168 WHAT "ME AND CEOP" SAW. 



of ponds while the sun was hangin' like a great torch in the 

 tree-tops. I've seen a good many deer hi my day, but the 

 way they stood around in those ponds, and hi the shallow 

 water of the river below, among the grass and pond lilies, 

 was a thing to make a man open his eyes some. I saw 

 dozens of 'em at a tune, and if it didn't seem like a sheep 

 paster I would'nt say it. I had my pick out of the lot, and 

 knocked over a two-year-old for provision for me and Crop. 

 I aint at all poetical, but if there was ever a matter to make 

 a man feel like stringin' rhymes, that evenin' that Crop 

 and I spent on the lower chain of ponds, or little lakes on 

 Bog River, was a thing of that sort. The sun threw his 

 bright red light on the tops of the mountains away off to 

 the East, spreading it all over the lofty peaks, like a golden 

 shawl, while the gorges and deep valleys around their base 

 rested in deep and solemn shadow. The loon spoke out 

 clear, like a bugle on the lakes, and his voice went echoiu' 

 around among the hills ; the frogs were out and out jolly, 

 while the old woods were full of happy voices and merry 

 songs as if all nater was runnin' over with gladness and joy; 

 even the night breezej as it sighed and moaned among the 

 tree-tops, seemed to be whisperin' to itself of the joy and 

 brightness and glory of such an evenin'. As the night 

 gathered, the moon, in her largest growth, came up over the 

 hills and walked like a queen up into the sky, and the 

 bright stars gathered around her, twinklin' and flashin' and 

 dancin', as if merry-makin' in the brightness of her presence. 

 Away down below the bottom of the lake were other moun- 



