xlii 
LIFE OF 
Creator. I confess that I was always an enthusiast in my admira- 
tion of the rural scenery of Nature ; but, since your example and 
encouragement have set me to attempt to imitate her productions, 
I see new beauties in every bird, plant, or flower, I contemplate ; 
and find my ideas of the incomprehensible First Cause still more 
exalted, the more minutely I examine His works. 
“ I sometimes smile to think, that while others are immersed in 
deep schemes of speculation and aggrandizement, in building towns 
and purchasing plantations, I am entranced in contemplation over 
the plumage of a Lark, or gazing, like a despairing lover, on the 
lineaments of an Owl. While others are hoarding up their bags 
of money, without the power of enjoying it, I am collecting, 
without injuring my conscience, or wounding my peace of mind, 
those beautiful specimens of Nature’s works that are for ever 
pleasing. I have had live Crows, Hawks, and Owls ; opossums, 
squirrels, snakes, lizards, &c. so that my room has sometimes 
reminded me of Noah’s ark ; but Noah had a wife in one corner of 
it, and, in this particular, our parallel does not altogether tally. I 
receive every subject of natural history that is brought to me ; and, 
though they do not march into my ark from all quarters, as they 
did into that of our great ancestor, yet I find means, by the 
distribution of a few fivepenny bits , to make them find the way fast 
enough. A boy, not long ago, brought me a large basketful of 
Crows. I expect his next load will be bull frogs, if I don’t soon 
issue orders to the contrary. One of my boys caught a mouse in 
school, a few days ago, and directly marched up to me with his 
prisoner. I set about drawing it that same evening ; and all the 
while the pantings of its little heart shewed it to be in the most 
extreme agonies of fear. I had intended to kill it, in order to fix 
it in the claws of a stuffed Owl ; but happening to spill a few drops 
of water near where it was tied, it lapped it up with such eager- 
ness, and looked in my face with such an eye of supplicating terror, 
as perfectly overcame me. I immediately untied it, and restored 
it to life and liberty. The agonies of a prisoner at the stake, while 
the fire and instruments of torment are preparing, could not be 
more severe than the sufferings of that poor mouse ; and, insigni- 
ficant as the object was, I felt at that moment the sweet sensations 
that mercy leaves on the mind when she triumphs over cruelty.” 
