64 Hills and Lakes. 



seed it all myself;' and he stepped up to the book 

 and was sworn, and told the whole story, true as gos- 

 pel. ' The case is dismissed,' said the Squire. I 

 thanked the honest-hearted boy, that didn't like to see 

 a wrong done, and the Squire thanked him too. 

 Well, I harnessed up my old hoss, and started. I 

 pulled up old Champlain for home, and when I set 

 my foot in a city again, 'twill be after this. When I 

 get into the woods I know all about things. I've trav- 

 elled among 'em, and seen so many wild animals, that 

 I know their natur'. The still lakes, that lay away off 

 here all alone, and the streams that steal along round 

 among the rocks and hills^ are like old neighbors ; I 

 know them all, and I love them. I wonder, Squire, 

 that more people don't, like jou, come out here into 

 the v/oods, and see what God made, and as he made it. 

 Why don't they get into the deep forests, among the 

 tall trees, the streams, the lakes and mountains, among 

 the cool shades, to hear how cheerfully the birds sing, 

 and what nater' says, when she talks to herself." 



The stories of my guide Avere a source of great 

 amusement to me. He had encountered every variety 

 of adventure in his long experience in the woods ; 

 twenty-five years of his life, had been spent among 



