head had assumed a purplish, livid tint, and the spoil scarcely resembled the coat of the living eagle. meat, and potatoes; but the butter was rancid, the oil only fit to grease our guns. Several of the men were not clothed as The difficulties to be encountered in studying hunters should be, and some of the guns were the habits of our water-birds are great. He not so good as we could have wished; we were, who follows the feathered inhabitants of the however, fortunate with respect to our vessel, forests and plains, however rough and tangled which was a notable sailor, did not leak, had a the paths may be, seldom fails to obtain the ob- good crew, and was directed by a capital seaject of his pursuit, provided he be possessed of man. The hold of the schooner was floored, due enthusiasm and perseverance. The land- and an entrance made to it from the cabin, so bird flits from bush to bush, runs before you, that in it we had a good parlour, dining-room, and seldom extends its flight beyond the range drawing-room, library, &c.-all these apartof your vision. It is very different with the ments being united in one. A deal-table ranged water-bird, which sweeps afar over the wide along the centre. One of the party had ocean, hovers above the surges, or betakes itself slung his hammock at one end, and in its for refuge to the inaccessible rocks on the vicinity slept the cook. The cabin was small, shore: there, on the smooth sea-beach, you see but, being fitted in the usual manner with sidethe lively and active sand-pipers; on that rug- berths, was used as a dormitory. It contained ged promontory, the dusky cormorant ; under a small table and a stove-the latter of diminuthe dark shade of yonder cypress, the ibis; tive size, but smoky enough to discomfort a sacred bird of Egypt, and the heron, who looks host. We adopted the clothing worn by Amerias if only possessed of one leg, having drawn can fishermen-thick blue-cloth trousers, a comup the other so closely to his body you cannot fortable waistcoat, and a pea-jacket of blanket. see it. He is watching, apparently quite asleep, Our boots were large, round-toed, strong, and and nodding like a person completely overcome well studded with large nails to prevent sliding with fatigue, his head over that silent pool of on the rocks. Worsted comforters, thick mittens, water, which seems destitute of a single inha- and round broad-brimmed hats, completed our bitant; not even a fly buzzes on its surface: but dress, which was more picturesque than fashionsee, there is a bubble on the water; the heron able. As soon as we could, the boots were exsuddenly wakes up, and before the luckless fish changed for Esquimaux mounted mocassins o! has time to dive, he is caught up in that remorse-seal-skin, impermeable to water-light, easy, less bill, head-foremost; for, if the heron has caught him by his tail, he throws him up in the air, as the cook throws a pancake, and catches him by his head; for the wily heron knows that, if he swallowed him tail first, the gills of the fish would (being raised) stick in his throat, and neither go up nor down, but perhaps choke him. Above you, in the still air, floats the pelican, with its immense red bag distended, full of fish, which it is bearing home to its little ones, and the swan, with its flute-like voice, while far over the angry billows scour the fulmar, and the frigate bird. If you endeavour to approach these in their haunts, they betake themselves to flight, and speed to places where they are secure from intrusion; but the scarcer the fruit, the more prized it is; and seldom have I experienced greater pleasure than, when on the Florida quays, under a burning sun, after pushing my barque for miles over a swampy flat, I have striven all day long, tormented by myriads of insects to procure a heron new to me, and have at length succeeded in my efforts. I found that it was necessary to visit Labrador, which is the resting-place of a vast number of migratory birds, for the continuation of my work; therefore I chartered a small vessel, the "Ripley," at Eastport Marine, for the purpose, and, accompanied by four young men, fond of natural history and adventure, I set sail for the north. We purchased our stores at Boston, with the aid of my generous friend Dr. Parkman; but, unfortunately, many things necessary on an expedition like ours were omitted. We had abundance of ammunition, excellent bread, and fastening at top to straps which, when buckled about the waist, secured them well. To complete our equipment we had several good boats, one of which was extremely light, and adapted for shallow water. No sooner did we reach the coast and get into the harbour than we set to work. LINES. BY ADA TREVANION. The sounding wind of stormy March I kissed