This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ... A WORD FOR THE TOWN. A City Idyl. ORYDON may neglect his flock, if he will, and burst an oaten pipe for Phillida, if he wants to; Amyntas may lie on a sunny hill-side in Arcady if such is his pleasure, and bake himself as brown as a bun; but as for me, I will have none of the country. The country is rainy and muddy in spring, hot and dusty in summer, and unendurable in winter. It is true, there is a bit of Indian summer, run in parenthetically, at the close of the year. And this is is pleasant, providing you have bright com pany, picturesque scenery, and the prospect of returning to town before Nature begins her annual world-cleaning and whitewashing. But when the autumnal pageant has passed; when the ochre and crimson, and chocolate-colored leaves are rotting under foot; when the trees about the house shiver and moan in the twilight, like rheumatic old ladies; when the wind whistles down the chimney, and up your coat-sleeves; when you can no longer walk with Mademoiselle Sylvia in the moonlight; when, in short, the Indian summer has gone off in a whiff, then it is time for you to be out of the country. You should not linger there for winter to tuck you up under its white coverlid. But the Town ! Ay, that is the place not for a day, but for all time. That we have rain and mud in spring, and wretched snow in winter, is not to be denied; but then we have sidewalks, and Amaryllis is particularly tempting during these periods. The grace, care, and coquettishness with which she keeps her snowy drapery immaculate, are wonderful. A single glimpse of Amaryllis, as she crosses over to Stewart's, more than pays one for the moist inconveniences of bad weather. Spring in the city! You get such delicate hints of spring! The dried up old...