SEPTEMBER. 279 



those rustling boughs amongst which we rushed 

 and plunged with the rapturous impetuosity of 

 young deer those clusters which tempted us to 

 climb, or to crash down the tree that bore them, 

 like many other ambitious mortals destroying to 

 possess those brown-shellers which came pattering 

 down upon our heads our dinner a la gipsy, and 

 our triumphant march home with our loaded 

 satchels, these were not merely enjoyed one day, 

 they have filled us on a hundred different occasions 

 with felicitous reflections ! I love a day's excursion 

 into the woods with a choice party with all my soul. 

 Not as many attempt the matter when they would 

 be exceedingly Arcadian not a formal and formi- 

 dable Filleggiatura, an invasion of the silent woods 

 with gigs and post-chaises ; startling the creatures 

 of solitude with the flash of scarfs, ribbons and 

 parasols, with their cloth as ceremoniously spread 

 as for a city feast, their cold collations arranged by 

 conceited livery-servants, their breaking of bottles 

 and obstreperous merriment ; but with souls familiar 

 with the mysteries and spirit of Nature, their simple 

 repast spread under the green boughs by fair hands, 

 and partaken with light and merry hearts prepared 

 to enjoy all that the freshness and beauty of the 

 scene may pour into their bosoms, and what their 

 own social natures will abundantly afford them. 

 With such I have, in past years, enjoyed to perfec- 

 tion the luxury of a Nutting expedition, and I recur 

 to the memory of it with double interest now that 



