86 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



the embraces of his family, questioning if ever 

 again he should behold them. Then as the first 

 beams of morning spread over the dusky mass of 

 foliage, the musical notes of the wood thrush 

 — that joyful herald of the day, broke gratefully 

 upon his ear, as if to re-assure his doubting spirit. 

 Fervently as he listened did he bless that Being 

 who created this companion to console his soli- 

 tude, cheer his depression, and sustain his faith 

 under all situations. His fears vanished at the 

 inspiring strain of the songster, and were re- 

 placed by buoyant hopes. The heavens gradu- 

 ally cleared. The gladdening rays of the sun 

 rising from the distant horizon dissipated the 

 gray mist spread over the face of nature, and in- 

 creased in intensity, till the majestic orb shone 

 in complete effulgence on the sight, as the clear 

 fresh notes of the thrush were heard, echoed by 

 all the choristers of the wood. From its habits, 

 this thrush might be denominated also a hermit 

 of the forest ; for solitudes overshadowed by 

 lofty trees, or the borders of murmuring stream- 

 lets, are its favourite resorts. There, delighted 

 with the charms of seclusion, it pours forth its 

 mellow song in "full throated ease," and its 

 music may be heard to perfection. It is scarcely 

 possible to listen without that tranquility steal- 

 ing over the soul, which the serenity of the 

 scene, as well as the melody of the song, in- 



