Green fields and whispering woods; or, The recreations of an American "country gentleman"; embracing journeys over his farm and excursions into his library . osted with regard to the mat-ters taking place at the new farm, in everything there washe deeply interested, and it was to him, and to him alone,that the enthusiastic owner of Oakfields could safely giveunreserved expression of his happiness. The letter was chiefly written in the main room of thesmall farm-house, one bright July afternoon. How well Iremember the day ! I sat at a plain pine desk of black stain,which stood near the eastern
Green fields and whispering woods; or, The recreations of an American "country gentleman"; embracing journeys over his farm and excursions into his library . osted with regard to the mat-ters taking place at the new farm, in everything there washe deeply interested, and it was to him, and to him alone,that the enthusiastic owner of Oakfields could safely giveunreserved expression of his happiness. The letter was chiefly written in the main room of thesmall farm-house, one bright July afternoon. How well Iremember the day ! I sat at a plain pine desk of black stain,which stood near the eastern window, whence I could seethe men at work at land-clearing, and where the mingledsounds of the farm-yard — my farm-yard — were as musicto my ear! My epistle ran as follows: Oakfields, July 17, 18—To Horace^ a Sojourner in the Deserts of the North—Greeting : I lang hae thought, my youthfu friend, A something to hae sent you,Though it should serve na other end Than just a kind memento;Though how the subject theme may gang Let time and chance determine,—Mayliap it may turn out a sang, Mayhap turn out a sermon! 156 WB OWE FOR A LODGE IN S. V. Dear Horace,it was Cowper(whose namesome have affect-edly pronounced Cooper) who sovehemently Ohd for a lodge insome vast wilderness,— some boundlesscontiguity of shade. Well, we havefelt the need of such a lodge for many ayear, and ah, how have we ohd for it!yea, as earnestly as did the sweet poet ofEngland ! Now we have such a lodge, and—weowe for it still! Yea, Horace, and of a verity,we sit to-day in our lodge, surrounded by such aboundless contiguity of forest shadow as must throwinto the shade completely all wildernesses Mr. Cowpercould have imagined as surroundings for his camping-placein his own little island. Whether we are so secure in ournew and delightful retreat as that Rumor of oppression and deceit,Of unsuccessful, or successful war, will never reach us more,-remains to be seen; but if suchrumors do reach us we
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