236 
VIRGINIAN DEER. 
enter into our feelings and enjoyments. As we approach the long avenue 
a mile from the residence of the companion of thirty-five years, we 
are espied by his domestics who welcome us with a shout, and inform us 
that their “ Boss” is looking out for us. Our friend soon perceives us, and 
hurries to the gate. How pleasant are the greetings of friendship the smil- 
ing look of welcome, the open hand, and the warm heart of hospitality. 
The usual invitation is sent to a neighbour, to lunch, dine, and meet a 
friend. The evening is spent in social conver.se and closed with the 
family bible, and offerings of gratitude and praise to the Giver of all good. 
The sleep of him, who has escaped from the din of the city to the quiet 
of the country, is always refreshing. The dawn of day invites us to a 
substantial breakfast. The parties now load their double-barrelled guns, 
whilst the horses are being saddled. The horn is sounded, and the dri\ er, 
full of glee, collects his impatient hounds. The party is unexpectedly 
augmented by several welcome guests. Our intelligent friend Harris, from 
New-Jersey, has come to Carolina, to be initiated into the mysteries of 
Deer hunting, as a preparation to farther exploits on the Western prairies, 
among the elk and the buffalo ; with him comes Audubon, the Nestor of 
American ornithology, and his son, together with Dr. Wilson. After the 
first greetings are over, We hastento saddle additional horses for those of our 
guests, who are disposed to join us. The old ornithologist, having no relish 
for such boyish sports, sallies to the swamps in search of some rare species 
of woodpecker. W^e proceed to the drives, as they are called, \iz., certain 
woods, separated by old fields and various openings, in some parts ol 
which the Deer have their usual run, where the parties take their stands. 
These drives are designated by particular names, and we are familiar 
with Crane pond, Gum thicket, the Pasture, the Oak swamp, and a number 
of bays, one of which we would be willing to forget, for there we missed 
a Deer, and the bay was named after us, to our mortification. The driver 
is mounted on a hardy, active, and sure-footed horse, that he may be 
enabled to turn the course of the Deer, if he attempts to run back, or to 
stop the dogs. We were carried round to our stands by our host, when 
a Deer bounced up before us ; in an instant a loud report is heard waking 
the echoes of the forest— the animal leaps high into the air, and tumbles 
to the ground. Thus, our venison is secured, and we carry on our farther 
operations from the mere love of sport. Anxious to give our friend Harris 
an opportunity of killing his first Deer, we place him at the best stand. 
Our mutual wishes are soon gratified. He is stationed at the edge 
of a bay— a valley overgrown with bay-trees {Magnolia glauca)~which 
from that day received the cognomen of Harris’ bay. The hounds after 
considerable trailing rouse two noble bucks, one of them bounds out 
