THE FIRST DEATH IN THE 

 CLEARING* 



" There is no flock, however watched and tended, 

 But one dead lamb is there ! 

 There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, 

 But has one vacant chair." 



— Longfellow. 



One lovely morning, early in April, I was standing at 

 the window that overlooked the lake and its , dark- 

 fringed shore, watching the wild-fowl that were gath- 

 ered in flocks about the pools of blue water where the 

 warm sunshine had melted the ice. My little boy was 

 in my arms evidently enjoying the lively movements of 

 the birds as they dashed and splashed the water over 

 themselves. There were wild geese, ducks and herons, 

 and above them hovered a big bald-headed eagle ready 

 to swoop down upon any luckless fowl that he might 

 mark for his prey. 



* From my Journal, April 6th, 1831. 



