A SUMMER DRIVE IN THE LAKE COUNTRY. 2l3 



lawn beckoned us to drive into the carriage house till 

 the storm had passed over. The proprietor of the well- 

 conditioned estate was an intelligent and social gentle- 

 man, and the unpremeditated call proved an agreeable 

 episode of the day's journey. One of the pleasantest 

 acquaintances that we have formed took place in this 

 way. A heavy showier caught us several miles from a 

 hotel. A kindly -looking man was at the gate, and see- 

 ing that the rain would be a drencher, told us to drive 

 into the barn, which was open and comfortable. The 

 shower turned into an afternoon rain, but the good man 

 and woman of the house most hospitably entertained us 

 till the next morning, and then sent us on our way re- 

 joicing that we had found such companionable people 

 among strangers. 



In the late afternoon we found a pleasant unfenced 

 woods, in which were quantities of wild red raspberries. 

 It seemed such a good place for a picnic that a halt was 

 made. Lady Bess was ready and willing, as usual, to 

 participate. 



We always carry a feed of oats, so that if caught too 

 far from a hotel when the horse needs a bite, we are in- 

 dependent in this matter. It took but a few moments 

 to fill our cups with berries, whose aroma and flavor 

 surpasses any that are ever grown in gardens. These, 

 and a few crackers, with a bottle of light wine, made us 

 a delicious little lunch, which many picnickers on a larger 

 scale might have envied. The little indigo birds sang 

 continuously above us, and a pair of yellow hammers 

 alighted on a neighboring stub to inspect our improvised 



