228 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



From Harper? Mcegazine. 

 AN ODE TO A NOSE. 



OH Nose! chief feature of the human face! 

 To whom each varying visage justly owes 

 Its quaint excess of ugliness or grace, 



"Ti« meet to give thee prominence and place, 

 And make thee, too, the feature of my song; 

 Oh, yes the feature of my song, oh Nose I 



Then tune thee, organ, though in senseless strain, 



Accompanying with alight catarrh, 

 My wheezy Muse shall join the strange refrain, 



And blow the bellows for thy fa, sol, la. 

 Alack, that in our first acquaintance, Nose, 

 We should so readily have come to blows! 



I'll follow thee, my Nose, in blind reliance, 



As dauntless seamen track an unknown main- 

 Bid the wild winds and angry waves defiance, 



With thee for compass, dial, index, vane; 

 I'll mock when dire vicissitudes arise, 

 With thee, my Pole star, aye before mine eyes . 



Thy ruby light beams forth like beacon blaze, 



Or heat of inward "crater" all aglow; 

 Thou art a censor of the public ways, 



In whatsoever path thou chance to go. 

 Thus Sheridan, chief of Wits and Beaux, 

 Erst made a nosegay of his gay nose. 



He niched the subtle hue from ruddy wine. 



And robbed the mellow punch bowl of its bloom, 

 Until at length his nose grew aquiline, 



Through being bent for want of beaker-room. 

 A nasal bridge of such portentous size, 

 Might well sustain a punch between the eyes. 



And yet indeed thou art a goodly Nose- 

 No common snub or overgrown proboscis, 



But such a nose as everybody knows 

 Is fitted for the functions of its office. 



Here, then, I pause; I've wasted words enough 



On one that seems acutely "up to snuff." 



Oh most sagacious Nose! most potent Nose! 



When friends desert and bright presages fail; 

 When life's best hours are fraught with bitter woes, 



That fain would make the stoutest hearted quail; 

 When naught transpires to succor or befriend. 

 Thou art sure, my Nose to turn ap in the end. 



Thus words are vain to trumpet forth thy praise- 

 One brazen note from- that strange lute of thine. 



One of thy deep sternutatory brays, 

 Would do thee justice more than pen of mine; 



Yet if my muse doth fail in aught to please, 



He fain will make my devoirs with his knees [sneeze]. 



Charles Hallock. 



■««»» 



AUTUMN IN NOVA SCOTIA. 



NUMBER THREE. 



IT was a cool gray morning, and our overcoats were un- 

 common comfortable, as we rattled away from Purdy's 

 door in a strong wagon, driven by a young man who com- 

 bined in one the offices of guide, driver, cook and general 

 attendant. The roads were good, and our nag a most 

 energetic roadster, doing well all the time, and putting 

 forth tremendous speed up hill and down, when Nat, our 

 above mentioned man, reached out and pulled the animal's 

 tail. It was a novel way of bringing out speed, but was as 

 promptly effective as pulling the throttle of a locomotive. 

 Our way led by a brook, full of trout it was reported by 

 Nat, and the view was limited on either hand by spruce clad 

 hills. The clouds hung low, and the huge volumes of 

 smoke from charcoal burnings soon mingled with them. 

 The weather was not doing much, but had a sullen low 

 lurid air that assisted its power to do just as it might happen 

 to please. 



An hour's drive brought us to Sutherland's Pond, and 

 soon we were out in the only boat on the pond. It was not 

 all that one could wish. One end had been long under 

 water and was as slippery as the way of the wicked. The 

 other end was fine and dry, well seasoned in fact from ly- 

 ing high and dry under the hot summer sun, so well season- 

 ed that there was a want of intimacy between planks 

 intended to be co-Operative, and it took a deal of old rope 

 to so far compromise these breaches as to prevent fish from 

 coming in upon us in. a mode not provided for by Wal- 

 tonian counsel. 



