It leads
to a fine spring, with an acre or two of cleared land about it, on
which there was once a dwelling."
This was agreed upon, and we all alighted and took the path through
the wood. We had not gone many yards ere a scene of woodland beauty
opened to our view. It presented an area of about four acres of open
land in the midst of the forest. From the opposite side a little
rivulet took its rise, and ran tinkling and splashing, in its pebbly
bed, through the centre of this open glade, until its music was lost
in the distance in the forest. But the most interesting object in
sight was a ruined cottage. It was very small. It could not have
contained more than two rooms. In front there had once been a door,
with a window on each side; but now both door and windows were gone.
The solitary chimney had fallen down, and the stones of which it had
been built lay scattered around. A peach tree grew at the side of the
cottage, and its branches, heavy with the luscious fruit, drooped upon
the low roof. A grapevine grew in front, and its graceful tendrils
twined in and out through the sashless windows and the broken door. A
bird of prey was perched upon the house, and, as we approached, with a
fearful scream it took its flight.
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