A Day in New Mexico. 151 



and thrush at home, have no evening song, and 

 silence, were it not for myriad insects, would 

 brood over the plain. But the crickets are now in 

 their glory, and a sound as of rushing waters fills 

 the air. Its volume increases and diminishes with 

 the fitful breeze that rushes by or lazily toys with 

 the stiff shrubbery that dots the plain. And it 

 matters not if there be moonlight. Except the 

 insects' steady trill, the world was now at rest ; 

 hushed, as in deep slumber, albeit the moon over- 

 topped the distant hills and flooded the plain with 

 a mellow light that caused every object to stand 

 out with startling distinctness. Here was a feature 

 unlike our moonlit fields at home. There, the 

 charming indistinctness shrouding every object, 

 even when the sky is cloudless, gives the fancy full 

 play, and a bush or tree is whatsoever we are 

 pleased to think it ; but not so here. The plain 

 that was bathed in brilliant sunshine through the 

 day is almost as distinct now; and even the 

 mountains are not less rugged, and every peak 

 pierces the upper air, but with an added glory, for 

 upon each there rest, and over all there twinkle, 

 millions of glittering stars. 