Huddled in the slippery end, hoping to keep the dry end 

 in its more familiar element, the air, we essayed to throw 

 our flies, sometimes did so, and as frequently threw our- 

 selves into the bottom of the slimy boat. Our efforts were 

 .manly, but quite unappreciated; no fish rose. We tried fly 

 after fly, and denounced the pond as a fraud. Nat drew 

 breath between his assiduous bailing, and defended it. Mr. 

 so-and-so caught a basket full, as did Mr. so-and-so. En- 

 couraged, we braced ourselves and did our duty, blamed 

 the pond, and lost faith in Nathaniel. He said we should 

 icome in the spring, in June, when flies bite ; but every one 

 says "you must come in June," and we did not want to go 

 ihome and .come again, nor were we quite resigned to re- 

 anain until leafy spring. 



Desparing of fly fishing we sent Nat for the despised 

 earth worm, and sat wondering which would come first, 

 i-ain from an impending cloud, or the subterranean worm, 

 when the sun seemed. to take compassion upon us, and gave 

 a look of encouragement through the rent clouds. A little 

 air sprung up; it was mild and pleasant, while with line 

 lying loose and fly hanging-over the boat, six inches above 

 the surface, your correspondent, sat watching the play of a 

 small fountain like leak that let the water in upon our feet. 

 It was still not an entrancing moment; facts were very real, 

 and rather in opposition, when a blessed little .trout popped 

 3ip and made most spirited efforts to catch ,the penda fly, 



even if he jumped into the boat for it. The little fellow 

 failed after several ambitious leaps, but failed bravely, 

 and his example aroused us. Nathaniel rejoined us and we 

 drifted with the wind, casting on all sides with varied flies. 

 *The clouds lost their gloomy hue, and as the water grew 

 brighter the fish rose, languidly at first, going back with 

 only a swirl to show where they sought the fly, then with 

 more eagerness, until their real spirit seemed to be aroused, 

 and they took our flies, as Nat said, like June, and the click 

 of the reels and the hiss of lines that followed the splendid 

 dashes of the fish were music to our ears. 



One after another, one at a time, two at a time, the 

 beauties came into the net until our baskets were taken off 

 to ease our shoulders, so full that some fine fellows got 

 their heads out, and wiggled clear of basket and boat. We 

 could well spare them. From a selected few we lunched in 

 the shelter of the woods, and after our drive homeward, a 

 second hunger demanded trout for supper, while goodly 

 portions went to Purdy's neighbors and none of the deli- 

 cate flesh was wasted. 



Before the open fire again, our host said we must go to 

 Fountain Lake, and the next morning found us on our way, 

 favored with one of the autumnal days when all the ele- 

 ments of summer seem to combine in an effort to impress 

 bright memories of the passing season. 



Purdy went up a short cut to join us and bring our wagon 

 home, as we were to remain in camp. After a few outly- 

 ing clearings were passed, the road entered the unbroken 

 forest, all fresh with dew, and adorned here and there with 

 the first scarlet and golden leaves. We had hardly entered 

 this shade when we met Purdy returning. He motioned us 

 to halt, and called us to leave the wagon and join him. 

 When we reached him he pointed to the soft mud in the 

 roadway, and in it, clearly printed were the knuckle-like 

 tracks of a large bear, and among them, often in the large 

 tracks the little footprints of a cub that had trotted along 

 after its dam. They had not been long gone, for the morn- 

 ing dew was brushed off, and there was reason in Purdy's 

 saying that he did not wish to go on alone and unarmed. 

 A she bear does not permit her cub to be hurried or wor- 

 ried, and once raised a good deal of consecutive killing is 

 called for to place her Jwrs du combat. 



A hunter needs reserve shots to feel justified in forcing a 

 contest when a cub is about, and a cool hand must deliver 

 them to arrest the brutes. 



We uncased our guns and leaving our noisy wagon be- 

 hind, stole on with the faint hope of getting a shot at mad- 

 am. The deep tracks were in the road for some three 

 miles, but we saw nothing of her, or of her little follower. 

 Where the outlet of Fountain Lake was crossed by a wide 

 bridge bear tracks were all about,- they evidently appreciat- 

 ing both road and bridge as very convenient^for the little 

 infant Bruin's "learning to walk." 



