Forest Travelling and Scenery. 205 



the student ; for it is easy to shake off a temporary alliance, 

 whilst an absence of similarity in character and disposition in 

 husband and wife can only culminate in conjugal unhappiness. 

 Blessed indeed must that pair be who can say, 



" Smit with love of sister arts, we came, 

 And met congenial, mingling flame with flame." 



There is a monotonous sameness in forest scenery very apt 

 to tire even the most ardent naturalist ; for it is made up of the 

 eternal succession of trees, broken only by settlements here and 

 there along the highway, the majority only isolated cottages, with 

 a small cultivated patch sufficient to supply the wants of the 

 inmates, while around the fields are extensive tracts, terminating 

 abruptly at the forest, and overspread with snags not yet up- 

 rooted, and significant of the labour yet required for reclamation. 



Primeval as is the native forest, so primitive also are the 

 habits of the settlers who struggle for existence in its wilds ; 

 where mile upon mile not a billet or shelter of any kind is ob- 

 servable ; and the straight road, like an avenue, is seen gra- 

 dually narrowing in the distance, with one eternal vista of 

 tree and bush along its sides. Here it crosses a swamp, over 

 which the usual corduroy foundation of logs threatens to smash 

 the axle, or overturn the cart, by the wheel frequently sinking 

 halfway in some muddy pool. Now we rattle pleasantly along 

 some gravel bank, among a second growth of birch, poplar, 

 and so forth, when the presence of fields and the tinkling of 

 the cattle bells tell of our approach to civilization. In a trice 

 we arrive at a cottage;, there is no sign-board, and, as far as 

 outward appearances go, it seems large enough for the in- 

 mates alone. Here it is that the stage-coach changes horses, 

 and you may bait, and if inclined to dine, can be regaled, on 

 short notice, with fried bacon and eggs, and any quantity of 

 tea, but no liquor is allowed. "We have not the licence!" 

 adds the dame ; yet I dare say there is a private bottle. 

 In the loft there is a spare bed for the benighted traveller, 



