XXX LIFE OF AVILSON. 
rural recreations wliicli I so much delij^ht in. Even poetry, whose heavenly 
enthusiasm I used to glory in, can hardly ever find me at home, so much has 
this bewitching amusetnent engrossed ail my senses. 
" Please to send me the names of the birds. I wish to draw a small 
flower, in order to represent the humming-bird in the act of feeding: will 
you be so good as to send me one suitable, and not too large? The legs and 
feet of some are unfinished ; they arc all miserably imperfect, but your gener- 
ous candor I know to be beyond all their defects." 
To ]Mr. WiM. Bartram. 
"June 15th, 1804. 
"I have arranged my business for our little journey; and, if to-morrow be 
fiiir, I shall have the chaise ready for you at any time in the morning, say 
seven o'clock. Or if you think any other hour more suitable, please to let 
me know b}' the bearer, and I shall make it answerable to me." 
"June ICth, 1804. 
"I believe we had better put off our intended jaunt until some more aus- 
picious day. 
" Clouds, from eastern regions driven, 
Still obscure the gloomy skies ; 
Let us yield, siuee angry Heaven 
Frowns upon our enterprise. 
" Haply some unseen disaster 
Hung impending o'er our way, 
Wiiich our kind Almiglity Master 
Saw, and souglit us thus to stay. 
" By and by, when fair Aurora 
Bids the drowsy fogs to fly, 
And the glorious god of Flora 
Rises in a cdoudless sky, 
Then, in whirling chariot seated, 
With my friend I'll gladly go : 
With his converse richly treated — ■ 
Happy to be honored so." 
The inconveniences of his situation, ;is teacher of a country school, deter- 
mined Wilson to endeavor after some employment more congenial to his dis- 
position; and that would enable him to attain to that distinction, as a scholar, 
which he was anxious to merit. He consequently directed his views to the 
" Literary Magazine," conducted by C. B. Brown, a monthly publication of 
some note, as a suitable vehicle for the diffusion of those productions which he 
hoped would arrest the attention of the public. In this magazine appeared 
his " Rural Walk," and his " Solitary Tutor j" but it does not appear that 
their author received any other reward for his well-meant endeavors than the 
thanks of the publisher. He was flattered, it is true, by a republication, iu 