their leaves so deeply blue, Till one whose eyes eclipsed their hue The winds of March have passed away, Gone, too, are April's gleams and showers, And every bank is prankt with flowers; And many a blossom deck the plain, Or those dear eyes shall shine again. SHIP PEGA N. Thirty days had we passed upon the Atlantic before our ship entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, when at length the wind, laden with odours of forest-trees and flowers; little timid birds which flew near us; floating trees and shrubs, and a long, low coast not far away, all told us that our voyage approached its close. Yet how long were the last hours! The waters of the Gulf were provokingly smooth; the ship lay vexatiously still, with her sails grumbling about the creaking yards; and the mild apology for a breeze, which occasionally fanned us, was directly ahead. 66 Captain, when shall we get to the shore? The wind is ahead, isn't it? This was the fifty-ninth time, I should say, that I had asked this questien of our dapper little captain, who was patiently pacing the quarter-deck. "The wind? Ah, yes, sir-the wind is ray-ther unfortunate in its character and direction, but balmy, sir; yes, re-markably balmy." "Oh! hang the balmy breeze," I muttered, going to the bows to find relief from ennui in questioning the mate, who stood there lazily gazing at the entrance of the Bay de Chaleur, whither we were bound. "Mr. Jones, when do you suppose we shall arrive there?" "Hum! I guess, sir, it would take a man with a head as long as a horse to tell that. Perhaps the French pilot in that boat out there will tell you, if he ever gets on board. Why don't he row? He'll never get here, if he don't take his oars." "Row!" yelled the mate, at the same time making gestures to a boat about three miles ahead. Of course they could not see him, but by some coincidence they seemed just to think of what the mate so earnestly desired, and in about an hour the pilot came on board. I wanted to show the captain that I had not spent a month in Paris for nothing; so I spoke to the pilot in my best French, renewing the question which I had put to the captain. "The wind, perhaps he wouldn't swear it but perhaps it would change in the evening." "Ah! really, sir," said the captain, "it's a consolation to be able to converse in another tongue. I speak French myself tolerably." In fact, the captain completely eclipsed me, for he talked with amazing volubility, and made his hands fly most wonderfully while gesticulating. I suppose the reader has never heard of Shippegan. It would not be surprising if he were completely ignorant of the Bay de Chaleur. For my part, I was entirely free from any knowledge whatever of those places, until I went there. "Nevertheless, although remote from the busy world, it is an interesting place. It is amazingly so.' This is what the captain told me, adding, at the same time, that it was inhabited by French, the remnants of the old Acadian settlers. They dwell in great numbers about here, supporting themselves by agricul ture and fishing, preserving their simple feelings and primitive manners unaltered, while all around has changed. As the ship sailed slowly up the harbour of Shippegan on the following morning, I stood and gazed with indescribable delight upon the beauties which opened up on every side. On the Gaspé shore the bay was bounded by lofty hills, which, gradually declining to the water's edge, afforded excellent advantages for the houses of those who united the occupations of farmer and fisher. On the NewBrunswick side, the country was low and undulating, richly wooded, and in many places well cultivated. Scores of fishing-boats with their snowy sails dotted the waters of the bay. As we sailed up the long, narrow harbour, we looked with great curiosity upon the unknown villages lying upon the shore, so quaint and quiet, with their singular-looking barns and rude wharves. The ship anchored near some mills from which she was to receive a cargo of timber and return to England. "A rummy little place," said the captain, pointing to the straggling village of Shippegan; "ray-ther so, I should think; but, bless me! it's quite lively, and the company is surprisingly entertaining. In that house with the oddlooking fence lives 'ma chère Madame Vieuxfemme,' a lady at whose mansion I had the pleasure of making a short stay two years ago. She has a very fascinating little witch of a daughter. If you stop at Shippegan, allow me to advise you confidentially to lodge at Madame Vieuxfemme's." The "chère Madame" was a lively, bustling little body, with a cap whose borders were perfectly enormous. She welcomed the captain with alternate laughter and tears, while the conversation was kept up with unfailing energy for half-an-hour, when