A WESTERN BRIDE. 133 



and the blue hazy Catskill Mountains, with the 

 placid Hudson River flowing beneath. 



Soon a distant report of a gun recalled my 

 conjured-up vision of a past age to the far more 

 material present time, more particularly as the game 

 we sought was soon after\vards in sight, with several 

 parties of wild duck hovering around them. 



Well ! they came, and were duly received, again 

 they returned and met the same reception, till even 

 my companion, who was a perfect glutton for shoot- 

 ing, thought that we had done enough. 



On our return to the homestead, we found the 

 newly-married couple in possession, and a cleaner 

 built, more buxom lass could not have been found in 

 the State. No wonder, then, that the old " crank " 

 thought that his daughter was the object of our 

 visit. 



