122 VOICES FROM THE WQODLANJ)S. 



and cherishing effects of the sunbeams, or some savory 

 herbage on the spot, attracted the troop ; for the grunting 

 swelled into a louder chorus, snouts were quickly set to 

 work, ears and tails were kept in joyous and continued 

 motion, and small eyes seemed to flash back the sunny 

 rays with unusual eagerness of expression. True it was, 

 that the company of joyous and excited creatures were 

 homeless forest swine. Yet still the sight was beautiful 

 and interesting ; the creatures were in fine condition, their 

 bristles shone like silver, their bodies were clean as if they 

 had been duly washed and combed like a lady's lap-dog, and 

 they seemed so free and happy, that our mind was filled 

 with the romance of forest recollections. We sprang 

 up, in order to observe and admire them more closely ; but 

 the noise alarmed the joyous brotherhood, and off they 

 galloped in a terrible fright, helter-skelter, with a speed 

 that none of the porcine races, excepting such as are free 

 forest-rangers, could possibly exhibit. And long after the 

 whisk of the last tail was seen disappearing among the 



