328 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



the sweet scented pyrola, that grew up like a nun under 

 the shade of the deep woods, came often since the im- 

 provements, but searched in vain for their favorite 

 flowers. They no longer saw the squirrel upon the tree 

 or the nest of the sparrow upon the vine-clad walls. 

 The grounds, that seemed once to belong to them as 

 well as to their rustic proprietor, now exhibited some- 

 thing in their aspect that made them feel like intruders, 

 as soon as they set foot within their borders. These old 

 woods and pastures, now that they were metamorphosed 

 into park and lawn, had lost their charms for them, and 

 they turned away with sadness, when they thought of 

 those delightful arbors that would shelter them no more. 



But the children were not the only sorrowers. The 

 ladies of the mansion were grieved when they found 

 that the rural deities had fled from the very objects 

 which were erected for their shrines. The cause of 

 their flight was a problem they could not explain. 

 Why would they no longer dwell in their ancient abodes 

 that seemed now so much worthier the residence of 

 beings of a superior nature ? Could not the beautiful 

 green lawn that had taken the place of the weedy pas- 

 ture ; the commodious park which was once a tangled 

 wood ; could not the charming flowers of all climes 

 which had been substituted for the inferior wild flowers ; 

 nor the marble fountain with its graceful spray, nor the 

 neat spread gravel walks induce them to remain ? 

 More than all, could not the beautiful statuary that 

 represented them in material shape, please them and 

 retain them in their ancient haunts ? 



At length they began to suspect that there was a too 

 entire absence of rustic scenes and objects in their 

 present arrangements ; and forthwith to appease the 

 deities, rustic arches and bowers, made of rude mate- 



