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 road at nightfall and alone , but soon brightened up when he saw the kindly warmth of his reception . He felt his heart spring forward to meet them all , from the old woman who wiped a chair with her apron to the little child that held out its arms to him . One glance and smile placed the stranger on a footing of innocent familiarity with the eldest daughter . `` Ah ! this fire is the right thing , '' cried he , `` especially when there is such a pleasant circle round it . I am quite benumbed , for the Notch is just like the pipe of a great pair of bellows ; it has blown a terrible blast in my face all the way from Bartlett . '' `` Then you are going toward Vermont ? '' said the master of the house as he helped to take a light knapsack off the young man 's shoulders . `` Yes , to Burlington , and far enough beyond , '' replied he . `` I meant to have been at Ethan Crawford 's to-night , but a pedestrian lingers along such a road as this . It is no matter ; for when I saw this good fire and all your cheerful faces , I felt as if you had kindled it on purpose for me and were waiting my arrival . So I shall sit down among you and make myself at home . ''
The frank-hearted stranger had just drawn his chair XXXXX the fire when something like a heavy footstep was heard without , rushing down the steep side of the mountain as with long and rapid strides , and taking such a leap in passing the cottage as to strike the opposite precipice .
So along between by for from of that to with