210 3Tf)e &alce Oafe. 



the night is deepest, and often causes him who loiters in 

 the fields to think that he is listening to the congregated 

 roar of some far-off torrent, when perhaps only a little 

 streamlet is brawling among the trees; that solemn 

 sound is not heard here, for no running streams are 

 close at hand. Nothing then is heard in the silence of 

 this lone hour, but the rustle of the aspen-leaves, which 

 are never still, even in the hot nights of summer, when 

 not a breeze is felt, or the last whoop of the gray owl, 

 when she hastens to shelter herself in the cavernous old 

 tree, for that is her favourite abode. The nightingale 

 does not affect the Oak of Salcey, neither does the lark 

 love to raise his voice in the midst of the old trees, 

 where no young copses, covered with wild roses and 

 honeysuckles, invite him to place his nest among them. 

 When the day dawns, and objects become visible, 

 forth come the hare and rabbit from their shady coverts, 

 and joyous birds from the shelter of trees and bushes. 

 The early blackbird, nature's sweetest minstrel, sings 

 loudly that all may hear, and shaking off their slumbers 

 may be up and doing ; his full strain of melody does 

 not always wait for the rising of the sun, he rather bids 

 him welcome on his first appearance. Heralded by his 

 clear voice, the chorus of singing birds commences. 

 The lark rises high in air, the thrush and throstle, the 

 linnet and the goldfinch pour forth such enchanting 

 notes, as man, with all his science, cannot imitate. The 

 rays of the bright sun shine into the hollow of the tree, 



