112 FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



My scheme contemplated an observation 

 of the pole star, which was visible, but only 

 dimly, because of the moonlight, and be 

 cause the atmosphere was full of what ap 

 peared to be a dry haze, presumably smoke 

 and dust. I chose this plan because the 

 variation of the needle here is considerable 

 and uncertain, and near these trap ledges 

 the compass is apt to be a false and treach 

 erous guide. 



I first drove a slender stake into the 

 ground, and then taking another a few feet 

 to the southward of it, and humbling my 

 self with my eye close to mother earth, 

 took repeated observations until I had sat 

 isfied myself that I had secured a range as 

 accurate as possible. Then I drove in my 

 second stake firmly also, and the thing was 

 done. 



From the woodland along the ledge, 

 sounded the melancholy note of the whip- 

 poor-will ; from a distant kennel came the 

 bark of an uneasy dog ; lamps shone from 

 windows here and there ; and all the valley 

 was suffused with the soft light of the 

 moon, in which every object finally disap 

 peared in a nebulous haze. It was the first 

 time that I had stood at this hour upon the 

 spot with which the future is to make me 



