ALEXANDER WILSON. 
XXXIX 
Upon his return, he amused himself with writing a 
poetical narrative of the journey. This poem, entitled 
“ The Foresters,” was published in the Portfolio , and 
afterwards in a separate form, with illustrative plates and 
notes. It is entirely descriptive ; and is decidedly supe- 
rior to any of a similar kind which he had written in 
Scotland, manifesting great improvement both in his taste 
and his power of composition, — the unsought, it may be, 
but sure fruit of those toilsome hours spent in his solitary 
school, and in his own midnight studies. 
As specimens of this poem, we may give the following 
extracts : — 
APOSTROPHE TO HOSPITALITY. 
Blest Hospitality ! the poor man’s pride, 
The stranger’s guardian, comforter, and guide ; 
Whose cheering voice and sympathetic eye 
Even angels honour as they hover nigh ; 
Confined (in mercy to our wandering race) 
To no one country, people, age, or place, 
But for the homeless and the exile lives, 
And smiles the sweeter still the more she gives. 
Oh ! if on earth one spot I e’er can claim, 
One humble dwelling, even without a name, 
Do thou, blest spirit ! be my partner there, 
With sons of woe our little all to share ; 
Beside our fire the pilgrim’s looks to see, 
That swim in moisture as he thinks on thee ; 
To hear his tales of wild woods wandering through, — 
His ardent blessings as he bids adieu ; 
Then, let the selfish hug their gold divine, 
Ten thousand dearer pleasures shall be mine ! 
DESCRIPTION OF A RATTLESNAKE. 
Conscious of deadly power, he seem’d to say, 
u Pass on ; in peace let each pursue his way ! ” 
But when the uplifted musket met his view, 
Sudden in sounding coils his form he threw ; 
