252 Tue Aroostook Woops. 

concord wagon, with its noisy, clucking axels had outrun the 
cluck, and was giving us an imitation of the railway train on 
a down grade (like, we will say, the new straight line, ‘‘ Bangor 
> 
and Aroostook,” when it shall come, swift and smoothly glid- 
ing across this same old Aroostook road, direct, slap, bang, 
spank! right into the towns of Aroostook). When the birch 
bark canoe that was securely lashed upon the two wheeled 
calamity towing behind us, had stopped its bouncing, seeming 
now as if yet smoothly running over the surface of dead 
brook, and you again whispering, ‘‘ quiet, lay low ; black ducks 
ahead!” I see you holding on your gray derby hat, I steady- 
ing the little mare, when you say ‘‘Let her go pard! go it Lil! 
’ 
gaily for home if you wish to,” as she trotted right through 
a covey of partridges in the way, scattering them to right and 
left, and up in the evergreens beside the road, the little gray 
fairly flying. ‘* Go it little lady ! never mind the birds, as we 
have plenty ; run all the game out of the old road if you wish; 
you cannot take from us any of our six weeks of good time 
which we have had in these last twenty-one days.” 
I see you shaking hands with Uncle Nat, our good natured 
host, upon the shore at parting, when the canoe, lifted from 
the ‘‘ calamity” was ready packed for launching out, resting 
stern end upon the sandy shore, while the bow end was lightly 
bouncing up and down upon the waves, with your humble crew 
in the bow end impatiently balancing his paddle, Uncle Nat 
still grasping your right hand as you ease up the birch with 
your left. And on those fat, red cheeks of his, the happy 
smile, when we promise to remember his request: that we 
again save for him some bear or cub steak, his mouth fairly 
watering at the recollection of a former contribution ; he wipes 
off his smooth shaven chin with his red bandana, and gaily 
