88 



expanding mass of forest and foliage seems to swell and un 

 dulate about one's feet, while far away, on the borders of the 

 picture, the white buildings of South Reading, North Read- 

 ing, and Wilmington, seem timidly to hover, with the high- 

 lands of Lynn in the south, and Bunker Hill with its tall 

 shaft, standing like a beacon to guide the eye to the capital. 



After the gathering in of the strollers, the meeting was 

 organized in the Congregational Church, Rev. E. B. Willson 

 of Salem, being called to the chair. 



The record was read and the Secretary announced dona- 

 tions as follows : 



To the Library from Dorchester Antiquarian and His- 

 torical Society ; Samuel Blake of Dorchester ; New York 

 Mercantile Library Association ; David Perkins ; Solomon 

 Lincoln of Boston. 



To the Cabinets from William 0. Potter ; Abraham 

 Very ; Mrs. H. M. Colcord of South Danvers ; S. S. Mac- 

 kenzie of Topsfield ; Addison Flint of South Reading ; S. 

 Bar den of Marblehead. 



Letters were read from Dorchester Antiquarian and His- 

 torical Society ; J. H. Hickcox of Albany ; H. R. Stiles of 

 Woodbridge, N. J. ; C. Hutchins of Boston. 



Mr. Willson, on taking the chair, professed himself to be 

 no proficient in those natural powers or acquired habits by 

 which the scientific activity of the day was stimulated and 

 directed. He confessed an ignorance and a lack of enthusi- 

 asm in these things, unfitting him to be a meet companion 

 ol those who revelled in these deep communings with nature. 

 He had to-day been among the rocks, but he heard no oracle ; 

 among the flowers, but they spoke no word to him. His 

 pulses would but poorly answer to the leapings of the wild 



