FOREST SOUNDS. 103 



fresh and green). Well, our tents were stretched over 

 those stakes, those boughs were our bed, and those charred 

 chunks are the remains of our campfire, that sent a sepul- 

 chral light among the forest trees around. 



The sounds that come upon the ear during the night in a 

 far off place like this, are peculiar. The old owl hoots 

 mournfully, the frogs bellow hoarsely along the reedy shore, 

 while the tree toads are quavering from among the branches 

 of the scrubby trees that grow along the rocky banks ; the 

 whippoorwill pipes shrilly in the forest depths ; the breeze 

 murmurs among the foliage of the tall old pines, while the 

 everlasting roar of the waters, as they go tumbling down 

 the rocks, is always heard. However diversified these 

 sounds may be, they all invite to repose. They fall sooth- 

 ingly upon the ear, and though . all are distinctly heard, yet 

 strange as it may seem, there is a strong impression upon 

 the mind of the deep silence pervading the forest. This 

 impression is doubtless occasioned by the utter dissimilarity 

 between the voices one hears hi the day, from those which 

 fall upon the ear in the night tune. The former are all 

 joyous and happy, full of gladness and merriment, full of 

 life and animation; the latter solemn, deep, profound, lulling 

 to the senses ; not sorrowful nor sad, yet still such as form 

 a calm and quiet lullaby, under the influence of which one 

 glides away into slumber, and sleeps quietly until dawn. 

 Then the voice of gladness breaks so tumultuously on the 

 ear, that he must be a sluggard indeed who can resist their 

 wakening influences. 



