Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/188

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��Lake Winnifiseogee in October.

��signified bis intention of returning. His canoe was loosened from its inoorings, and Ellacoya, accompanied by a train of forest girls, went with him to the water's edge. Ellacoya stepped with him into the boat, the young chief took the paddles, and they rowed from the shore.

A dozen barges, containing Ahanton and his bravest warriors, followed in their wake. The morning sun shone brightly upon the silver waters of the lake, and the dash of the oars lit up the broad translucent surface with the flash of diamonds. In the middle of the lake they paused. The young chief rested on his paddle, and Ahan- ton swept up in his barge.

" Let Kona the Young Eagle depart," said the grim chieftain. "There is peace between thee and me, between thy people and my people. Thou hast taken the light from the lodge of Ahanton : let her be the bond between us."

"The Young Eagle goes to his home with a happy heart, for he has won bis heart's love," answered Kona. " To Ahanton he will ever be a friend. And, see, the Great Spirit looks down and smiles upon us."

It seemed indeed as if Heaven was smiling upon them, for the lake was all agleam as if with kindly love. Gently and pleasantly the flashing waters rippled and shivered around them. The tiny wavelets seem to woo and beckon, their silvery crests alight with laughs and smiles. The red warriors caught the bright glow of the sunlit waters, and their romantic natures responded to the spell.

" It is a happy omen," cried Ahan- ton. "The Manitou is pleased, and your union will be one of love, peace.

��and happiness. Hereafter, that the tribes may know that there is peace between us, let the water be known as The Smile of the Great Spirit — Winnipiseogee."

The facility with which this beauti- ful lake is reached by the various routes places it within the means of every one to visit its scenery. In the warm season the two elegant steamers, "The Lady of the Lake" and the "Mount Washington," ply upon the lake ; two points at which it may be approached from the south, and two points of departure for the mountains. The former runs between Wiers sta- tion in Laconia, Centre Harbor, and Wolfeborough; and the latter between Alton Bay, Wolfeborough, and Centre Harbor. The Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad connects with the former at Wiers, and the Boston «& Maine with the latter at Alton Bay. At Wolfeborough there is a rail con- nection with the Eastern Railroad by the Wolfeborough Branch at Wolfe- borough Junction, in Wakefield. The distance of the lake from Boston is little more than a hundred miles.

Bv far the greater number of visi- tors to Lake Winnipiseogee land at the Wiers, a station on the Montreal road. To those who regard this pleasant little hamlet merel}' as a con- venient place to dine in, or perhaps to secure a night's rest before going farther up the lake, I would say, after the country fashion, "That's where you made your mistake ;" for some of the grandest and most beautiful scen- ery, to say nothing of certain wonder- ful fishing privileges, is to be found in this vicinity. Indeed, the place grows upon one the longer he lingers. There are two large hotels on the lake

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