122 A NATURE WOOING. 



ering is necessary in order that the fire kindled at the 

 top may penetrate to the bottom with a slow and 

 gradual combustion. If the whole mass was rapidly 

 inflamed, the operation would fail and the labor in 

 part be lost ; in fine, nearly the same precautions are 

 exacted in this process as are observed in making 

 charcoal. A kiln, which is to afford one hundred or 

 one hundred and thirty barrels of tar, is eight or nine 

 days in burning. Pitch is tar reduced by evapora- 

 tion ; it should not be diminished beyond half its bulk 

 to be of a good quality."* 



Far in the distance I hear a sign of civilization 

 the crow of a rooster. Long live his clarion voiced 

 tongue ! In the past it has guided me out of many a 

 wilderness. 



Beneath the dead bark of a pine snag, I take a 

 large oblong Tenebrio beetle, Polypleurus nitidus 

 Lee. It is black, with numerous rows of punctures on 

 its outer wings, and is said to occur frequently in the 

 pine woods of this region. 



Once more I sit at the festal board on the porch of 

 the Tomoka cabin, but sit alone. The merry party 

 that gathered round this table on last Friday has scat- 

 tered, never to meet again. And what of life have I 

 learned since here we met? What of hope have I 

 had? It matters little whether with party gay, or 

 whether in solitude, one's conscience is ever present, 

 one's memory is ever with him. The wind soughs 



* North American Sylva, III, 1819, pp. 134, et seq. 



