There were some twenty houses, with two large mills of solid masonry;
but of these not one building was now tenanted; the roof-trees broken,
the doors and shutters either torn from their hinges, or flapping wildly
to and fro; the mill wheels cumbering the stream with masses of decaying
timber, and the whole presenting a most desolate and mournful aspect.
"Its story is soon told," Harry said, catching my inquiring glance--"a
speculating, clever New York merchant--a waterpower--a failure--and a
consequent desertion of the project; but we must find a birth among the
ruins!"
And as he spoke, turning a little off the road, he pulled up on the
green sward; "there's an old stable here that has a manger in it yet!
Now, Tim, look sharp!" And in a twinkling the horses were loosed from
the wagon, the harness taken off and hanging on the corners of the
ruined hovels, and Tim hissing and rubbing away at the gray horse, while
Harry did like duty on the chestnut, in a style that would have done no
shame to Melton Mowbray!
"Come, Frank, make yourself useful! Get out the round of beef, and all
the rest of the provant--it's on the rack behind; you'll find all right
there.
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