Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/90

72 I walked along in open pastures; the beauties of the brook I had left be- hind me; the water gurgled on for a long distance in a narrow ditch; eager- ly I looked to the tall woods ahead. A cruel barbed wire fence brought me and my dogs to a stand-still. The brutes looked me inquiringly in the face as I walked along, trying to find some hollow in the ground where the lowest line of wire would be high enough to let us crawl under. At last I succeeded, and passed through with- out injury, as did my followers.

The brook now led me into Somers- worth, and for two miles I followed it through pastures, fields, and woods, and at last hunted it down in a swamp, within sight of the spires of the hilly village, Great Falls. From two large springs, a few rods apart, leaps forth the head waters of this brook. Trout and shiners dart and play in the clear water.

The sand and the water tempts many otherwise obedient children to play truant, and spend the long summer days sailing boats, and wading here. I found such a party, and they fled like partridges at my approach, fearing the birch withe, which they had merited that day by disobedience.

October, rich in glorious autumn tints, was fast waning, when I started off through the fields, still green in spots.

In a grove of tall pines crowning a hill, I heard a blue-jay call in anxious tones to his mate; twice, thrice he called, and his answer was the sharp crack of a cruel gun, followed by an- other report. Almost before the smoke had curled its way up among the pines, a man, dressed in a hunting jacket, with game bag, powder flask, and shot bag, hanging about him, came out in sight, with two beautiful blue-jays in his hands. He hurried along by the wall, and picked up a dead crane which he had shot a little while be- fore. I came up to see this tall, slim bird; the feathers on his wings seemed almost like coarse hairs, and they were of a lovely lavender color. Beneath

them fawn colored downy feathers could be seen. His long legs and bill proclaimed how he fished his living from the shallow pools on the flats, after the reckless waters had left them. I felt a thrill of sadness, when I looked at the drooping heads of the birds, and the thick red blood oozing from the shot wounds, telling too plainly that the bird-soul had left its beautifully feathered tenement.

I crossed a pasture where the cat- tle had gnawed the short, sweet grass close into the sod; peeping out, tiny blue violets were blooming so gayly. These little plants blossoming so un- timely, had thrown up a stem not more than half an inch, and hurried to flower before the coming of "Vidar the Silent."

When I found myself at the junction of "Barbel brook" and its tributary, I cast a longing look toward the "Falls" and began to follow the brook running westward. A tall, large pine had been cut down and was lying prone with its branches still on it. A clump of small pines were hovering around like children over a prostrate parent.

I felt, as I neared the high mound built by the Boston and Maine rail- road, about 1842, the ground trem- ble under me. I looked around for the cause, and an iron horse, puffing and grinding, came in sight, with a long train of cars attached. I watched the powerful machine roll on, and then commenced to climb the steep bank. When I gained the top I saw my guide glistening in the curves and angles farther on. Another branch came rushing out, but I left that for a later day. I passed along in the pasture below the house, which was formerly used for a town poor-house. I was startled by a big splash in the brook, and the water grew rily. I stooped down to investigate, when an- other plunge followed. Under a large bunch of bog rush I discovered a much disturbed face. The musk-rat and his mate had been surprised by me, and one had concealed himself in this