IN THE NORTH COUNTRY 



elm near the gentlest, most silvery-toned of little 

 brooks, that I felt the culmination of the har- 

 mony had been reached. From neighboring 

 thickets came the wood-thrushes' cool, melodious 

 notes and the white-throat's " Swee-et Canada, 

 Canada, Canada." 



And with the breath of the summer breeze a 

 musical murmur swept through the corn-fields, 

 the stately grain bowed its beautiful head, and 

 every leaf of our sheltering elm swayed in re- 

 sponse to the mysterious influence that comes we 

 know not whence, and departs no one can say 

 whither. 



It was partly with a view of prolonging the 

 harmonious hour and partly to secure rest and 

 refreshment for my little companion that I wait- 

 ed thus by the wayside. I parted the moist, 

 drooping grasses that grew beside the brook, and, 

 with my hand for a cup, I dipped from the cool, 

 sparkling depths and gave her to drink. For a 

 little while she lingered near me, sniffing the 

 breeze and gazing out over the meadow stretches, 

 but in a very short time she had taken up her fa- 

 vorite pursuit of searching among the grasses, 

 and to this occupation she devoted herself until 

 we resumed our journey. 



[235] 



