Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/84

 76 INTRODUCTION

wheeled chaise or a carry-all. It is the most comfortable one I ever rode in, as it is very springy. We kept rising higher as we went on, until we were about five hundred feet above the sea, and here we paused. We could see very far in some directions, and it was a splendid prospect, but it was not equal to that which we saw farther on. We passed through Marlborough village, which appeared to be very flourishing, as there was a number of new houses building, until we reached Elm street, a street lined with tall and beautiful elms. We went to the end of it, and there we saw a view almost unequalled by any I had yet seen. A rising spot covered by thick trees divided the prospect into two portions, and seemed to form two vistas through which we could gaze. From here we could see sixty miles — it was magnificent. As we were going up or coming home, I forget which, we passed Gate's Pond, or lake, as I should call it. It was a most charming sheet of water, and the green turf came down to the water's edge. I drove coming home, and, as it was growing colder, I drew my cloak, which I take in all my rides with me, over my shoulders. As we were on a hill, I could see a little lake, i.e. not very large, crossed by a causeway or road, lined on either side by young willows, and we passed it our- selves in a little while. It was very pretty. We rode about fifteen miles, and had a nice time, getting home about dusk. In the evening we wrote some poetry to- gether, first Mr. Randall writing a line, and then I.

" Wednesday, May y. We got up rather late this morn- ing, and went down stairs, where we had a nice breakfast, thanks to Mrs. Rea, the wife of Mr. Randall's farmer. We started for Cedar Swamp Pond, a lake of about twenty acres, which is growing over with moss, and, as it gets thicker, trees sprout, and it will eventually be entirely

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