A PARTY OF LADIES. 311 



ing party returning. As they drew near, I discovered 

 that two of the boats contained ladies. It was raining 

 steadily, and they were apparently taking a cold bath. 

 When the boats reached shore, I saw, however, that 

 they were well protected with gentlemen's India-rubber 

 overcoats and rubber boots ; so that, in a few minutes 

 after they came out of their chrysalis state, they stood in 

 their short dresses and Turkish trowsers as dry as 

 though they had just emerged from their own apart- 

 ments. They were the party of Judge E — — of Ver- 

 mont, and had been up as far as Long Lake, at the foot 

 of which they had encamped. The ladies, instead of 

 grumbling at the mosquitoes and flies that had torment- 

 ed them, and the cold rain through which they had been 

 so long rowing, expressed great regret that they were 

 compelled to leave the woods. These lakes, dotted 

 with islands — the dark, solemn rivers running all day 

 long, almost without a sound, through the still forest — 

 the distant mountain views — the wildness and beauty 

 that perpetually surround them, have a greater charm 

 for the ladies than even the fine sporting has for 

 gentlemen. 



, Yours truly. 



