INLAND TROUT FISHING. 655 



in the country, far away from the busy haunts of plodding man, where I 

 might enjoy to my heart's content that modicum of otium which an enthu- 

 siastic lover of nature is so glad to bestow upon himself during the fra- 

 grant spring or the frosty autumn. 



About this time my attention was directed to the woods and streams of 

 Maine ; for they, most assuredly, promised novelty, seclusion, and freedom 

 from worldly cares, as well as the additional attractions of wild scenery 

 and out-door life. After a brief consultation with a friend, who had lately 

 returned from a summer's excursion to a lovely chain of lakes in Oxford 

 county, of this border state, I concluded to pack up and be off ; and of 

 course, as a sensible sportsman and true angler, I took my gun and rod 

 along for company. 



On Wednesday, September 21st, 1864, at 11 a. m., I found myself seated 

 in the cars, on the point of leaving for New York, from thence to Boston by 

 the Norwich boat, at 5 p. m. Arrived at Boston the next day, Thursday, 

 the 22d, at 6 a. m., engaged a cab, and went immediately to the station of 

 the Maine Central Railroad, took breakfast in the caf6 attached to the 

 building, and left at 7.30 a. m. for Portland ; from thence per Grand Trunk 

 Railroad, to Bethel. Arrived at Bethel about 5 p. m., remained all night 

 at Lovejoy's Hotel, an excellent country house, with an obliging and atten- 

 tive landlord. The next day, Friday, the 23d, we left Bethel in the ordi- 

 nary stage coach for Upton, twenty-six miles distant. The road over the 

 mountains and through the gaps is not devoid of interest, some of the dis- 

 tant views are very bold and attractive, some of the valleys fertile and 

 picturesque, with meadow lands watered by meandering brooks, filled with 

 nimble Trout. The road is rough in some places, but not positively bad ; 

 it being far superior to many of the rude mountain paths in our own state, 

 over which we have jostled and jolted right merrily, in quest of new 

 Trout streams. 



We alighted at our place of destination about sunset, having loitered 

 considerably on the road. The town of Upton is composed of a few scat- 

 tered houses, situated on high ground, at the foot of Lake Umbagog, which 

 lovely sheet of water commences the chain of wild lakes and mountain 

 rapids, stretching many, many miles, far to the northward. 



Mr. Frost, the proprietor of an excellent house at the lake at the bottom 

 of the hill, extended to us a genial, simple, and unaffected welcome, and 

 we soon found comfortable quarters under his hospitable roof. A few 

 paces in front of the inn is a mountain rivulet which flows into the lake a 

 short distance beyond. 



