128 CANADIAN NIGHTS 



yellow light, gradually dying out as the night crept 

 on, till only in the western sky there lingered a 

 faint glow fading into a pale cold apple-green, 

 against which the pines stood out as black as mid- 

 night, and as sharply defined as though cut out of 

 steel. As the darkness deepened, a young crescent 

 moon shone out pale and clear, with a glittering 

 star a little below the lower horn, and above her 

 another star of lesser magnitude. It looked as 

 though a supernatural jewel — a heavenly pendant, 

 two great diamond solitaires, and a diamond cres- 

 cent — were hanging in the western sky. After a 

 while, the moon too sank behind the trees, and 

 darkness fell upon the earth. 



I know of nothing more enchanting than a per- 

 fectly calm and silent autumnal sunset in the woods, 

 unless it be the sunrise, which to my mind is more 

 lovely still. Sunset is beautiful, but sad ; sunrise 

 is equally beautiful, and full of life, happiness, and 

 hope. I love to watch the stars begin to fade, to 

 see the first faint white light clear up the darkness 

 of the eastern sky, and gradually deepen into the 

 glorious colouring that heralds the approaching 

 sun. I love to see nature awake shuddering, 

 as she always does, and arouse herself into 

 active, busy life ; to note the insects, birds, 



