182 A BED OF BOUGHS. 



D. Shanly, the only one I believe the author ever 

 wrote, that fits well the distended pupil of the 

 mind's eye about the camp-fire at night. It was 

 printed many years ago in the Atlantic Monthly, 

 and is called ' The Walker of the Snow ; ' it begins 

 thus : 



" * Speed on, speed on, good master; 



The camp lies far away ; 

 We must cross the haunted valley 

 Before the close of day.' " 



" That has a Canadian sound," said Aaron ; '< give 

 us more of it." 



" 'How the snow-blight came upon me 



I will tell you as we go, 

 The blight of the shadow hunter 

 "Who walks the midnight snow.' 



And so on. The intent seems to be to personify the 

 fearful cold that overtakes and benumbs the traveler 

 in the great Canadian forests in winter. This stanza 

 brings out the silence or desolation of the scene very 

 effectively, a scene without sound or motion, 



" * Save the wailing of the moos-bird 



With a plaintive note and low ; 

 And the skating of the red feaf 

 Upon the frozen snow.' 



* The rest of the poem runs thus : 



" * And said I Though dark is falling, 



And far the camp must be, 

 Yet my heart it would be lightsome 

 If I had but company. 