in stepped the prettiest, coyest, merriest-looking little being that can be imagined. She ran up to the captain with a shout of hearty welcome. He made a paternal offer of a kiss, but she only gave him her little hand. She had a dark complexion, black hair, large black eyes, mischievous, laughing mou pouting, ruby lips, and dimpled cheeks. How small her fairy hand was! What a ringing laugh she had! "By George!" cried the enthusiastic captain, after an earnest look, and with a gesture of un bounded admiration. "You-you're a bouncer! | ordinary!" muttered the captain a perfectly awful one!" I came suddenly to the conclusion to lodge here, if possible, and spoke to the old lady about it. 66 Oh, monsieur can stay here if he wants to. We have two beautiful little spare rooms, and we will do anything in the world for him." It was a curious house, built of wood, with a steep roof, chimney outside, and old-fashioned little windows. Creepers grew around it, climbing into the windows, running up along the chimney, luxurating around the edge of the roof. Inside there was a 66 best room" with a sanded floor, a high mantel-piece covered with curious shells, large solid tables and highbacked chairs. In the common sitting-room there were the same kind of moveables, but of a ruder material; there was a glorious old fireplace, deep and high, with polished fire-irons, and comfortable chairs in which one could loll and rest in an ecstasy of quiet enjoyment. In these chairs the captain and I took our siesta, languidly talking, blinking at the polished tins and shining brass candle-sticks, with an old black cat purring between us. It was a chimney-corner the like of which never is seen in our land. We walked out into the village. It lies at the extremity of a long harbour, and is built without much regard to regularity. The cottages are all built of wood, and bear a general resemblance to that of Madame Vieuxfemme. The captain knew everybody, and received from everyone a warm welcome. It was a bow here, a smile there, a warm shake of many a hand, and occasionally a fatherly kiss to some pretty Acadienne. 66 Captain, that is not fair. I ought to come in for a small share." "You're perfectly welcome to do so," he replied, with a grin. to me. "Quite a little nest of cherubs. Father fine man; mother dead; oldest daughter has taken care of the others ever since she was nine years old; womanly little piece, isn't it?" The father, whose name was Groeneuf, pressed us to remain and take dinner. He brought out some salted Caribou meat, which was eaten with magnificent potatoes. The bread was of snowy whiteness, made by Marie; the coffee was of unsurpassable excellence, and sweetened with maple-sugar. Mr. Groeneuf was a simpleminded man, with a large amount of plain good sense. With an entire ignorance of the character and progress of the outer world, he was completely contented with his lot, believing Shippegan to be as beautiful a place as earth could afford. I took one of the little boys upon my knee. "What is your name?" said I. "My name's Jean; and his name's Alphonse; and her name is Marie; and hers is Jeanette. What's yours?" 66 My name is Jean, also." "The same as mine. O-oh!" and the little fellow clapped his hands in childish glee. "Where did you come from?" "Did you ever hear of a place called France ?" "Oh yes, my father told me all about it. His father told him." "Well," said I, "I've just been there, and I will show you something which I brought from a large town called Paris ;" and I took a knife from my pocket. But the boy did not notice it. He was overwhelmed by the thought of talking with a man who had been in France. "He's been in France !" whispered he to Jeanette. "He's just come from France!" muttered Jeanette to Alphonse. Marie looked at me with all her might. They could not have been more surprised if a man had dropped from the moon. "See here, Jean; I bought this knife in France, and I'll give it to you." A long grass-grown road traversed the village, and here there was some attempt at regularity in the arrangement of the houses. We walked up to one. "Entrez, entrez, He took the knife, opened the blades one by messieurs, je vous prie," exclaimed a benevolent- one, and at last, looking up to me with unlooking man who stood by the door oiling a gun-speakable thanks, jumped from my knee and lock. ran to Alphonse, who joined him in expressions of the most profound admiration. I gave Alphonse a little French book with pictures, and the next day presented Marie with a parasol, and Jeanette with a little "ladies' companion," all from France. All the time that I remained in Shippegan, I was welcome to the humble home of Groeneuf, and each one tried to outdo the other in all kinds of friendly services. We