BRUAR LODGE. 55 



ing breath the light leaves of the birch and mountain ash, 

 which were scattered about in nature's careless haste, hang- 

 ing in graceful forms, and glittering with the falling dew- 

 drop. 



Now and then a roe sprang up from the bracken, in the 

 secret glades of the wood, and vanished instantly with a 

 bound among the gloom of the thickets, as the feet of the 

 good Galloway clattered over the stones. To say that the 

 rider " recked not of the scene so fair," were to do him in- 

 justice. No sudden gleam of light shot vividly across the 

 moor, no cataract leaped and clashed down the rocky 

 chasms, no wreaths of mists rose sluggishly to the moun- 

 tain tops, with their light trains flickering behind, the effect 

 of which did not excite his mind powerfully, and awaken 

 it to the most pleasurable sensations. 



" These are thy glorious works, Parent of good ! " 



So mused he thankful. At length, freed from the gloom 

 of the pine woods, his pony dashed forward to the open 

 moor, and the light spread broad around him ; not a cloud 

 is to be seen to indicate the course of the wind ; a moment 

 he checks his horse on the summit of the first hill, and 

 scatters a few shreds of tow ; away they sail to the north. 

 Burn after burn is left behind him, but still he sees the 

 long cart-track winding into the distance ; and in the remote 

 sky-line a few specks, which surely are his men, now near 

 Bruar Lodge, At length the last hill is gained, and from 

 its summit he descries the smoke issuing from the little 

 chimneys; joyfully he sees it, and the complacent thoughts 

 of breakfast come like balm over his soul. 



There are some classes of men, alas, who know too well 

 what hunger is : (would they were fewer) ! Were I called 

 upon off hand to name a few individuals particularly 

 tortured by famine, why then I should say Franklin, 

 Richardson, Ross, and the deer-stalker, who has ridden 

 over moor and mountain, from Blair to Bruar Lodge, before 

 sun-rise, .conscientiously putting the deer-stalker decidedly 

 first. Still let him beware of indulging his appetite too 

 liberally. Something we shall say on this subject when we 

 touch upon the necessary qualities and conduct of a deer- 



