Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/97

 THE RANDALL FAMJLV 89

which we found a great many. This, of course, greatly lengthened our walk, and, before we could get to the hill, we had to pass through a great many morasses, or rather we had to go round them, because they were over a man's head in depth. Among these wet places we found an aspen-tree, and I brought home some, as I never saw any before. Mr. Randall found a little blossom which he said was very rare ; it looked very much like a strawberry blos- som, and what seemed to be the petals was in fact a part of the calyx, the real petals being very minute. We found, also, a disease on some low trees, which looked and felt very much like wax-work, it was so hard and smooth.

" After wandering till twelve o'clock among the fields and hollows, we arrived at the summit of Brown's Folly, and here we had a fine view of Dan vers and Beverly. There was one solitary tree on the top of this elevation, and here we lay down under its shade for an hour and a half. Mr. Randall was looking at Danvers, and said to me, ' Frank, let's walk back through it, and then we can go through Salem.' 'Yes, and that will be a good long walk,' said I, for I was anxious to achieve a good long peregrination, so that I could have something to boast of when I got home ; * that will be capital.'

" We walked through all the villages of Danvers, and at one Mr. Randall bought three ginger-cakes apiece, which we ate as we walked along. I felt very thirsty, and drank at nearly every pump we passed. It was a very fine day, though I thought that I should like to have it cooler. At one place, there was a dam across a river, or rather a large brook, and, as I felt almost suffocated from thirst, I climbed up and took a long draught, which lasted some time. The walk from Danvers to Salem was not so agreeable, as it was quite warm.

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