A BED OF BOUGHS 173 



"But could we not," said my facetious compan- 

 ion, "go it on that? " 



A couple of miles beyond I stopped at a house 

 that enjoyed the distinction of being clapboarded, 

 and had the good fortune to find both the milk and 

 the young lady. A mother and her daughter were 

 again the only occupants save a babe in the cradle, 

 which the young woman quickly took occasion to 

 disclaim. 



"It has not opened its dear eyes before since its 

 mother left. Come to aunty," and she put out her 

 hands. 



The daughter filled my pail and the mother re- 

 plenished our stock of bread. They asked me to sit 

 and cool myself, and seemed glad of a stranger to talk 

 with. They had come from an adjoining county 

 five years before, and had carved their little clearing 

 out of the solid woods. 



"The men folks," the mother said, "came on 

 ahead and built the house right among the big 

 trees," pointing to the stumps near the door. 



One no sooner sets out with his pack upon his 

 back to tramp through the land than all objects and 

 persons by the way have a new and curious interest 

 to him. The tone of his entire being is not a little 

 elevated, and all his perceptions and susceptibilities 

 quickened. I feel that some such statement is 

 necessary to justify the interest that I felt in this 

 backwoods maiden. A slightly pale face it was, 

 strong and well arched, with a tender, wistful ex- 

 pression not easy to forget. 



