THE GOLDFINCH. 241 



them ; others are oppressed, silent, listless ; the 

 vegetable, no longer lucid with dew, and despoiled 

 of all the little gems that glittered from every ser- 

 rature of its leaf, seems pensive at the loss. When 

 blessed with health, having peace, innocence, and 

 content, as inmates of the mind, perhaps the most 

 enjoyable hours of life may be found in an early 

 summer's morning. 



Oct. 9. A brilliant morning ! warm, without 

 oppression ; exhilarating, without chilling. Ima- 

 gination cannot surely conceive, or caprice wish for 

 an atmospheric temperature more delightful than 

 what this day affords ; having mingled with it just 

 that portion of vital air which brisks up animality, 

 without consuming the sustenance of life ; satisfy- 

 ing the body with health, and filling the heart with 

 gratitude. Fine threads of gossamer float lazily 

 along the air, marking by this peculiar feature the 

 autumn of our year. On our commons, and about 

 our thistly hedge-rows, flocks of goldfinches (frin- 

 gilla carduelis), the united produce of the summer 

 months, are sporting and glistening in the sunny 

 beam, scattering all over the turf the down of the 

 thistle, as they pick out the seed for their food. 

 But this beautiful native has only a few short weeks 

 in which it will have liberty to enjoy society and 

 life. Our bird-catchers will soon entrap it ; and of 

 those that escape his toils, few will survive to the 

 spring, should our winter prove a severe one. Long 



R 



