282 AUDUBON 



us, enjoined us to follow the fence, and said that Master 

 had sent him to show the strangers to the house. We 

 proceeded, much relieved, and soon reached the gate of a 

 little yard, in which a small cabin was perceived. 



A tall, fine-looking young man stood in the open door, 

 and desired us get out of the cart and walk in. We did 

 so, when the following conversation took place. "A bad 

 night this, strangers; how came you to be along the fence? 

 You certainly must have lost your way, for there is no 

 public road within twenty miles." " Ay," answered Mr. 

 Flint, " sure enough we lost our way; but, thank God ! we 

 have got to a house ; and thank you for your reception." 

 "Reception!" replied the woodsman; "no very great 

 thing after all; you are all here safe, and that's enough. 

 Eliza," turning to his wife, " see about some victuals for 

 the strangers, and you, Jupiter," addressing the negro lad, 

 " bring some wood and mend the fire. Eliza, call the 

 boys up, and treat the strangers the best way you can. 

 Come, gentlemen, pull off your wet clothes, and draw to 

 the fire. Eliza, bring some socks and a shirt or two." 



For my part, kind reader, knowing my countrymen as I 

 do, I was not much struck at all this; but my son, who 

 had scarcely reached the age of thirteen, drew near to 

 me, and observed how pleasant it was to have met with 

 such good people. Mr. Flint bore a hand in getting 

 his horses put under a shed. The young wife was already 

 stirring with so much liveliness that to have doubted for 

 a moment that all she did was a pleasure to her would 

 have been impossible. Two negro lads made their 

 appearance, looked at us for a moment, and going out, 

 called the dogs. Soon after the cries of the poultry in- 

 formed us that good cheer was at hand. Jupiter brought 

 more wood, the blaze of which illumined the cottage. Mr. 

 Flint and our host returned, and we already began to feel 

 the comforts of hospitality. The woodsman remarked 

 that it was a pity we had not chanced to come that day 



