From the high banks
which walled it in the surface of the island sloped gradually towards a
common centre, through which rushed the little stream.
This little island had probably been a part of the main land; the river
had forced its way through a valley, and, by degrees, had worn down the
high land on either side, till they formed the precipices which now
frowned on the visitor. The little stream had, perhaps, once been a
meandering rivulet,--part of one which emptied into the river on the
opposite side.
On one of the sloping sides of the interior was situated the cottage. It
was small in size, containing but four rooms and an attic, and was
neatly painted white. Its location in the valley concealed it from the
main land, and from the traveller upon the river. It was accessible only
by means of the stream, which rolled by within a few rods of the door. A
cow grazed in the woods, which had been partly cleared of under-brush,
and had the appearance of a park grove. Near the house a plot of land
had been reduced to a state of cultivation, upon which an old negro
servant managed to raise vegetables sufficient for the use of the
family.
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