Surely it was no longer ago than yesterday. I had left the scythe lying at the edge of the long grass, and gone up through the rows of nodding Indian corn to the house, seeking a draught of cool water from the spring. It was hot in the July sunshine; the thick forest on every side intercepted the breeze, and I had been at work for some hours. How pleasant and inviting the little river looked in the shade of the great trees, while, as I paused a moment bending over the high bank, I could see a lazy pike nosing about among ...
Read More
Surely it was no longer ago than yesterday. I had left the scythe lying at the edge of the long grass, and gone up through the rows of nodding Indian corn to the house, seeking a draught of cool water from the spring. It was hot in the July sunshine; the thick forest on every side intercepted the breeze, and I had been at work for some hours. How pleasant and inviting the little river looked in the shade of the great trees, while, as I paused a moment bending over the high bank, I could see a lazy pike nosing about among the twisted roots below. My mother, her sleeves rolled high over her round white arms, was in the dark interior of the milk-house as I passed, and spoke to me laughingly; and I could perceive my father sitting in his great splint-bottomed chair just within the front doorway, and I marked how the slight current of air toyed with his long gray beard. The old Bible lay wide open upon his knee; yet his eyes were resting upon the dark green of the woods that skirted our clearing. I wondered, as I quaffed the cool sweet water at the spring, if he was dreaming again of those old days when he had been a man among men. How distinct in each detail the memory of it remains! The blue sky held but one fleecy white cloud in all its wide arch; it seemed as if the curling film of smoke rising from our chimney had but gathered there and hung suspended to render the azure more pronounced. A robin peeked impudently at me from an oak limb, and a roguish gray squirrel chattered along the low ridge-pole, with seeming willingness to make friends, until Rover, suddenly spying me, sprang hastily around the comer of the house to lick my hand, with glad barkings and a frantic effort to wave the stub of his poor old tail. It was such a homely, quiet scene, there in the heart of the backwoods, one I had known unchanged so long, that I little dreamed it was soon to witness the turning over of a page of destiny in my life, that almost from that hour I was to sever every relation of the past, and be sent forth to buffet with the rough world alone.
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good+ Hard Cover. 8vo-Over 7 3/4"-9 3/4 " Tall. Cloth covers and solid with bright illustrated front, however careless hands have soiled the boards, front and back, otherwise this would be a VG+ copy. Contents clean and bright, beautifully illustrated. Lacks dust jacket.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Hardcover. No DJ. Pages are clean and unmarked. Covers show edge wear with rubbing/light scuffing. Binding loosening slightly but still intact. Book slightly shelf-cocked.; 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! Ships same or next business day!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Size: 0x0x0; Hardcover. NO DUST JACKET. Pages are clean and unmarked. Green cloth covers show light edge wear with rubbing to corners and spine, lettering is faded. Front hinge is cracked, binding is otherwise tight.; 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! Ships same or next business day!