Our camping ground was near the water, and not far 

 from the road, in a fine dry hardwood forest. 



A more beautiful pond than this need hardly be sought. 

 Irregular in form, with bays and points that through all 

 the day are charming in light and shade, with a great 

 variety of rich foliage, evergreen and deciduous, surround- 

 ing it, it was a place to linger near. Leaving the building 

 of our camp to Nathaniel, we took our rods and went out 

 on a raft built by Purdy, and no better craft was ever made 

 for fly fishing. It was about twelve feet long, eight wide, 

 with a tight floor and plank sides* One could go about on 

 ilf as on a dock, and when it was anchored all the radius 

 of many yards could be covered with nothing to endanger 

 the back cast. Parts of the lake were not deep, and through 

 the clear water springs could be seen pushing up little 

 circles of moving sand. These were in deep round pits, 

 from five to thirty feet in diameter, and several feet deeper 

 than «the surrounding bottom. They were easily found by 

 seeking circles clear of weeds, and a fly carefully cast over 

 them rarely came in without one or more of the bright 

 silver trout that characterize clear and sunlit waters. The 

 trout were not large, few weighing over one pound, but for 

 gameness and pluck, they were second to none. It was the 

 perfection of fishing. As the raft drifted slowly about, the 

 eye fell on nothing that suggested aught but undisturbed 

 nature. None of the annoyances of summer were present, 

 and from the rising of the mist that unveiled the lake at dawn 

 until the last sunset glow faded away, and the moon came 

 up from the tree tops — it was just such a scene of peace as 

 men long for when the hurry and rush of modern life seem 

 to overrun and distance life itself. Here we camped under 

 fragrant balsam boughs, and watched the sparks from our 

 camp fire rise among .the tree tops until they seemed to be- 

 come stars, and the stars and their blue field hung nearer to 

 us than they do when lamps glare, and ambitious roofs rise 

 in monotnoous sky line. From this nest we arose at dawn — it 

 is easy to rise at dawn when fresh air sleep gives rest with- 

 out languor — and went to our trout at the lake. The mist 

 hung over the water, but beyond it the pointed tree tops 

 caught the early dawn ; under the haze the lake was placid, 

 stretching in perfect repose into the mystery of the white 

 drifting cloud that opened in wreaths and each moment 

 disclosed new beauties, and then coquettishly snatched them 

 away only to reproduce them with more light and greater 

 charms. Just before us, the only tangible point in the mist 

 and its reflectiors, a large male loon floated in his suit of 

 slashed velvet, than which no more fit figure could have ap- 

 peared, if summoned by the spirit of the place. 



He eyed us boldly, turned slowly to and fro, and then 

 sank, leaving nothing to mark the water-line but the circles 

 that widened from the spot. 



From dawn to day, amid lake and forest, the transforma- 

 tion scene is one of wonderful beauty, and when in autumn 1 



the early light falls upon the prismatic colors of the hard- 

 wood foliage, there are lights and effects that pen and pencil 

 can only recall to those who know them — they cannot be 

 presented. 



All these places so pleasantly remembered — now we are 

 again far away from the Cobequid range — and the lakes 

 and streams we so enjoyed, are easily reached, and their 

 pleasures can be shared by any ladies who are strong 

 enough to dance a german, and we are sure the day is not 

 far distant when many a fair dame will seek health and 

 new interest in these rambles, and get in blue flannel more 

 impressions of the beauties sown broadcast, than can ever 

 be gained by drawing silken trains in parlors or garden 

 paths. They will bring home the forest rose of health, and 

 know a firmer step from climbing the ways that lead to the 

 woodlands. 



Few of us but would go with more pleasure on our an- 

 nual vagabondizing could part at least of our rambles be 

 shared by wives and sisters, and there are few places where 

 so much of wild life can be approached and enjoyed by 

 ladies as in many of the resorts of Nova Scotia. The people 

 are kind and friendly ; at the farm house inns more com- 

 forts are obtainable than in any corresponding places we 

 have found in extended journeys. 



