A SUMMER DRIVE IN THE LAKE COUNTRY. 227 
places. When vegetation ceases, then beautiful ice and 
snow will adorn the earth ; cell life will only give place 
tocrystallization. The rain had left the roads heavy, and 
it was near dark when we drove around and down the 
long steep hill through the woods to the village, where 
we hoped to find a quiet resting-place after an unusually 
hard day’sride. It has been apleasure heretofore to chron- 
icle the best of entertainment at all our stopping places, 
and we have often left with a feeling of indebtedness for 
courtesies and favors generously bestowed by both 
friends and strangers on the road. Here our reception 
was interesting and our entertainment phenomenal. As 
we reined up to the hotel to which we had been directed 
on the way, a tall, thin man of the hair-pin type met us 
at the carriage and almost embraced us in his eager wel- 
come ; he was so affectionately brotherly that I almost 
looked to hear him ask for the “strawberry mark on 
some arm” in recognition of along lost kindred. “ Were 
we tired? Would we stop with him for the night? 
What a fine horse, and what an easy carriage! Were 
we traveling for pleasure or business? His was a tem- 
perance house, and just the place for tired man and beast; 
did we wish supper, etc., etc.?” to all of which we could 
only answer that “ we would stay with him, as we were 
very tired, and quite hungry and a little thirsty,” and 
suggested that at least “a cup of strong tea would be 
very acceptable.” As ourroom was not in readiness, we 
were ushered into the public parlor to await supper. 
An hour latter the tall man made his appearance and 
announced that “It would not be convenient to get a 
