HEATHER BURNING. 



shower of flaming diamonds, were in a minute con- 

 sumed. Whirr, whirr, played the frequent gor-cock, 

 gobbling in his fear; and, swift as shadows, the old 

 hawks fled screaming from their young, all smothered 

 in a nest of ashes. 



Tickler Good excellent! go it again. 



North The great pine-forest on the mountain 

 side, two miles off, frowned in ghastly light, as in a 

 stormy sunset ; and you could see the herd of red deer, 

 a whirlwind of antlers, descending in their terror into 

 the black glen, whose entrance gleamed once twice 

 thrice as if there had been lightning; and then, as 

 the wind changed the direction of the flames, all the 

 distance sunk in dark repose. 



Tickler Vivid coloring, indeed, sir. Paint away. 



North There was an eagle that shot between 

 me and the moon. 



Tickler What an image! 



North Millions of millions of sparks of fire in 

 Heather, but only some six or seven stars. How calm 

 the large lustre of Hesperus! 



Tickler James, what do you think of that, eh? 



Shepherd Didna ye pity the taeds and paddocks, 

 and beetles, and slaters and snails and spiders, and 

 worms and ants, and caterpillars and bumbees, and 

 a' the rest o' the insect world perishin' in the flaming 

 nicht o' their last judgment? 



North In another season, James, what life, 

 beauty and bliss over the verdant wilderness. There 

 you see and hear the bees busy on the white clover 

 while the lark comes wavering down from heaven, to 

 sit beside his mate on her nest! Here and there are 

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