THE COUNTKY HOST. 209 



shoe and heavy double-barreled rifle, and when the ardor 

 of all the rest of the party was dampened by a day of ex- 

 treme fatigue, his never flagged. No matter how thick 

 the air was laden with the trembling snowflakes, or how 

 icily the northern blast rushed over the barrens, out he 

 would go, never returning to camp till the shadows were 

 lost in the murky darkness. As I have instanced before, 

 he possessed that unseen power which enables the 

 thoroughbred to race on when the vision has become dim, 

 and the physical machine is kept in motion by the force 

 of the mind that knows not failure. He is the scion of 

 one of those aristocratic Philadelphia families, who, though 

 warm in their adherence to Washington and the country 

 during the struggle for independence, yet kept up the 

 exclusiveness of the nobility they assisted to ostracise. 

 With the manners of the class from which he sprang, he 

 unites a warmth of heart and disposition that prompts 

 him to fraternize with whoever he thinks worthy, no mat- 

 ter how lowly he ranks in the social scale. This grand 

 quality, united to the wondrous nerve power I have men- 

 tioned, endeared him to me so much that I seduously cul- 

 tivated his acquaintance. I am happy to state that he 

 reciprocated the strong friendship, and ever since for 

 many years I have been a visitor at his house. In the 

 winter we hunt deer, foxes and rabbits, the baying hound 

 filling the crisp air with music as we stand on the run- 

 ways ; and in the summer, going far into the " pathless 

 woods " of that section, enticing the speckled beauties of 

 the brook, and breathing the pure night air on the hem- 

 lock boughs, a couch you are so well acquainted with, and 

 join with me in extolling. During the winter, we alternate 

 our hunting in the vicinity of the lake which is famous 

 for being the resort of game to ground more distant. 

 Thus I have become acquainted with other families who 

 hold the highest place in my affections. Winter, which 



