34 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



itudes and the absence of all appearances of human cultiva- 

 tion, yield the whole scene an expression of solemn and 

 melancholy grandeur. The first time I ever visited one of 

 these pine-barrens, was after a long ride by railroad, through 

 the plains of North Carolina. It was night ; and 1 often 

 looked out into the darkness upon the gloomy prospect, ren- 

 dered still more affecting by the sight of those tall trees that 

 sent up their giant heads almost into the clouds, like mon- 

 sters that were watching the progress of our journey. The 

 prospect was rendered almost invisible by the darkness, that 

 gave a prominence to the dusky forms of the trees, as they 

 were pictured against the half luminous sky. At length the 

 day began to break, and the morning beams revealed to my 

 sight an interminable wilderness of giant spectres. The cars 

 made a pause at this hour, allowing the passengers to step 

 outside ; and while absorbed in the contemplation of these 

 desolate woods, — suddenly the loud, mellow notes of the 

 mocking bird came to my ears, — and, as if by enchantment, 

 reversed the whole character of the scene. The desert, no 

 longer a solitude, all at once inspired me with emotions of 

 unspeakable delight. 



Never did I feel so vividly the power of one little circum- 

 stance at certain times to turn the current of one's thoughts, 

 and to change the gloom of a prospect into sudden cheerful- 

 ness. As one drop of oil cast upon the surface of the waters 

 will quiet the troubled waves, so did the glad voice of this 

 merry bird suddenly dispel all those sombre feelings that had 

 been cherished by dismal scenes and a lonely journey. Morn- 

 ing never seemed so lovely as when the rising sun, with his 

 golden beams and lengthened shadows, was greeted with this 

 warbling salutation, as from some messenger of light, who 

 seemed to announce that nature over all scenes has extended 

 her beneficence, and to all regions of the earth dispenses her 

 favors and her smiles. 



As daylight brightened, I took a stroll into the wood ; and 

 the pleasant emotions awakened by the song of the mocking 

 bird were increased by the thousands of beautiful flowers 

 which were revealed by the morning. The phlox grew 



