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Bacheller, Irving, 1859-1950

"A Man for the Ages A Story of the Builders of Democracy"

It was an
exquisite bit of forest with the bells of a hermit thrush ringing in one
of its towers. Their call and the low song of the river were the only
sounds in the silence. The glow of the setting sun which lighted the
western windows of the forest had a color like that of the music-golden.
Long shafts of it fell through the tree columns upon the road here and
there. Our weary travelers stopped on the rude plank bridge that crossed
the river. Odors of balsam and pine and tamarack came in a light, cool
breeze up the river valley.
"It smells like Bear Valley," said Sarah.
"What was that poetry you learned for the church party?" Samson asked.
"I guess the part of it you're thinking of is:
'And west winds with musky wing
Down the cedarn alleys fling
'Nard and Cassia's balmy smells.'"
"That's it," said Samson. "I guess we'll stop at this tavern till
to-morrow."
Joe was asleep and they laid him on the blankets until supper was ready.
Soon after supper Samson shot a deer which had waded into the rapids.


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