they were tame elephants. Of all coast bathing this is the finest I ever saw. The sand, which is like velvet to the feet, has a gradual slope; there is no perceptible under-tow or side current; and the lazy force of the huge waves, which subside rather than break violently, allows the bather to rock and swing upon them with a new sense of luxury. The temperature of the sea was perfect, and nothing but the falling twilight called us back to the shore. W— and C, outside the swells, floated on their backs like contented nautili, and were hardly to be enticed to the strand, even by the prospect of "chickens and sich." on a foundation of oyster-shells, is the terminus of the road, one hundred and thirty-five miles south of Wilmington and eighty-five miles north of Norfolk. The three steamers left during our stay-one for the latter city, one for the Accomac shore, and one for Wilmington by sea. The small population lives by fishing and by opening oysters during the season. Last year's exportation of oysters, if I remember rightly, was about nine thousand tons. The water fairly swarms with fish and crabs, and the marshes around are a paradise for the sportsman. I can not recount all the prospects of future growth and trade which were explained to me here, as at the other points touched in our ex My aim is to describe briefly what I saw, neither disparaging nor favoring any special section of the peninsula. There is very little of it which does not offer a fair field for development. I found every where fewer marshes, less sand, a more capable soil, and greater facilities for improvement than previous reports had led me to believe. The "sich" being oysters and delicate fish, fresh from the water, we marveled at our land-cursion. lord's modesty. Often as the dishes needed to be replenished, fresh stores never failed, until, filled, refreshed, and satisfied to the very marrow of our bones, we drove back through the darkness to Berlin. The many delays occasioned by hospitality obliged us to again correct the failures in our programme by night travel. But, before going further, I must say Around Crisfield the principal crop was sweeta word about the outside land, known at this potatoes. The land rises very slowly from the point as Sinepuxent Beach, but further south water level; but after we had passed through as Assateague Island. One can travel upon ten or twelve miles of pine, oak, and cypress it, between ocean and sound, the whole dis- forest, with an occasional holly-tree, we found tance to Chincoteague Inlet, finding a habita- beautiful fields and orchards, new dwellings, and tion about once in a dozen miles. Toward its a promise of prosperity, at Westover. Between southern extremity it becomes broader, and is this point and Salisbury there is Princess Anne, somewhat populated. This is the breeding- a small but dignified little place, where we ig place of a race of ponies, which run wild, feed-norantly ran away from and seemed to slight, ing on the strong beach grass, except once a year, when they are herded, the colts branded with their owners' marks, and the mature animals sold. Those I saw were very handsome creatures, of a bright bay color, and about the size of a Mexican mustang. The Sinepuxent expands into the broader Chincoteague Sound, the haunt of sturdy fishermen, of unmixed En- But from the junction at Harrington to the glish stock. The poorer classes of all this re- ocean we were no longer tourists. The trip gion are rough and ignorant, but very good-took on more and more of a social character. natured and hospitable. Accomac and Northampton are the two counties of Virginia. The same peculiarity of deep inlets on the Chesapeake and sounds and sandy islands on the Atlantic side continues all the way down to Cape Charles. Cobb's Island, a few miles north of the cape, has a large hotel, and is a favorite resort of the people of Baltimore and Norfolk. Here the climate is mild enough for both cotton and rice. In a few more years the Peninsular Railroad will undoubtedly be pushed down to Cherrystone Inlet, within thirty-five miles of Norfolk. without intending it, a very graceful and generous welcome. The train was again behind its arranged time, with a regular passenger train chasing it; so, taking some of our Berlin friends on board at Salisbury, we hurried back into Delaware for our last branch excursion to Lewes and the Breakwater. There were fresh guests at Milford, others at Georgetown. The train made à mile a minute. There was fishing on the pier, bathing in the surfless water inside of Cape Henlopen, a distant view of the costly breakwater and icebreaker, and a dinner prolonged over the returning miles. I will not chronicle further than to mention the cordial atmosphere in which men of the most different experiences and opinions harmonized on a common social ground; and there was no new feature of the region to be added to previous observations. We went northward, dropping some of our company at every principal station, until, beyond Clayton, reduced to our original four, we sat down to fresh pipes of reflection, and compared our impressions. I went to bed on leaving Berlin, and slept soundly until awakened by the incessant noise of rolling barrels. We were upon the pier at Crisfield, and three steamers beside us were taking on their freight. My companions were, I give you the bearing of my own, corrected in addition, tormented by mosquitoes; so we all by three compasses which but slightly varied. arose early and looked about us. The bay here If this shall incline any liberal, clear-eyed, inis a part of Tangier Sound, divided by three telligent summer tourist to run down the Eastlarge islands from the main body of the Chesa-ern Shore and see for himself, I feel sure he will peake. Crisfield, which is a new place, built come back well satisfied with his experience. ABEL MERRIWEATHER, REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE THIRTY-THIRD DISTRICT SHE isn't half so handsome as when, twenty years agone, Her fingers then were taper, and her skin was white as milk, She had but meagre schooling: her little notes to me She blundered in her writing, and she blundered when she spoke, I was but little better. True, I'd longer been at school; My tongue and pen were run, perhaps, a trifle more by rule; All's changed the light of seventeen's no longer in her eyes; She knows but very little, and in little are we one; The beauty rare that more than hid that great defect is gone. And pity me that I am tied to such a clod for life. I know there is a difference: at reception and levée The brightest, wittiest, and most famed of women smile on me; And every where I hold my place among the greatest men; And sometimes sigh, with Whittier's judge, "Alas! it might have been." When they all crowd around me, stately dames and brilliant belles, 66 From Homer down to Thackeray, and Swedenborg on 'Hell," I can't forget that from these streams my wife has never quaffed, "WHEN THEY ALL CROWD AROUND ME, STATELY DAMES AND BRILLIANT BELLES." HANNAH JANE. "SHE MADE HERSELF MOST WILLINGLY A HOUSEHOLD DRUDGE AND SLAVE." I can't forget-- Just at this point another form appears- At last I was admitted; then I had my legal lore, I had no friends behind me-no influence to aid; I well remember, when my coat (the only one I had) Was seedy grown and threadbare, and, in fact, most "shocking bad," "Cash is the basis, Sir, on which we tailors do our trade." Her winter cloak was in his shop by noon that very day; Our second season she refused a cloak of any sort, No negro ever worked so hard: a servant's pay to save, What wonder that the beauty fled that I once so adored! I was her altar, and her love the sacrificial flame: Ah! with what pure devotion she to that altar came, All that she was, and more than that, all that she might have been! At last I won success. Ah! then our lives were wider parted: I had tried my speed and mettle, and gained strength in every race; |