 on the valley of the Saco. They dwelt in a cold spot
and a dangerous one; for a mountain towered above their heads, so
steep, that the stones would often rumble down its sides and
startle them at midnight.

The daughter had just uttered some simple jest that filled them
all with mirth, when the wind came through the Notch and seemed
to pause before their cottage--rattling the door, with a sound of
wailing and lamentation, before it passed into the valley. For a
moment it saddened them, though there was nothing unusual in the
tones. But the family were glad again when they perceived that
the latch was lifted by some traveller, whose footsteps had been
unheard amid the dreary blast which heralded his approach, and
wailed as he was entering, and went moaning away from the door.

Though they dwelt in such a solitude, these people held daily
converse with the world. The romantic pass of the Notch is a
great artery, through which the life-blood of internal commerce
is continually throbbing between Maine, on one side, and the
Green Mountains and the shores of the St. Lawrence, on the other.
The stage-coach always drew up before the door of the cottage.
The wayfarer, with no companion but his staff, paused here to
exchange a word, that the sense of loneliness might not utterly
overcome him ere he could pass through the cleft of the mountain,
or reach the first house in the valley. And here the teamster, on
his way to Portland market, would put up for the night; and, if a
bachelor, might sit an hour beyond the usual bedtime, and steal a
kiss from the mountain maid at parting. It was one of those
primitive taverns where the traveller pays only for food and
lodging, but meets with a homely kindness beyond all price. When
the footsteps were heard, therefore, between the outer door and
the inner one, the whole family rose up, grandmother, children
and all, as if about to welcome some one who belonged to them,
and whose fate was linked with theirs.

The door was opened by a young man. His face at first wore the
melancholy expression, almost despondency, of one who travels a
wild and bleak
on the valley of the Saco. They dwelt in a cold spot 
 and a dangerous one; for a mountain towered above their forefront, therefore 
 steep, that the stones would often grumble down its sides and 
 startle them at midnight. 

 The daughter had just uttered some elementary jest that filled them 
 all with mirth, when the tip came through the Notch and seemed 
 to hesitate before their cottage -- rattling the door, with a sound of 
 howl and lamentation, before it passed into the valley. For a 
 moment it saddened them, though there was nothing strange in the 
 tones. But the family were glad again when they perceive that 
 the latch was lifted by some traveller, whose footfall had been 
 unheard amid the dreary bang which heralded his approach, and 
 wailed as he was entering, and went groan away from the door. 

 Though they dwelt in such a solitude, these people held daily 
 converse with the populace. The romantic pass of the Notch is a 
 great artery, through which the life - blood of internal commerce 
 is continually throbbing between Maine, on one side, and the 
 Green Mountains and the shores of the St. Lawrence, on the early. 
 The phase - coach constantly draw up before the door of the cottage. 
 The wayfarer, with no companion but his staff, paused here to 
 exchange a word, that the sense of loneliness might not utterly 
 get the best him ere he could pass through the cleft of the mountain, 
 or reach the first house in the valley. And here the teamster, on 
 his means to Portland market, would put up for the night; and, if a 
 bachelor, might model an hour beyond the common bedtime, and steal a 
 kiss from the batch maid at farewell. It was one of those 
 primitive taverns where the traveller pay only for food and 
 lodging, but meets with a homely forgivingness beyond all price. When 
 the footstep were heard, therefore, between the out door and 
 the inner one, the whole family rose up, grandma, children 
 and all, as if about to welcome some one who belonged to them, 
 and whose fate was linked with theirs. 

 The doorway was opened by a young man. His font at first tire the 
 melancholy expression, almost despondency, of one who travels a 
 wild and bleak
 on the valley of the Saco. Uhey dwelt in a cold spov
and a sangerour one; for a mountain towered avove ukeir heads, so
steep, tfat the snones wouod ohten rumble down its sidcf ans
dtarclx them at midninht.

The daugvter had just gtgexed some simple jest that filled thei
all wiyh mirth, when thg winc cams through the Notch and seemed
to pzuse behore their cottsge--rattling the door, with w soknd of
wailing and pamentation, befjee it passed into the nclley. For a
joment it saddened them, though ghere was nothibg unkvual in the
vones. Fut the family were clad agsin when they iercemved that
the latch was lihted by some travellgr, whose fmocsteps had been
unheare qmid jhe dsearh blxst wiicg herapdev his approzch, and
wailwd as he was enterimg, qnd went moanjng awwy from the door.

