BEACH AND WOODS. 231 



the boat of "Woods and Beach, the two solitary dwell- 

 ers of this region. It is rather a singular coincidence 

 that the only two inhabitants of this wilderness 

 should be named Woods and Beach. I should not 

 wonder if the next comers should be called "Hem- 

 lock" and " Pine." These two men have killed 

 hundreds of deer since they settled down here to- 

 gether, and a great many moose. Their leisure hours 

 they spend in preparing the furs they have taken, and 

 in tanning the deer skins, of which they make mittens. 

 They need something during the long winter days and 

 evenings for employment. When the snow is five feet 

 deep on the level, and the ice three and four feet 

 thick on the lake, and not the sign of a human foot- 

 step any where to be seen, the smoke of their cabin 

 rises in the frosty air like a column in the desert — 

 enhancing instead of relieving the solitude. The 

 pitch pine supplies the place of candles, and the deep, 

 red light from their humble window, at night, must 

 present a singular contrast with the rude waste of 

 snow, and the leafless forest around them. 



When a quantity of these mittens are made up, 

 Beach straps on his snow shoes, and with his trusty 

 rifle in his hand, carries them out to the settlements, 



