LETTEES FROM ALABAMA. 
41 
and from whence they doubtless descended as soon 
as the coast was clear. 
Both raspberries {Bubus idceus) and strawberries 
{Fragaria Virginiana) I found ripe on the banks 
beside the road ; but I understand they are now 
going out of season. I was the more pleased to 
see them, as being old acquaintances, and remind- 
ing me of the north. 
Beguiled by these not very important but pleas- 
ing observations, a few only of which I have at- 
tempted to recount to you, rendered tenfold more 
interesting by the charm of absolute novelty that 
attended everything here, the day waned away un- 
perceived. When I arrived at the hospitable man- 
sion of my friend, the afternoon was considerably 
advanced ; and I found that I had accomplished 
the tortoise-pace of one mile per hour. Here, how- 
ever, I am at length, writing to you these rough 
notes of my woodland ramble. If it afford you 
half as much pleasure to read it as it afforded me 
to walk it, I shall feel well repaid. I regret that I 
had not arrived here a couple of months earlier ; 
the opening of the spring is the most interesting 
season of the year, when, after a suspension, more 
or less absolute, of activity and life, all nature 
springs into fresh existence : the gate of Eden is, 
as it were, re-opened, and birds, insects, and 
flowers, renew their Creator’s praise, I can well 
believe that the hunter’s boast to his mistress is 
scarcely exaggerated : — 
“ When our wide woods and mighty lawns 
Bloom to the April skies, 
The earth has no more gorgeous sight 
To show to human eyes.”— Bryant. 
