u ii.D hkkkv hunting. '27 



bloomed out, the enchautiug cluck greets his ear ; on, on 

 he comes — like the gay horse towards the inspiring music 

 of the drum, or like a bark beating against the wind, 

 gallantly but slowly. 



The dark cold barrel of the ^m\\ is now not more 

 silent than is the hunter ; the game is playing just out- 

 side the very edge of its deadly reach ; the least mis- 

 take, and it is gone. 



One gentle zephyr, one falling twig, might break the 

 charm, and make nature revolt at the coyness apparent 

 in the mistress, and then the lover would wing his way 

 full of life to the woods. 



But on he comes — so still is every thing that you 

 hear his wings distinctly as they brush the ground, 

 while the sun plays in conflicting rays and colored lights 

 about his gaudily bronzed plumage. 



Suddenly, the woods ring in echoing circles back 

 upon you ; a sharp report is heard. 



Out starts, alarmed by the noise, a blue jay, which 

 squalls as he passes in waving lines before you, so rudely 

 wakened was he from sleep. 



But our rare and beautiful bird, — our gallant and 

 noble bird, — our cunning and game bird, where is he ? 



The glittering plumage — the gay step — the bright eye 

 — all — all are gone : — 



Without a movement of the muscles, our valorous 

 lover has fallen lifeless to the earth. 