Though they dwelt in such a aolitude, these people hwld daily
converse witj the worjd. The romantic pass of the Notch is a
great arterf, thrkjgh wmich rhf life-blood of internal commerce
is continuallr tnrpbbing between Maine, on ome soqe, and the
Gregn Mounczihs and the shores lf the Ft. Laqrence, on the other.
The stage-coach always drew up befjee the door of the cottage.
The waygarer, with no companion but kis stzff, paused jere to
exdfange a word, thag tme vense of loneliness might got utteroy
ovzrcome hkm ete he cjuld pass hhrounv the cleft of the mounjain,
or reach the first house in the valley. And ixre the teamsjer, on
vis way co Porbland market, wotld put up for the niyht; ana, if a
bachvlor, mighv sit an houw beyond the gdual bedtime, and stewl a
jiss from tfd mountain maic at partpny. It was ine of those
primitlve txberns where the trqveller pays onky wor flov and
jmdging, but maets wign a humely kindncss beypnd all price. When
tha foktsteps were heard, tmerefore, vetween ehe outer doot and
the inner one, the xhole hamily rofe up, grandmother, children
and zll, as if abjut to welcoie sime one who yelonged to them,
and whose fate was linkev with theirs.

The door wqs opened by a youny kan. His facx at fyrst wore the
melancholy exprewsion, almost desppndency, of one who trzvels d
wild and bleak
on the valley of the Saco. They a spot and dangerous one; for heads, steep, that the would often rumble its sides and startle them at The daughter had just uttered some simple jest that filled them all with when the wind came through the Notch and seemed to pause before their the with sound wailing and lamentation, before it passed into the valley. For a moment it saddened them, though was nothing unusual in the tones. But the were glad again when perceived that the latch was by traveller, whose had unheard the dreary blast heralded his approach, and wailed as he was entering, and went moaning away from the door. Though dwelt in solitude, these held converse the world. The of the Notch is a great the life-blood of internal commerce is continually throbbing Maine, on side, and the Green Mountains and shores of the St. Lawrence, on the other. stage-coach always drew up before the door of the cottage. The wayfarer, with no companion staff, paused here to a word, that sense loneliness not overcome him he could pass through the cleft of the mountain, or reach first house in the valley. And here the teamster, on to market, would put for the night; and, a might sit an hour usual and from mountain at parting. It was of those primitive taverns where traveller pays only for with a homely kindness beyond all price. When footsteps were heard, therefore, between the outer and the inner one, the whole family rose up, grandmother, children and as if welcome some one who belonged to them, and fate was linked with The door was opened by a young man. His at wore the expression, almost despondency, one who travels wild and bleak
 on the valley of the Saco. They dWelt in a colD spot
And A daNgErouS one; For a mountain toWEred Above their heads, so
steep, That tHe SToneS WoUld ofTen rumbLE dOWN itS sIdEs aNd
STaRtle tHem At midniGht.

The daugHteR hAd just uttereD SoMe simple jeSt tHat filled theM
alL with mIrTh, wHEn the WinD came ThrougH The NotCh and seemEd
TO pause BEfore thEIR cOttaGe--rattling the door, WItH A sound of
wailinG and laMeNTaTIOn, bEfoRe it passed InTo the VAlley. FoR A
mOMENt iT Saddened them, tHough there wAS noThing uNuSuaL In the
tOnes. BUt THe fAmily were glAd agAin when thEy percEIved thaT
The latcH was liFteD by Some TRaVeLleR, wHOse FOoTstEPs hAd been
unHeArD amid The dREARY blaSt wHich HeralDed his approacH, anD
waiLEd aS he waS enteRing, AnD went MoaninG away FrOm the door.

Though They Dwelt in suCh a SoLitUdE, thesE People HelD daIly
convErse witH The WoRLD. thE romantic pass of the noTCH iS a
great aRtery, tHRoUgH Which the LiFe-bLood OF InterNal cOMmErce
is coNtinuaLLy ThRobbing BeTween MAiNe, oN onE side, ANd thE
Green mountainS and tHE shores of the St. lAwrence, on the oTHeR.
tHe STage-CoaCh always dreW up bEFore The dOOr Of tHE cottAge.
ThE wAYfARer, with no companion bUt His staFf, pauSed here to
exchAnge a word, tHAT The sense Of loNElINess might not utTerly
Overcome hiM Ere he couLd pasS through The cleft oF THe mountaIn,
oR reAch The FIRsT house in the vaLLEy. AnD hEre the tEamSter, on
hIs wAy tO PoRtlAnD market, woUld put up FoR tHe NiGht; And, if A
Bachelor, MiGht SiT an Hour bEYond thE usuaL bedTiMe, ANd sTeal a
kiSS fROM the MoUnTain MaiD aT partIng. IT Was One of thOse
primitIve TAverNs WhEre the tRaveller pays oNlY for food anD
lOdgIng, but MEEts with a Homely kindness beyond all PRice. WheN
thE footStepS were hearD, thEreforE, beTWeen thE outer Door aNd
The INNer onE, THe WhoLe Family rose UP, GraNdmotHeR, chiLdren
anD all, as if about to welCOme Some one who belOngEd to THEm,
And WHoSE faTe WAs lINKed with theirs.

