Chapter C: A. Alvord, Electrotyper and Printer

CONTENTS.

AT REST 1

THE STORM MOUNTAIN 5

THE RAPIDS 9

THE SHALLOW 13

THE LOWER SARANAC 17

THE WATERFALL 21

THE MOUNTAIN RAVEN 25

THE CATARACT 29

MY CANOE 33

THE DEVIL’S PULPIT 37

THE BELL OWL 41

THE UPPER SARANAC 45

THE AUSABLE 49

BUTTERMILK FALLS 53

THE RACKET 57

THE LOON 61

The Illustrations engraved by Messrs. BOBBETT & HOOPER.

AT REST.

THE soft Southwest says, Take thy rest
To-day upon Nature’s kindly breast!

Those trees, that throw a network glow,
Of sable and gold, on the floor below,

Gleamed out last night, enamelled bright
In the kindling flush of my camp-fire’s light.

From far crept fine the panther’s whine,
And moaned and moaned the sorrowing pine.

The hemlock spread my fragrant bed,
And I lay till the live roof sang o’erhead.

Yes, balmy breeze, I’ll take sweet ease,
Brimful of blisses, under the trees!

On yon dim spray, in russet gray,
Sits the Saranac Nightingale piping away!

That speck upon the cloud just won,
Is the black mountain eagle drinking the sun!

I’ll launch my boat, and idly float
O’er the winding water, and all things note:

All things that gleam along the stream--
Water-bird, water-fly, blossom, or beam.

And thus the hours I’ll wing with flowers,
And speed them away in these dreamy bowers.

THE STORM MOUNTAIN.

THE mountain frowns black to the battling storm.
He bristles his bayonet-pines to dare
The flashing, charge of the wrathful air.
But yet the sunlight, cheery and warm,
Kindling the darkness, paling the glare,
Tells that the fierce warring foe will deform
The scene little longer, but, shorn of his sway,
Breaking and dwindling, will vanish away.
While, scattered like stars in the glancing glow,
Lilies gleam out from the lake’s deep gloom;
And trees rich chequer of shadow throw
Where wild birds warble and wild flowers bloom,
And waterfalls tinkle in foamy flow.

Symbol of life in its shadow and sheen!
Even when sorrow is shading the heart,
Hope’s ray cheerily dances between,
Telling the tempest will soon depart.

Symbol of thee, with the lake of thy tears,
Oh land, and thy mountain of strife and of sorrow!
But bright through the battle-rack Hope appears,
Smiling in promise of golden morrow.

THE RAPIDS.

HO, the headlong rapids
How they rush and rave,
Roaring through the forest
Like the stormy wave!
How the curbless war-steeds
Frenzied leap and strain!
See the frantic war-steeds
Toss their flashing mane!

Brief the noontide thunder!
Brief the lightning’s ray!
Ever rolls the bolt here,
Ever gleams the spray!
Woe, the crossing panther,
Woe, the drinking deer,
Should the monster grasp them
With his fangs of fear!

See the shattered pine-trees
How they lean and rock,
As the bounding surges
Beat with endless shock!
Dashing, tearing, tumbling,
Down the surges go!
Ho, the tusks of granite
How they champ the snow!

THE SHALLOW.