FOREST LIFE. . 119 



their construction. Some thin, flat pieces of wood, cleft from 

 the Spruce or Fir-tree, are driven into the ground, forming the 

 outline of a small circle some nine inches in diameter, and about 

 the same in height, with an opening of three or four inches on 

 one side, over which is placed the trunk of a small tree some 

 three inches through, running cross-wise, and raised at one end 

 about four inches, supported by a standard spindle, to which a 

 small piece of meat is fastened for bait. The top of the whole 

 is covered with light fir or spruce boughs, to prevent the sable 

 from taking the bait from the top. Access to the bait is then 

 had only by passing the head and shoulders into the little door 

 or opening under the pole, when the slightest nibbling at the 

 spindle will bring down the dead-fall and entrap them. These 

 traps occur every few rods, and thus a line or circuit is formed 

 for several miles. 



"Wild cats sometimes take the business of tending these" sable 

 traps, in which case they tear them to pieces and devour the 

 bait. One such animal will occasionally break up an entire line, 

 and blast the hopes of the hunter till captured himself. 



Although, when circumstances favor it, some portion of Satur- 

 day is devoted to hauling up camp wood, yet the practice of de- 

 voting a few hours of the concluding part of the Sabbath is not 

 unfrequent. Upon the whole, we conclude that, notwithstanding 

 the necessity of rest anS recreation, and the necessary attentions 

 to personal conveniences which the seventh day afibrds, the season 

 usually wears away rather heavily than otherwise, and Monday 

 morning, with its cheerful employments, brings not an unwelcome 

 change. The pleasures of a forest life are, with lumbermen, 

 found rather in the labor performed than the recreations enjoyed. 

 Suspension from labor, without the pleasant relief which home 

 privileges afford, leaves a vacancy of feeling not altogether free 

 from ennui. The little domestic duties claiming attention — un- 

 pleasant, as indeed they are unnatural to the coarser sex — remind 