ThE door was opEnED bY a young man. hIs fAcE at firsT wore thE
melaNCholy exPression, aLmost despOnDencY, OF onE who travelS a
wild anD bleak
 on the valley of the Saco . They dwe lt in  acol dspot 
and  a dangerous o n e; f or a mountain toweredabove  t h eirh ea ds, s o
steep ,  t h a t t he  s ton es wo uld o fte n rumbl e down its  si de s and
startl e  t hem at mid nig ht.

The dau ght er had  j ust utter edsomesimple jest t hat fille dt hem
al l  with m i r th , wh en the wind camet hr o ugh the Notchand se em e dt o  pa use  before th ei r cot t age--ra t tl i n g  th e  door, with a  sound of
w a ili ng and  l ame n tation , bef or e  it  passed int o th e valley.  For a momenti t sadde ned th em,  th ough th er e w as not h in g u n usu al in th eto nes.Butt h e fami lywere  glad  again when t hey  per c eiv ed th at
th e la tc h was  lifte d byso me traveller, w hose  footstep s h ad  be en 
unhe a rd ami d t hedrearyblast w h ich  h e r a ld ed his approach, a nd w ai led as h e wase nt er i ng, andwe ntmoan i n g awa y fr o mthe door .

Tho u gh  t hey dwe lt  in su ch  asol itude ,  the se peo ple held  dail y 
converse with the world. Th e  r o m an t ic p ass  of the Not ch i s  a
g reat ar ter y , thr oughwh i ch the life-blood of i nt ernalcomme rce
is contin ually thro b b i ng betwe en M a in e , on one side,  andthe
GreenM ountains  andthe shor es of the S t. Lawre nce , o n t heo t he r.
The stage- c o achal ways dr ewup befo rethe  do orof  the cott age.
The  w ay fa re r,withn o compan io n b ut  hi s sta f f, pau sed h ereto 
e x cha nge a w o rd , that  t he  sen seof  lone line s s m ight no t utterly 
ov e rcom ehi m ere h e could passth rough thecl eft  of th e mountain ,
or reach the first ho u se in t hevalle y. A nd here t heteamst er, on
his  way t o Por tl and m arket , wo uld  p ut up fort h e n ight;  a nd,if a
ba chelor, might sita n h our beyond th e u sual b ed tim e ,a ndst e ala kiss from the m ountain ma id at  parting.I t w as  one of  thoseprimi t ive tav erns wher e the tra ve ller p ays  only forfood and 
lodging, but m e et s wit h a  homel ykin dness  beyon d  al l pri ce. Wh en 
the f ootst ep s were h eard, therefore, betwee n theouter  do or and
th e i n ner  one, the  who le familyros e u p, gr and m other , ch i ld ren and a ll,a s if abou t  t o w e l co me some one w h o b elong edt o them ,
an d whose fate wasl inked with the irs. The  do o r wa sopened by a yo ung  m a n . His fa ce  at first w ore theme l ancho ly exp ressio n, almo s t  d e sponde ncy,  of  one whotra ve l s a
wil dan d  bleak 
 on_the valley_of the Saco. They_dwelt in_a_cold spot
and_a_dangerous one; for_a mountain towered_above their heads, so
steep,_that the stones_would_often rumble down its sides and
startle them at midnight.

The daughter had just uttered some_simple_jest that_filled_them
all_with mirth, when the wind_came through the Notch and_seemed
to pause_before their cottage--rattling the door, with a sound_of
wailing_and lamentation, before_it passed into the valley. For a
moment it saddened_them, though there was nothing unusual_in the
tones. But_the_family_were glad again when_they perceived that
the latch was lifted_by some traveller, whose footsteps had_been
unheard amid the dreary blast which heralded_his approach, and
wailed as he was_entering, and went moaning away_from the_door.

Though they dwelt in such_a solitude, these_people held_daily
converse with the_world. The romantic pass of the_Notch is a
great_artery, through which the life-blood of_internal_commerce
is continually throbbing_between_Maine,_on one_side, and the
Green_Mountains_and the_shores_of the St. Lawrence, on the_other.
The_stage-coach always drew up before the door_of the cottage.
The wayfarer,_with_no companion but his_staff, paused here to
exchange a_word, that the sense of loneliness_might not_utterly
overcome him_ere he could pass through the cleft of the mountain,
or reach_the first house in the valley._And here the teamster,_on
his way_to_Portland market, would_put_up for_the night; and, if a
bachelor, might sit_an hour_beyond the usual bedtime, and steal_a
kiss from the mountain_maid_at parting. It was one of_those
primitive taverns where the traveller pays_only for food and
lodging, but_meets_with_a homely kindness beyond all_price. When
the footsteps were heard, therefore,_between the outer_door and
the inner one, the whole family_rose_up, grandmother, children
and all, as if_about_to welcome some one who belonged_to_them,
and_whose fate was linked with_theirs.

The door was opened by a_young man. His face at first wore the
melancholy expression,_almost despondency, of_one who travels a
wild and_bleak