SHOOTING IN ILLINOIS. 117 



sense of colour in his composition, can fail to admire 

 the manifold shades and tintings of the foliage during 

 an American autumn? True, the change of colour 

 denotes decay and departing glory ; still the richness 

 and brilliancy of the numerous hues have far from 

 a depressing effect. The European poets have sung 

 of autumn in strains so sad that one can scarce read 

 their effusions without getting the dolefuls ; perhaps 

 this arises from their landscape lacking the brilliant 

 hues of the sumach, maple, and Virginia creeper, 

 which contrast so magnificently with the less radiant 

 oak or beech, or the intensely green pine and 

 hemlock. There is but one period of the year that 

 can compare, in my humble opinion, with the Fall, 

 and that only in the Western States . I allude to 

 that portion of the spring when the snow-white dog- 

 wood and refulgent pink-bud are in the full pos- 

 session of their delicate an<J lovely blossom. A 

 quarter of a mile brought us to the edge of our in- 

 tended beat, and as the faithful and keen- scented 

 setters were uncoupled, we individually felt luck was 

 on our side, and in all human probability we should 

 have first-class sport. Soon our guns received the 

 correct quantity of ammunition, and while Sancho and 

 Don were down at " charge," the lively sound of the 

 ramrod, or the sharp, clear clicking of the locks, as 



