Page:A Picture-book without Pictures and Other Stories (1848).djvu/59

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WITHOUT PICTURES.
53

said one. “There are ten loads of fire-wood in each,” replied the other. “If the winter be severe, one should get forty rix dollars in spring for the measure!” and they were gone.

“The road is abominable here,” said another traveller. “It is those cursed trees,” replied his neighbor; “there is no circulation of air here, excepting from the sea:” and they advanced onward.

At that moment the diligence came by. All were asleep at the most beautiful point: the driver blew his horn, but he only thought, “I blow it capitally, and here it sounds well; what will they think of it?” And with that the diligence was gone.

Next came by two young country-fellows on horseback. The champagne of youth circulated through their blood; a smile was on their lips as they looked towards the mossgrown height, and the dark bushes. “I went there with Christine Miller,” said one to the other; and they were gone.

The flowers sent forth their fragrance; every breeze slept; the sea looked like a portion of heaven spread out over a deep valley; a carriage drove along; there were six per-