55o 



The Halcyon in Canada. 



A CANADIAN INTERIOR. 



this forest-bound opening ! The principal singer was the white- 

 throated sparrow, which we heard and saw everywhere on the route. 

 He is called here la siffieur — the whistler, and very delightful his 

 whistle was. From the forest came the evening hymn of a thrush, — 

 the olive-backed, perhaps, — like, but less clear and full than, the 

 veerie's. 



In the evening, we sat about the fire in rude home-made chairs, 

 and had such broken and disjointed talk as we could manage. Our 

 host had lived in Quebec, and been a school-teacher there ; he had 

 wielded the birch until he lost his health, when he came here and 

 the birches gave it back to him. He was now hearty and well, and 

 had a family of six or seven children about him. 



We were given a good bed that night, and fared better than we 

 expected. About one o'clock, I was awakened by suppressed voices 

 outside the window. Who could it be ? Had a band of brigands 

 surrounded the house? As our outfit and supplies had not been 

 removed from the wagon in front of the door, I got up, and, lifting 

 one corner of the window paper, peeped out. I saw in the dim moon- 

 light four or five men engaged in low conversation. Presently, one 



