xii PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. 



learned to appreciate the quiet beauties of a wide-extended 

 landscape as it spreads out majestically before Mm ; he views 

 with enthusiastic delight the startling grandeur of a mountain- 

 gorge as it suddenly bursts upon his sight; he wanders in 

 silent satisfaction through the murmuring forests of stately 

 oaks, and lingers for a while in pleasant meditation ere he 

 leaps the noisy gurgling streamlet that coquettishly crosses 

 his path. 



Then, resting for a time from his pursuits, our happy 

 sportsman plucks a half-hidden flower from its heathery bed, 

 listens to the far-resounding echoes of the unerring gun, joins 

 the merry laugh of his boon-companions, or returns the wild 

 halloo of approaching friends. 



Kow again he slakes his burning thirst with the sparkling 

 waters of a mountain-spring, or laves his manly brow with the 

 crystal drops from the purling rill that so musically babbles at 

 his very feet ; and, giving full freedom to those warmer senti- 

 ments of the heart which too often become choked and stifled 

 by the close contact of selfish city life, he breathes a prayer 

 of gratitude to a beneficent Providence for all these enjoy- 

 ments, for all these pleasurable sensations. 



To the fields, then, — to the bright and beautiful fields, — to 

 the forests, all clothed in the gorgeous livery of the winter's 

 frosts, — to the mountains, rich in eternal verdure, — to the 

 limpid streams and gushing rills, — do we once more invite you, 

 to spend those flitting hours of leisure vouchsafed to us all 

 amid the busy scenes of active life. 



