Ixxxviii PREFACE. 
colour. Oh I I can gather you a whole parcel 
them, much handsomer than these, all growing 
our own woods ! Shall I, mamma ? Shall I g*’ 
and bring you more ?” The good woman receive*^ 
the bunch of flowers with a smile of affectionate 
complacency ; and, after admiring for some tiife 
the beautiful simplicity of nature, gave her willia? 
consent ; and the little fellow went off, on tW 
wings of ecstasy, to execute his delightful commit' 
sion. 
The similarity of this little boy’s enthusiasm ^ 
my own, struck me ; and the reader will need i’" 
explanations of mine to make the application' 
Should my country receive with the same gracioO' 
indulgence the specimens which I here humbly 
present her ; should she express a desire for me 
go and bring her more, the highest wishes of rO.y 
ambition will be gratified ; for, in the language 
my little friend, our tohole woods are full of theil*' 
and I can collect hundreds more, much handsoifi^ 
than these. 
Alexander Wilson* 
Philadelphia, 
October 1, 1808. 
