286 . BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



cedar, hemlock pine, hiccory, and lime. The 

 oak grows tall and straight ; but all the trees 

 grow tall and straight in these forests. I spend 

 what time I can spare in examining the trees 

 and plants that are new to me ; I wish my 

 botanical friend Miss Perceval was here to assist 

 me. We have a great deal of the moss, or rather 

 the tillandsia, about which you inquire ; it hangs 

 from almost every tree, and we saw it in quanti- 

 ties along the banks of the St. Lawrence, before 

 we reached Quebec. The captain of our vessel 

 told us it was used in the States to stuff beds ; 

 and that he had carried some home to his wife 

 for the same purpose. 



c ' July 1st. I must give you a sketch of the 

 manner in which we pass our time. Mr. * * ' 

 goes out at five, and returns to breakfast at 

 seven ; he then works at his farm till twelve, 

 when dinner is ready ; after which he rests some 

 time, and again works till eight, when I summon 

 him to coffee. Household cares and prepara- 

 tions occupy me all the morning, and teaching 

 the children, and working for them, the rest of 

 the day. After they go to bed I have a nice 

 hour for writing or reading. 



" It is the custom for the ladies in this coun- 

 try to dress in the morning very plainly, and 

 suited to the hard work in which we must all 