Expenses are very moderate, and the disposition to get 

 the traveler's bottom dollar is not yet evident. 



It will be many years before the sports of Nova Scotia 

 will be exhausted, and may we wish that the best favors 

 may fall to the rifles and rods of the readers of the Forest 

 and Stream. L. W. L. 



X HEDGE HOG vs PORCUPINE. 



Editor Fore • t and Stream : — 



In number thirteen of your paper appeared a very in- 

 teresting article on "Hedge-hog Shooting." Now I write 

 for information, I «want to know whether I am right or 

 Mr. Hersey m regard to the animal. Have we strictly 

 speaking a hedge-hog among us? That is, is it indigenous 

 to this country? In my travels I have never seen one. 



We have the white Canada porcupine (the common name 

 Rodentid comprising the genus Ereshizou family Hystrkidae 

 F. Cuv. E dorsatus) in abundance throughout all our north- 

 ern wooded region. 



And where is Ossipee Mountain? There is a lake I 

 believe by that name somewhere in the southwestern part 

 of Maine. Was that the scene of his sport? 



His description of the habits of, and the locality where 

 he found his animal, corresponds to a certain extent with 

 my own experience with the other hog, the porcupine. 



In the old country there is, and they may have perhaps 

 down South the Erinaceus, the little fellow (he only measures 

 about ten inches) that when danger threatens rolls himself 

 into a round compact ball, presenting his needlelike weap- 

 ons in all directions to his enemy. The porcupine, a very 

 sluggish animal is too clumsy for that movement, though 

 they do sometimes thrust their heads into a hole or against 

 a tree, presenting only their posterior extremities with flat 

 bristling tails ready to slap a score of their screw-like 

 spears into the face and eyes of their assailant. The hedge- 

 hog feeds mostly on snails, slugs, mice, frogs &c. , and 

 sweet fruit when they can get it. He is also a hibernating 

 animal, that is lays torpid in his warm nest during the 

 winter. The porcupine will I think eat anything from a 

 trapper's old moccasin to an axe helve, and roams the 

 woods (in his sluggish way) at all hours and all seasons. 



In winter they feed for the most part (when they can find 

 them) on two trees alternately. Hemlock, Abies canadensis 

 and the basswood or linden, Tiliacm Americana and their 

 trail, a well beaten path from their hole in the rocks or hol- 

 low tree or under a stump to these trees, can be easily 

 found. They feed on one of these trees for several days in 

 succession, and then try the other for perhaps the same 

 length of time. And I have seen large hemlocks almost 

 stripped of their twigs and smaller branches by a single 

 animal. 



Of what earthly use they are I never could tell, only to 

 the Indians who sometimes eat them (as they will eat any- 

 thing, even an owl), and who do use the quills in large 

 quantities in their ornaments. 



We had an old Indian camped near us (too near rather) 

 in the "Big Woods, Wis., and he certainly was the laziest 

 rascal I ever saw. Though the deer were abundant that 

 season he was always two constitutionally tired to hunt 

 them, but would poke around and find a porcupine trail 

 anytime, and it was said that he lived alone on these stink- 

 ing animals, during the winter of 1856-7 having killed and 

 eaten himself sixty of them. 



The porcupine is about two feet in length with a flattish 

 tail of about seven or eight inches. He partakes largely of 

 the worst characteristics of the hog family, being very un- 

 clean in his nest or house. He gets very fat and very strong 

 (whew! tremendous strong,) in the fall and sometimes reaches 

 the weight of twenty pounds, and I db not know but 

 Jnore. 



I said stinking animal, for of all the awfullest smelling 

 places, next to a he skunk, is a porcupine's den after a win- 

 ter through — faugh, I can smell them vet. 



Jacobbtaff. 

 «+•+- 



— Most American travellers throw away much of their 

 reading matter at theirjourncy's end. But in England, at 

 each station, can be found a box fastened up, very similar 

 to our letter boxes, but sometimes larger, into which the 

 traveller puts his papers, books, &c. Those are in turn 

 collected by men who carry them to hospitals, homes for 

 old men and women, and similar institutions, where they 

 are gladly received. 



