A SUMMER DRIVE IN THE LAKE COUNTRY. 227 



places. When vegetation ceases, then beautiful ice and 

 snow will adorn the earth ; cell life will only give place 

 to crystallization. The rain had left the roads heavy, and 

 it was near dark when we drove around and down the 

 long steep hill through the woods to the village, where 

 we hoped to find a quiet resting-place after an unusually 

 hard day's ride. It has been a pleasure heretofore to chron- 

 icle the best of entertainment at all our stopping places, 

 and we have often left with a feeling of indebtedness for 

 courtesies and favors generously bestowed by both 

 friends and strangers on the road. Here our reception 

 was interesting and our entertainment phenomenal. As 

 we reined up to the hotel to which we had been directed 

 on the way, a tall, thin man of the hair-pin type met us 

 at the carriage and almost embraced us in his eager wel- 

 come ; he was so affectionately brotherly that I almost 

 looked to hear him ask for the " strawberry mark on 

 some arm " in recognition of a long lost kindred. '' Were 

 we tired ? Would we stop with him for the night ? 

 What a fine horse, and what an easy carriage ! Were 

 we traveling for pleasure or business ? His was a tem- 

 perance house, and just the place for tired man and beast; 

 did we wish supper, etc., etc. ? " to all of which we could 

 only answer that " we would stay with him, as we were 

 very tired, and quite hungry and a little thirsty," and 

 suggested that at least '' a cup of strong tea would be 

 very acceptable." As our room was not in readiness, we 

 Avere ushered into the public parlor to await supper. 

 An hour latter the tall man made his appearance and 

 announced that " It would not be convenient to get a 



