Forest Sounds. 291 



graceful eyelids, and present herself arrayed in all that 

 was richest and purest before her Creator ! Ah ! reader, 

 how indelibly are such moments engraved upon my soul ! 

 with what ardor have I at such times gazed around me, 

 full of the desire of being enabled to comprehend all that 

 I saw ! How often have I longed to converse with the 

 feathered inhabitants of the forest, all of which seemed 

 then intent on offering up their thanks to the object of my 

 own adoration ! But the wish could not be gratified, 

 although I now feel satisfied that I have enjoyed as much 

 of the wonders and beauties of Nature as it was proper 

 for me to enjoy. The delightful trills of the winter wren 

 rolled through the underwood, the red squirrel smacked 

 time with his chops, the loud notes of the robin sounded 

 clearly from the tops of the trees, the rosy grosbeak nip- 

 ped the tender blossoms of the maples, and high over- 

 head the loons passed in pairs, rapidly wending their way 

 toward far-distant shores. Would that I could have fol- 

 lowed in their wake ! The hour of our departure had 

 come, ar.d, as we sailed up the bay, our pilot, who had 

 been fishing for cod, was taken on board. A few of his 

 fish were roasted on a plank before the embers, and form- 

 ed the principal part of our breakfast. The breeze was 

 light, and it was not until afternoon that we arrived at 

 Point Lepreaux Harbor, where every one, making choice 

 of his course, went in search of curiosities or provender. 

 Now, reader, the little harbor in which, if you wish it, we 

 shall suppose we still are, is renowned for a circumstance 

 which I feel much inclined to endeavor to explain to you. 

 Several species of ducks, that in myriads cover the waters 

 of the Bay of Fundy, are at times destroyed in this par- 

 ticular spot in a very singular manner. When July has 

 come, all the water birds that are no longer capable of 

 reproducing remain, like so many forlorn bachelors and 

 old maids, to renew their jjlumage along the shores. At 



