2OO Clear Skies and Cloudy. 



bration of some sort in Baltimore nearly caused 

 the extermination of the Baltimore oriole. Bet- 

 ter exterminate But I forbear. 



I can no longer see the milestone as it was. 

 It forever brings to mind the one-time natural 

 world, with all its beauties ; a thrilling thought 

 while it stays, but ever followed by the sobering 

 realization of naked and almost barren fields. 

 Gaze intently at the milestone, and it will be 

 replaced by the primitive forest and all wild life 

 in its glory ; turn aside for an instant, break the 

 spell, and what a dreary outlook is before us ! 

 My milestone, about which I hoped to weave 

 many a cheerful story, and with which I hoped 

 to spend many a retrospective hour, is in very 

 truth but a tombstone, recording how much has 

 been lost to us, .gone from us forever. 



