and bubblirE. sending out its do
lcious aroma, we would husily butter tho
| tins,-lttle tins with huted edges; then,
precisely at the right moment, aunt
would remove the kettle from the stove
and STIR the syrup until it thlckens suhi
| Gently to pour into the tins In few
moments We would turn them upside
| down and out would fall the wonderful
brown cakes. still warm but firm.
| How strange II would have seemed &c
US if Aunt Jane had ever had been toe
busy or too weary to have Joined us in
our play! How incomprehemsible woult
have been an aunt with nerves.
Sometimes on a rainy day she woud
go with us into the garrct. that Away.
mysterious dimly lighted ulace. filled witt
| old trunks and odd pieces af furniture
! faded chromos and discolored prints
whore grandmother's flax wheel and spin
ming wheel. even then, reposed in silence
where ears of yellow corn hung in clust
ers, and festoons Of dried apples stretch
ed from one rafter to another Openin
a small leather trunk. all studded wit
! brass headed nails, Aunt Jane woulj
bring forth letters that we had writer
to her when We were real young. A.
We read them how greatly Impressed W,
We're Of the fact OF our having once beer
Sc very young indeed, Then how interest
ing to find locks of ones own hair. tieC