COUNTRY MARGINS AND Rambles of a Journalist.
BYS. H. HAMMOND,
AUTHOR OF "HILLS, LAKES, AND FOREST STREAMS." ANDL. W. MANSFIELD,
AUTHOR OF "UP-COUNTRY LETTERS."NEW YORK: J. C. DERBY, 119 NASSAU STREET. BOSTON: PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO. CINCINNATI: H. W. DERBY.
1855.Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by J. C. DERBY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. E. O. Jenkins, Printer, No. 26 FRANKFORT STREET.
DEDICATION.
TO THE HON. THOMAS A. JOHNSON.
A JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
MY DEAR SIR:—You are to some extent responsible for the publication of this book. It was your own suggestion that "COUNTRY MARGINS" should be printed and bound in a volume. Whether that advice was prompted by the kindly prejudices of ancient friendship, or a just appreciation of the merits of the work, you see it has been accepted. I therefore take the liberty of dedicating this book to you. If other excuse is necessary, I trust it will be found in the recollections of bygone years.
THE AUTHOR OF "HILLS AND LAKES."
PREFATORY.
THE Editor of the ALBANY STATE REGISTER received one day from an anonymous correspondent, a communication which occupies the first chapter of this book. He published it, with a playful commentary, supposing, at the time, that there the matter would end. A few days afterwards, he received "MARGINS No. Two," which he published with a commentary in like manner. From such beginning the correspondence grew on, until it acquired the dimensions presented in the book which is now given to the public. The writers were entire strangers to each other until the "MARGINS" were more than half written, and it was an accident which made them acquainted at last.
At the suggestion and upon the solicitation of many friends, who professed to be pleased with the correspondence, most of which was published in the REGISTER, it goes before the public in its present shape. It makes no claim to any peculiar literary merit. It was simply the result of a digression in the routine of the labors of a daily journalist, intended to lift his paper out of the dull monotony of politics, rather than for publication in a book form. It does not, therefore, challenge criticism, nor affect to compete with the finished productions of popular authors of the day for public favor. The page: vi-vii (Table of Contents) [View Page vi-vii (Table of Contents) ] end of its publication will have been accomplished if it shall afford amusement for the leisure hours of those who desire relaxation from labor or severe study.
But little more than one year has gone by since the last "MARGIN" was sent down to the printer, and now the "Up-Country" home, where the writers first met, is lonely and desolate. Of the happy group there gathered on that pleasant summer night, three have departed to another home. The light, the joy, of the house is gone. Time itself is but a "margin," dear reader; it is but a step over its borders.
S. H. H.
ALBANY, June, 1855.CONTENTS.
COUNTRY MARGINS.
- I. INVITATION TO DINNER. "Soft-Boiled Gravel"—The Bear Performance—Speckled Trout. 9
- II. THE HALL CLOSET. "Lie Still, My Darlings"—The Smile of a Wife—Don't Touch the Wine—Spring Chickens. 17
- III. COUNTRY LUXURIES. What a Beautiful Shower!—Tell Him to Come—Young Onions—New-Mown Hay—A Kiss Between the Eyes—Climbing a Mountain—"Small Bob." 27
- IV. EDITOR'S LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE. Fourteen Stone Weight—A Beautiful Morning—The Standard of Beauty—The Milk in the Cocoanut—Sources of Great Rivers—A Sensible Conclusion—Don't Come on Friday. 42
