A DAY IN AN OLD ORCHARD. 129 



with a trunk measuring nearly ten feet in circumfer- 

 ence and branches of corresponding dimensions; and to 

 another near the well that usually yields thirty bushels 

 of apples annually. The first of these has an immense 

 iron rod holding together its two main branches ; the 

 other shows here and there a dead limb, not\vithstand- 

 ing its wonderful yield of fruit. Two other trees, stand- 

 ing side by side, so nearly resemble each other in foi^n 

 and height as to remind one of that wonderful pair of 

 trees representing Baucis and Philemon. They are 

 more than fifty feet in height, and lean slightly towards 

 each other, and although the whole orchard is of natural 

 fruit, that of these two trees is exactly alil^e in color, 

 form and taste. About the middle of May I received 

 this message from the proprietor : 



" Come on Friday and you can then stay over until 

 Monday ; the trees will be in full bloom, the singing 

 birds are thick as bees, and your favorite cat-bird is here 

 again this spring. He seems to live by singing just as 

 my neighbor's boy does by whistling. What makes 

 lazy boys always whistle their way through the \vorld 'i 

 There is a nest of young muskrats under the stone 

 bridge in the road opposite the house, and the little 

 fellows show themselves every morning. A little bird 

 resembling the chipping bird in size and color sings in 

 the trees in the pasture the most curious quavering 

 songs ; he is a new - comer, I think, in these parts, but 

 you will likely know him. Nearly every night and 

 morning a wood tlirusli sings in one of the large elms 

 east of the orchard. We have pure milk, sweet grass 

 butter, fresh eggs, and two casks of cider yet untapped 

 in the cellar, and I give you the word of an old captain 

 that no such cider was ever found in the city. 



'Tours, T.J. K." 



