AMERICAN DEER. 95 



autumn woods rain down their shower of bright and 

 many-coloured leaves, mingled sometimes with the falling 

 snow-flakes, and in an incredibly short time the forest 

 stands cold and bare on the whitened plain. 



As the fall continues, the snow-drift gathers high 

 against the double-glazed windows, and enormous fires 

 of huge logs are piled in the wide open hearths. But 

 after a few days of storm the sun shines out again 

 from a cloudless sky of the deepest blue, though without 

 thawing even the smallest twigs of the frosted trees ; 

 and the white expanse of country, broken only by 

 snow-laden masses of dark pine, glitters to the horizon. 



All the rivers are frozen over ; even the broad and 

 rapid St. Lawrence is arrested in its course, 



" Flumina constiterint acuto ;" 



and like the streets is covered with horses, and sleighs 

 arrayed in rich furs, and with figures dressed in blanket 

 coats, red sashes, and moccasins. The wonderful and 

 glorious sunsets of this season cannot fail to strike the 

 inhabitants of our dull clime with astonishment. The 

 period associated in our minds with dreary afternoons and 

 leaden clouds, is here a constant succession of gorgeous 

 evening skies, suffusing the snow-fields with a rosy 



tinge. 



The moon, too, shines with a brilliancy, and the stars. 