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- V. A FRIEND FROM THE OLD DOMINION. The Reverend Friend—L. P. of the F. F. V.—Rising Sun—Taking a Rest—Turkey Shooting—First Song of the Lark—A Good Trout Stream—Returning Home to Die. 56
- VI. A CHAPTER FOR THE SABBATH. A Good-Bye to the L. P.—Bishop Heber's Poetry—Great and Glorious Truths—Old Memories—The last Farewell. 72
- VII. ROARING RIVER. Stop Every Thing—Where are we Going?—Mountains and Rivers—All Aboard!—The Waters of Health—Mile Posts by the Wayside. 82
- VIII. HOW POEMS LOOK IN PRINT. A Little Poem—Briefs not Plenty—The Gentleman in Black. 94
- IX. ISOLATION. Pleasant Summer Pictures—The Young Indian—No Man his own Master—Sleep, Beautiful Sleep!—Brook-Trout and Dreams—A Forest Dream—Caprices of a Dream—The Dream Over. 110
- X. D, WITH A DASH TO IT. Troubles of an Editor—Blowing off Steam—Spelling Figs with a P—An Excited Bridegroom—Mists of Early Morning—A Marvellous Good World. 120
- XI. SEPTEMBER. A Rainy September—Beautiful Summer Days—Gold upon the Landscape—What did Katydid do?—Song of the Cricket—Days of Sunshine and Storm—The Village Schoolmaster—Matronly Composure. 133
- XII. OCTOBER. Glory and Pomp of October—Modern Stimulants—One of God's Laws—The Betrayed Girl—A Solitary No—The Pippins in the Orchard—The Favorite Apple-Tree—The Thief in the Apple-Tree—She Served Him Right—The Midnight Culprit—Just Measure of Retribution. 150
- XIII. NELLY. Little Nelly Fast Asleep—Precocious Children—Love of Little Children—The Garden of Eden—Nothing Free From Danger—Adam and Eve no Childhood. 173
- XIV. DREAMS. Trifies Light as Air—Christianizing the World—The Phantasies of Dreams—Nothing New Under the Sun—Pure Spring Water—A Dream of Childhood—An Extraordinary Prayer. 186
- XV. THE BRIGHT MORNING—AND JULY. The Death of Suzie—An Obliging Host—A Father's Recollections—"Independence"—Northern Lakes—They are Gone, All Gone—Dragon Oysters. 201
- XVI. THE DINNER, AND GOOD-BYE—DDECEMBER How did the Editor Rest?—A Struggle with Boots—Shake Hands and Part—Test of Spring Chickens—Never Floored but Once—A Brick in the Hat—Farewell. 217
COUNTRY RAMBLES.
- I. CANANDAIGUA—PENN YAN—CROOKED LAKE—BATH—HORNELLSVILE. A Beautiful Landscape—Declining Years of Life—Penn Yan Then and Now—A Beautiful Sheet of Water—A Beautiful Valley—Crooked Lake Reminiscences—Killing My First Deer—One of the First Settlers—A Frightened Negro—Good Old Times—A Bear Instead of a Deer—Passing Down the Lake—The Sweet-Voiced Birds—Foaming Cascade—Thriving Village of Bath—Daylight Among the Hills—Excitement of the Chase—"Gentlemen of the Jury!"—Brook Trout—A Hunting Anecdote—Who Killed the Deer? 233
- II. NIAGARA—PORTAGE—WELLSVILLE—COUDERSPORT. The Mighty Cataract—A Niagara in Miniature—A Great Lumber Region—Shrewd Tax Gatherers. 278
- III. LAKE CHAMPLAIN—BURLINGTON—KEESEVILLE—AU SABLE FORKS—FRANKLIN FALLS—SARANAC LAKE—ROUND LAKE—TUPPER LAKE—BOG RIVER—ON THE BANKS—THE BLACK FLY. An Imaginary Picture—Islands in the Lake—When I Get Rich—A Wonderful Gorge—Brave Men are Sleeping—On an Elevated Plain—A Fire in the Woods—A Country Tavern—Music of the Frogs—An Involuntary Plunge—Rich Mines of Iron—The Two Settlers—"Seminary of Learning"—Deep Fishing—The Rapids—An Eccentric Habit—The Astonished Buck—The Slumbers of Night—A Fellow Sportsman—Beaver Canals—The Saranac Woods. 287
- A. SUNRISE IN THE COUNTRY. 333
- B. "THE SAINTS' REST." 339
