GREAT PINE SWAMP. 53 



other by a noisy stream, which seemed grumbling at the approach of 

 strangers. The ground was so overgrown by laurels and taU pines of 

 different kinds, that the whole presented only a mass of darkness. 



At length we got to the house, the door of which was already opened, 

 the sight of strangers being nothing uncommon in our woods, even in the 

 most remote parts. On entering, I was presented with a chair, while my 

 conductor was shewn the way to the stable, and on expressing a wish 

 that I should be permitted to remain in the house for some weeks, I was 

 gratified by receiving the sanction of the good woman to my proposal, al- 

 though her husband was then from home. As I immediately fell a-talk- 

 ing about the nature of the country, and inquired if birds were numerous 

 in the neighbourhood, Mrs Iuish, more aufait to household affairs than 

 ornithology, sent for a nephew of her husband's, who soon made his ap- 

 pearance, and in whose favour I became at once prepossessed. He convers- 

 ed like an educated person, saw that I was comfortably disposed of, and 

 finally bade me good-night in such a tone as made me quite happy. 



The storm had rolled away before the first beams of the morning sun 

 shone brightly on the wet foliage, displaying all its richness and beauty. 

 My ears were greeted by the notes, always sweet and mellow, of the Wood 

 Thrush and other songsters. Before I had gone many steps, the woods 

 echoed to the report of my gun, and I picked from among the leaves a 

 lovely Sylvia, long sought for, but until then sought for in vain. I need- 

 ed no more, and standing still for awhile, I was soon convinced that the 

 Great Pine Swamp harboured many other objects as valuable to me. 



The young man joined me, bearing his rifle, and offered to accompany 

 me through the woods, all of which he well knew. But I was anxious to 

 transfer to paper the form and beauty of the little bird I had in my hand ; 

 and requesting him to break a twig of blooming laurel, we returned to the 

 house, speaking of nothing else than the picturesque beauty of the coun- 

 try around. 



A few days passed, during which I became acquainted with my hostess 

 and her sweet children, and made occasional rambles, but spent the greater 

 portion of my time in drawing. One morning, as I stood near the win- 

 dow of my room, I remarked a tall and powerful man ahght from his 

 horse, loose the girth of the saddle, raise the latter with one hand, pass 

 the bridle over the head of the animal with the other, and move towards 

 the house, while the horse betook himself to the little brook to drink. I 

 lieard some movements in the room below, and again the same tall person 

 walked towards the mills and stores, a few hundred yards from the house. 



