ALONE IN THE FOREST. 169 



offered to prepare for me. Then the couple left me to 

 my own cogitations and the companionship of my dog 

 Nelson. 



" The one feeling uppermost in my mind was thank- 

 fulness for my present safety and shelter, rude as it was. 

 The 'very novelty of the situation almost amused me ; 

 then graver thoughts arose as I looked about on the 

 smoke-stained wall and unbarked rafters from which 

 grey mosses and cobwebs hung in fanciful drapery above 

 my head. I thought of my former home in Scotland, of 

 my old life of pride and luxury, of my Canadian home. 

 What a strange contrast did it present to my mind at 

 that moment, the red flashing light of the blazing wood- 

 fire, now burning fiercely, illumining every corner of the 

 rude dwelling and showing the faces of the sleepers in 

 their lowly beds. 



" Close beside me lay the poor sick girl, whose fevered 

 cheek and labored breathing excited my compassion, for 

 what comfort could there be for either body or mind on 

 that hard bed and among those rude surroundings. The 

 chinkings (so I hear the people call those wedges of wood 

 between the logs) had fallen out in many places, and the 

 intervals had been stuffed with straw, old rags, moss 

 and other rubbish, to keep out the cold wind. Anyone 

 might have known from what country the inmates of 

 the shanty came, even without hearing the brogue of 

 the south of Ireland in their speech. 



" Few and simple were the articles of household use. 



