138 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK. 



cellent cultivation, with here and there a well-stocked 

 farm, suggesting an agricultural and dairying centre. 

 I found a good night's rest here, envied the people 

 their peaceful existence, and rode away with a sense 

 of complete refreshment. 



JTinetmit!) Slag. 



Briggs JTouse^ 

 Saint Johnsville, New York, 

 May Twenty-seventh. 



Called for Paul at eight o'clock, and after halting a 

 moment at the office of the Mohaiok Valley Democraiy 

 crossed the river to Fultonville, which is connected 

 with Fonda by a substantial iron bridge. Passing 

 through this town, an enterprising one for its size, I 

 continued my journey along the south bank of the 

 Mohawk until I readied Canajoharie, where I stopped 

 at the Eldridge House for dinner. 



Here I met another Socrates who had a ^'favorite 

 prescription " for healing the sore on PauVs back. 

 Spent an hour very pleasantly in the office of the 

 Mohawk Valley Regider at Fort Plain, where I learned 

 that Ciiarles W. Elliott of this paper is a son of 

 George W. Elliott, author of "Bonnie Eloise.'^ For 

 many years this song was a great favorite, not only 

 along the Mohawk, but all over the country, and is 

 certainly one of the sweetest ballads of America. 

 There is a swing to the rythm and charm in the lines 

 which keeps it in memory, and in riding along 

 through the scenes it describes, my thoughts go back 

 to the old days in Rensselaer County, where as a hoy 

 I first heard the words. 



