The Ruling Passion; tales of nature and human nature by Henry Van Dyke
page 83 of 198 (41%)
page 83 of 198 (41%)
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"And what did 'Toinette say?"
"She said she had chosen the bravest heart in Abbeville." "And Prosper--what did he say?" "M'sieu', I know not. He said it only to 'Toinette." THE GENTLE LIFE Do you remember that fair little wood of silver birches on the West Branch of the Neversink, somewhat below the place where the Biscuit Brook runs in? There is a mossy terrace raised a couple of feet above the water of a long, still pool; and a very pleasant spot for a friendship-fire on the shingly beach below you; and a plenty of painted trilliums and yellow violets and white foam-flowers to adorn your woodland banquet, if it be spread in the month of May, when Mistress Nature is given over to embroidery. It was there, at Contentment Corner, that Ned Mason had promised to meet me on a certain day for the noontide lunch and smoke and talk, he fishing down Biscuit Brook, and I down the West Branch, until we came together at the rendezvous. But he was late that day--good old Ned! He was occasionally behind time on a trout stream. For he went about his fishing very seriously; and if it was fine, the sport was a natural occasion of delay. But if it was poor, he made it an |
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