114 Ay AMERICAN FARMER IX EXGLAXD. 



horses seemed to be worn-out hacks ; the harness was mended 

 with bits of rope ; the furrows were crooked and badly turned. 

 Altogether, a more unfarmer-like turn-out, and a worse piece of 

 work, I never saw in our own backwoods. When we last saw 

 the plowman, he had taken off his woollen cap and seemed about 

 lighting a pipe, and the horses were beginning to nibble at the 

 stubble, which stuck up in tufts all over the plowed ground. In 

 getting back to the road, we crossed a low spot, sinking ankle 

 deep in mire, and noticed several trees not eight inches thick, 

 which showed signs of decay. 



We tramped on for several miles, I think, through this tame 

 scenery and most ungentlemanly farming, until it became really 

 tiresome. At length the wood fell back, and the road was lined 

 for some way with a double row of fine elms. Still no deer. A 

 little further, and we came to a cottage beautifully draped with 

 ivy, and passed through another gate. Ah ! here is the real park 

 at last. 



A gently undulating surface of close-cropped pasture land, 

 reaching way off inimitably ; veiy old, but not very large trees 

 scattered singly and in groups so far apart as to throw long un- 

 broken shadows across broad openings of light, and leave the 

 view in several directions unobstructed for a long distance. 

 Herds of fallow-deer, fawns, cattle, sheep, and lambs quietly 

 feeding near us, and moving slowly in masses at a distance ; a 

 warm atmosphere, descending sun, and sublime shadows from 

 fleecy clouds transiently darkening in succession, sunny surface, 

 cool woodside, flocks and herds, and foh'age. 



The road ran on winding through this. We drew a long 

 breath, and walked slowly for a little way, then turned aside at 

 the nearest tree, and lay down to take it all in satisfactorily. 

 Then we arose and went among the deer. They were small and 

 lean, all with their heads down feeding. Among them was one 



