14000 MILES 



could not cheer their hearts, by telling them the road was 

 level and hard before them. We spent the night at 

 Auburn, across the river from Lewiston, as the Elm 

 House looked attractive. At the suggestion of the pro- 

 prietor we took a horse car ride in the evening around the 

 figure 8, one loop being in Lewiston and the other in 

 Auburn. The horses must have been electrified, for we 

 never rode so fast except by electricity, and we returned 

 to our room quite refreshed. 



Poland Springs was our next point of interest, and we 

 were well repaid for our drive to the top of the hill, where 

 the immense hotel when filled must be a little world in 

 itself, for all sorts and conditions of men are attracted 

 there. We met Boston friends who invited us to the 

 morning concert, in the music room. After dinner we 

 climbed to the cupola for the view, then ordered Jerry 

 and were ofif again. Sabbath Day Pond, which lay along 

 our way, is fittingly named. It has no look of a weekday 

 pond, but is a crystal, clear, peaceful perfection, that is 

 indescribable. The Parker House at Gray Corner 

 afforded us every needful comfort, even to a hammock in 

 the side yard through the twilight. 



Now we began to lay aside — not forget — the things 

 that were behind, and to strain our eyes for the first 

 glimpse of the ocean. Portland was only sixteen miles 

 away, and as we had left the sand, it did not seem long 

 before we drove to the Portland post office and got home 

 letters, always so welcome, then to the Preble House for 

 dinner. 



There was one place on the coast, that we skipped 

 before, and now we proposed to explore Prouts Neck — 



236 



