Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-02-09
TIE BURNTNGoF THE FORESTS

THE BUIlNINGOF THE FORESTS"
ny !IoHN JAMES AUDUBON.
With What pleasure have | seated
myself by tie blazing ERE Of some lonely
cabin, when. , faint with fatigue, aud chill
ed with the piercing blast, | had forced
my way to il through the drifted snow
thai covered the face Of the country as
With a mantle! The adectiOnats mother
! il hushing ii er babe to repOSe, while a
group Of slutdy children surround their
father, who has Just returned from the
chase, and deposited on The rough floor
inv Of his HIT the varied game which he
has prOcured. The great back l0g, that
with sOme difficulty has been rolled into
the ample chimney, urged, as it were, BY
lighted piecel' Of pine, sends forth a
Blaze of light oyer the happy family. The
dogs Ofthe hunter are already licking
away the lrickling waters of the thawing
icicies that spIrkle over their shaggy
coats, and the ci9miort. loving ca. is busy
in passing her furry paws over each ear,
or with her rough tongue smoothing her
glossy coat. ~.
How delightful to me has il been,
when kindly recsived and Hospitality
treated under such 1 roof, BY persons
whose means were as scahty as their gem
erOsity was great, 4 have entered into
conversation with thEsn respecting sub.
iects ofinterest TO me, and received
gratifying information. When the hum
lie, but plentiful repast was ended, the
mother would take from her shelf the
book Of, books, and mildly request the
attention OF her family while the father
read aloud chapter. Then to Hslven
would ascend their humble prayers, and
a agoOd-niqht would be hidden TO all friends
far and near. How confOrtably have
laid nv wearisd frame on the buffalo
hide, and covered me Win the furry skin
of some huge, bear! Haw pleasing have
been nv dreams Of home and hlPpIness,
as there lay, secure from danger, and
sheltered from the inclernency Of The
weather.
ItecoIIect that once while in the State
Of Maine, passed such might as | have
described. Next morning. tho face ol
nature was OhscHrpd by the heavy rains
that frH 10 torrents, and my generous
hosi begged me to r6ntln in such press
ing terms, that was we'll C"Rtent to ac'
cent his Offer. Breakflsi over. the '''ls'-
ness Of the day commenced: the sp u
ming wheels went round, aud the boyi
EMPLOYED themselves, one in searching
for knowledge, another in attempting e
aolve some IickIish ariibmeiical problem
In a corner lay the dogs dreamIng o
plunder, while close 10th ashes slnof
orinalkin seriously pnrring in cnnceF
with the wheels. The hunter aud sea
ted ourselves, each. on stool, while the
NATION looked after her domestic ar
rahgemenis.
"Puss,, quoth the dame, "gst away
YOU told ms last night Of this days ram
and fear YOU may now give US wurs'
,news with tricky paws" Puss accord
inpIv went off, IVaped on a bed, and roll
in1 herself in a ball, cOmpnsed hersel
fora comfortable nap. asked the nus
b,hd what his wife meant BY what sh
had iust said. "'ThC good woman" !" saE
he. "has some curious notions at tunes
and she believes, Ithink, in the ways
anitnaIsSf ali kinds. Now, her talk = !,
the cat refets lO'ths fires Of the wooa ,,
aroEndius, and although they have mar
pensd long ago, she fears'tlem qatll'e9 qt1'9. = :
much as ever, aud indeed she aRd J, az
ali Of ua, have good reason 10 dread q ti'e e =
asthev have brought US uiaay calam .Iles'
Having TeadlOf The great fires to wliS
nv host alluded, and frequently oOseI
ed with sorrow The nOurutul state ot y
forests, I felt anxious TO know sotnetlllI
Of the causes BY which these difetul
Eects bad been Produced. Ialhereto
requested him 10 give me an account
the events resulting from those tIr
which he had Witnessed. Willingly
.,at once went on nearly as follows: Y
9''About twenty-five years ago, the lar
or hackmitack trees were nearly all ki
eddy insects. This tooksphce IN vi
heteabcuss is called the "black 9
QrSath'' land, that il the spruce, Pil
saing asl4 gaNs@ .utii ~ utssa stHf
sFqOh the ornishcldgicaT Biography; Or
Account 6f the HabtS of'the Birds fof the Y
ga States OF America,