Year: 1870

passed there was scarcely the outline of
track through the forest. The young
traveller had to find his way by marks cut
upon trees, and by the aid Of little
pocket compass, which had been given
him by sailor uncle, which he was IS
proud of possessing as any boy in these
days could be with new gold watch. 1t
was certainly more useful to him than
the finest gold watch could be, and he
took it out good many times, and
watched the delicate vibration of its nee
die.


The way though solitary was very
pleasant. The wind was warm, and there
was a smell of dried ferns in the air.
Most of the trees were still green, but \
few branches, here and there, were al
ready turning TO crimson and gold, The
open glades were gorgeous with golden
rod, and great clusters of purple aster
The woods wern very still. only pleas
ant south wind came whispering over
the tree-tops, and now and then hoarSe
murmur from the rapids in the river not
far away. He met no person; but oc-
casionally shy partridge few whirring
across his path. or bright-eyed squirrel
darted from behind some fallen log. and
sat with his bushy tail curled up, saucily
watching the traveller.


The morning wore on, and Silas .iudg-
ed from the appearance of the sun that it
must be near noon. At any rate he be-
gan TO desire dinner; SO he dismounied,
and fastening his horse TO a sapling, gave
him comfortable batting OF oats from n
supply he carried in one OF his bags, and
then sat down on a dry knoll to take his
own meal. His mother had stuffed his
lealhcrn saddle-bag with supply of
bro Sn bread, cheese and doughnuts. and
he filled his pewter cup with water from
brook which ran near by. No food had
ever tasted sweeter to him than this.


The first days journey brought him 10
Skowhegau Falls, where is now large
aud busy town. But then there was not
even n village. only little cluster of halt
a dozen buildings. Here he was enter
tanned very kindly at the house OF a farm
er named Watson, who knew the Denni-
sons we'll. Silas spent very pleasant
evening listening 10 the talk around the
fire where one or two neighbors we:e
gathered. He had never been from home
nigh, before, and he telt that he was
beginning now to see the world and was
almost man. He was little mortified
though. when one OF the men said


What is your father thinking of to
send lad Of your years on such Ajour-
nev? He must be crazy. You'll never be
able to find the way


Silas was rather hurt at this reflection
on his shrewdness and discretion, but b.
/ said nothing.


Next morning early he started again.
His progress was slow, because he re-
membered his fathers warning. and
walked the horse all the way On this
dav he went rs far a. Winslow. but with
out any particular adventure. lie slept
at a farm near the old block house thai

still stands, topping ruin, on the river
bank You may sec it as You whizz by
/ there in the swift rail car, but it i going
fast to decay, and looks as though the
first strong wind would blow it into a>
many pieces as it did the Boston Coliseum
I the other day. But i, was stout little
/ fort when. Silas saw it, and he looked at
il with good deal OF admiration.


The third day of his journey, the road:
were more open, and he occasionally en-
countcred other travellers. The farm:
were more frequent now, and the forest
/ less broken. 1t was still the same bcauti
/ ful unclouded weather. as warm almost
as summer. He was afraid that it might
be too warm for the good of his boxes o.
butter; and during the middle of the
dav he was careful to keep as much as
possible in the shade, and often to pu
fresh leafy boughs oyel the boxes TO keel
them cool.


IL was in the afternoon Of this day thai
he came near having disagreeable ex'
perience. lie came to u place where tive
roads met, and not feeling quite sure
which was the right one for him TO take,
he asked direction of boy about hi.
own age, who came along jus, then with
cart and oxen. Whether the boy was
stupid and did not understand him, OF
whether he thought it good joke tc
mislead him, cannot say. but he pointed
out the wrong road. Silas followed HI:
direction, and took the way that led tc
the right, when be should have kept tc
the left lie rode on, never snspectins
that all was not right. He knew that some
where along here was small stream
which ran into the kenncbec, and which
he would be Obliged to ford. But he wa
q good deal surprised on coming, as h'
supposed to the stream, to find it 81
much deeper and wider than he had ex
pected. There was road leading dowr
to the shore. and he could see a similar
one somewhat further down on the op
posite side. He thought it strange tina
there should be ford in such IL place
and the current looked SO deep and rapit
that he was almost afraid to venture