A MO11NING WITH NATURE, ETC. 245 



and sparkled under the warm rays of the rising sun. 

 It seemed at times as if imbued with life, and as it 

 clung tenaciously to the overburdened trees it seemed 

 to breathe with a sigh, and when at last it could no 

 longer hold to the branches, a gentle rustling and the 

 quivering mass fell toward the earth, carrying bunch- 

 es with it from the lower branches, while myriads of 

 shooting stars sparkled for an instant in the sunlight, 

 and then, as if with one last expiring gasp, a cloud of 

 snow-white dust arose in the air, and instantly disap- 

 peared. 



'Twas Nature's painting, 'twas Nature's scene, 

 We were enchanted, indeed in paradise lost, 

 As we saw the wood in silver and green, 

 All covered with snow-white, clinging frost. 



It seemed as if we were in fairy-land, 

 That earthly thoughts and things dissolved in air; 

 We saw bright jewels sparkling in the morning sun, 

 Emeralds, rubies, diamonds, jewels beyond compare 



And, Oh ! how beautifully it glistened 

 On trees, on leaves and waving grass; 

 In silent admiration we looked, then listened, 

 As it quivered and fell in a trembling mass. 



I have hunted, I might say, all my life, at least since 

 a boy of twelve ; have seen Nature dressed in all her 

 various garbs, both joyous and mournful, in her warm 

 springtime, in the summer of her life, and in the ma- 

 ture fall, as well as in the golden age of winter, but this 

 was one of the grandest sights I ever witnessed. 



f Later in the day, while lying at full length in the 

 bottom of the boat, half buried in hay, eating a gener- 

 ous lunch, I saw, far off in the west, ducks high in the 

 air, travelling south, as I supposed. Suddenly, they 

 hesitated, and, making a wide swoop, dropped almost 

 perpendicularly behind a cluster of trees. Soon another 



