246 



KIDD'S OWN JOUENAL. 



green-sward after the flies ; his taper legs scarcely 

 exceeding a stocking needle in circumference. 



There will be no lack of food for the poor birds 

 this winter, as haw-berries are in great plenty ; 

 the wild rose-bushes are covered with ripening 

 berries, and the holly and ivy present a good 

 appearance, so that our friends, the little birds, 

 may look for " a merry Christmas and a happy 

 New Year." I am glad to say I saw a kite on the 

 " Town Hill " this week. So it appears they are 

 not all destroyed. Poor solitary wanderer! I 

 would advise thee to keep farther to the north- 

 ward, among the mountains, as I am sadly 

 afraid the farmers hereabouts will give thee but 

 a cool reception. The old saying remains good, 

 " Give a clog a bad name and he will for ever 

 hereafter retain it." 



The missel thrushes now congregate in flocks. 

 The first assembly I saw was on the 1st of the 

 month, and I took them for an early arrival of 

 fieldfares. I was, however, convinced of my 

 error upon a nearer approach. At the beginning 

 of this month, while going through a grass field, 

 I was astonished at the immense numbers of 

 butterflies, which were apparently busily em- 

 ployed upon the blue flowers of a small plant, 

 which grew in great quantities all over the field. 

 The Vanessa lo in particular was very numerous; 

 also Vanessa Urticce, and a small blue species, 

 were by no means rare. The large elder tree at 

 the back of the house, is loaded with fruit, which 

 will soon become ripe, and then be made into wine. 

 Here let me impress upon those who never turn 

 the produce of this prolific tree to advantage, 

 that they little know what a treasure it is to have 

 a dozen bottles of delicious elder wine ready for 

 winter use. I know of no better cure for a cold 

 than a little of this — mulled, and taken hot, just 

 on retiring to bed. The effect is wonderful. 



I often in my rambles stop to look at the 

 pretty appearance the ivy presents, as it hangs in 

 festoons from the trunks and branches of the 

 trees in the woods and hedgerows; and I think 

 what a blessing it must be to the smaller birds 

 that inhabit this country, to have such a shelter 

 during the inclement season of winter. Indeed, 

 I always find that Nature ever adapts herself to 

 circumstances — particularly in the present case, 

 for our winters are dreadfully cold. She has 

 planted the ivy in this country with an un- 

 sparing hand ; and there is hardly a tree of the fir 

 species, that is not embraced by this useful plant. 

 It is wrong to say that the ivy destroys the 

 substances it embraces, for few trees about here 

 grow to any size without their stems being 

 clothed with it. Not that I would, for a moment, 

 say the ivy was the sole cause of their large 

 growth; but I only mention the fact, to show that 

 this plant is not destructive in its properties. 

 Witness again old churches, and ruined abbeys 

 — Tintern and Furness to wit, on 



" Whose aged walls the ivy creeps, 

 And with her arms from falling keeps: 

 So, both a safety from the wind 

 In mutual dependence find." 



Wit and Judgment. — Wit is brushwood, 

 Judgment is timber. The first makes the bright - 

 st flame, but the other gives the most lasting 

 heat. 



LI0N,_THE KING OF DOGS. 



The sagacity, fondness, and true devotion of 

 that noble animal the Dog, is too well known 

 to require to be dwelt upon. He seems to have 

 been assigned by Providence as the friend of 

 man, to guard him, and watch over his interests. 

 His master may sleep soundly while danger 

 threatens, — but not so his Dog. No ; he in- 

 stinctively apprehends the coming danger, and 

 vigilantly prepares to save his master's life. Let 

 then this faithful animal be kindly treated, say 

 we. The following narrative is given as a true 

 statement of actual facts, by a Traveller. We 

 therefore print it in full, as being worthy of re- 

 cord in Our Journal. 



Some years ago, I travelled through a portion 

 of Michigan. I went on foot, or rode; as best 

 suited my purpose. I carried rich silks and jew- 

 ellery, to sell to those disposed to buy. My only 

 companion, during my journey, was a large 

 dog of the Newfoundland breed. Lion was fit 

 to be king of his species. He was good-natured 

 and quiet, and there was something almost hu- 

 man about his eyes. He attended to his own 

 business, and never quarrelled with "curs of low 

 degree." He would bear an insult from worth- 

 less puppies with a philosophy w r orthy of admi- 

 ration. And I never knew him, save on a few 

 occasions, to resent undue liberties of puppies of 

 larger growth. When his ire, however, was 

 thoroughly aroused, he made such offenders 

 a terrible warning to " ill-doers." 



One day in the summer of 1840, I found my- 

 self in a small settlement, on the border of a small 

 lake, anxious to get forward to the next, which 

 was about eighteen miles distant. No conveyance 

 could be obtained without waiting till the next 

 day, which I was not inclined to do, so I set out 

 on foot. It was near night, and I walked for- 

 ward briskly. I was not long in discovering 

 that my expedition would be by no means an 

 agreeable one. 



The road — if road it could be called— was very 

 bad, and through the thickest forest in that part 

 of the country. The night, too, crept on apace, 

 and promised to be darker than common. But 

 Lion trotted along by my side. I was a smart 

 walker, and was confident I was getting over the 

 ground fast; so I did't mind it much. 



The darkness was on me before I was aware of 

 it. It seemed to me that I had already walked 

 eighteen miles, but I could see no settlement. 

 This surprised me a little, for I was used to tra- 

 velling, and knew well my ability to calculate, 

 distances. But I kept up a good heart, and 

 went on, until I was quite certain I had mistaken 

 the way, or been misinformed in regard to the 

 distance. I concluded it would be best to keep 

 the road I was in, until I reached some habitation. 



In a short time I was glad I had made the re- 

 solution, for I saw a light glimmering from a 

 cabin. I approached as soon as possible. It 

 was rather above the medium size. I thought I 

 could be accommodated there very well. It had the 

 appearance of being very comfortable within. I 

 knocked for admission. The door was opened 

 by a man. 



Now I am not a person to believe in presenti- 

 ments, misgivings, and all that sort of thing; but 



