276 HILLS AND LAKES. 



" I've been thinkin', Squire," said he, " 'twould be 

 a pleasant thing, for you city people, to spend one of 

 the hot months, every season, off here among these 

 lakes and mountains, in a quiet way, huntin' and fishin,' 

 and lookin' about just enough to keep nater a goin' ; 

 sleepin' on green boughs at night, and sweatin' among 

 the hills in the day time. There's no pestilence in the 

 pure air of this region, and a few weeks out here in 

 the woods, would drive out all the seeds of disease, 

 planted in the system by the foul atmosphere of the 

 cities. 'Twould drive away that sallow paleness, from 

 the faces of your young men, and make 'em strong. 

 People keep good hours, in the woods. They go to 

 roost with the birds, when the darkness comes down, 

 and they're up as soon as the stars go out, and they 

 see the sun rise in the mornin'. They ain't spendin' 

 their nights at the theatres, and clubs, drinkin' cold 

 punch, and smokin' cigars, and doin' a hundred other 

 things that bring on old age afore its time, instead of 

 layin' themselves quietly away to rest ; and then they 

 don't swelter all night in the bad air of a close room, 

 that the morning breeze never looks into, and their 

 lungs ain't poisoned by the smoke and vapor of ten 

 thousand cookin' stoves, and forges, and machine- 



