e
any of us presumed to address him. But after awhile C----, who was on
every occasion the most venturesome of our group, approached the old
man, and endeavored to lead him into conversation. He did not resist
the attempt, and we now learned that the various adornments of the
woods were entirely the handiwork of an aged sailor, to whose taste
and ingenuity many a previous picknick party had owed the greater
portion of its pleasures. He showed us a spring near by, where we
regaled ourselves with a libation of the purest and coldest water, and
told us of a fitting place for a dance, an even, grass-grown spot in
another part of the woods. He also described to us a moss-house, which
he said was located just below the opposite hill, informing us at the
same time that it belonged to the estate of Mr. G----, one of New
York's merchant-princes, who kindly and unselfishly left it free and
open to the inspection of the curious, and wonder-loving community.
And to this latter domain my friends now agreed to adjourn--but much
to my regret, I was unable to accompany them. A severe headache, the
usual result of excitement of any kind, was now exerting its influence
over me; and I was confident, from experience, that my only way of
soon getting rid of it would be by remaining where I was and keeping
perfectly quiet. All of my friends expressed their sorrow at my sudden
indisposition, and each one kindly offered to stay and bear me
company; but unwilling to deprive them of any enjoyment, I declined
their offers, alleging that I should not be altogether alone, as the
old man whom we found there would doubtless continue where he was till
their return. The sailor looked up as I spoke, and said that it was
his intention to remain there for the rest of the morning, adding that
he frequently passed the entire day in the woods. So, assured that I
would not be actually solitary, they at last allowed themselves to be
persuaded to go without me in search of the moss-house.

After watching their forms till they had quite receded from my view, I
re-entered the arbor where the old sailor was still at work, and
seated myself very comfortably in a rocking-chair. It was somewhat of
an oddity, too, Mary--that rocking-chair; and though I had almost
forgotten to mention the circumstance to you, the first discovery of
such an article of furniture in the woods had been a source of
infinite amusement to my companions and myself. It was built of cedar,
to c