complied with the request. The house was neat and clean. What pretty children those were who sat laughing in a corner! The oldest was a girl of about fifteen, named Marie; and there were three others. Marie was a little beauty. The queer manner in which she and her equally beautiful little sister were dressed, added a certain oddity to their appearance. Their home-spun frocks had very short waists, and extremely narrow long skirts; and their huge wooden shoes went " clump, clump," whenever they walked. Two fine little boys were playing with a large dog. Handsome little fellows! How pleasant to look at their honest faces, with clustering hair hanging carelessly about their brows! "Those are surprising children; extra We left the house and strolled along farther. The captain stopped at every house, shaking hands with the inmates. The houses were all clean and comfortable. The daughters sat spinning, and the sons were out in the fields. The father would be smoking, and the mother knitting. At length we came to a house rather better than the others. "This," said the captain, "is the house of my respectable friend Bontête, a fine old man, with such a daughter! She is a fairy, an houri; yes, sir, an angel!" Bontête, looking like some old patriarch, sat at his door smoking. I "Ah, my old friend," he said, when he saw the captain, "you are here again, are you? saw your ship coming in, and would have gone down, but I was afraid of troubling you." And how are you, and how is the beautiful Corinne?" said the captain. "Corinne is very well, and so am I. But come in." We accompanied the old man into the house. The room was very neat and clean. A pitcher filled with sweet flowers stood upon the table. There was a mantel-picce covered with shells from the beach, and there was a comfortable arm-chair for the old man. An engraving of Paris was upon one of the walls. I was looking at it when, hearing the door open, I saw a little fairy running to the captain, and welcoming him to Shippegan. "Ah! this must be Corinne," thought I. She was a beauty. She had an elegant figure; a light, clear complexion; rosy lips that when open disclosed a row of teeth like pearls; large, clear, blue eyes; and light hair that clustered in short curls all round her head; short curls that flew every way; elfish curlsah! how I longed to push them back from her forehead. She was introduced, and gave me the smallest, whitest hand in the world, at the same time making a low curtsey. "Ah! captain," she said "I suppose you are as lively as ever. You will be amusing your self with us poor girls again. What a wonderful being you are, captain ?" The captain tried to look solemn for a while, but afterwards became very lively, and talked about all the old people of the village. Corinne bantered him, laughed with him, talked and chatted for an hour. What a merry, witty, funny little thing she was, to be sure! The old man went out and returned with some pipes, and mugs of home-brewed ale, which we sat down straightway to enjoy. "That's a fine picture," said I to Bontête. "Magnificent," he naïvely replied; and rolling up a piece of paste-board into the shape of a trumpet, he added: "This is the best way to look at it." I took the roll and followed his directions. The captain told him that I had been there. "What!" he exclaimed, "have you been there?" 66 Yes, and passed a month there," said I. "Bon Dieu !" he cried. "Grand ciel!" said Corinne. "And you have seen that, and that, and that," said he, pointing to Notre Dame, the "Invalides," and the Pantheon. "Oh yes, and that, and that, and that," I replied, pointing in the same manner to the Madeleine, the Arc d'Etoile, and the Tuileries. "Is it possible! Oh, ma foi! ma foi!" he cried, in the deepest amazement. 66 Yes, I saw him very often." The father and daughter were silent, and looked unutterable things. "How did he look," he at length asked. "He is a very fine, benevolent-looking old man." "So he must be. And is the Holy City very grand and beautiful?" "Very beautiful, and more magnificent than I can tell you; and there are three hundred churches there." "Three hundred churches! only think, Corinne!" "Grand Dieu!" said she. He sat down, and Corinne drew near to me while I spoke of the Holy City, of Paris, and of every place that I could think of, only being interrupted by exclamations such as, "Grand Dieu !" "Mère de Dieu !" "Sante Marie !" while Corinne's eyes-those beautiful eyesbeamed with interest and admiration. "Simple and pure-hearted people!" I thought. "Beautiful and innocent Corinne! How untroubled by the cares and trials of life are you, and how happy!" A gentleman dressed as a priest came in at this moment, whom they respectfully addressed, calling him" Père Lacon." He laughingly shook hands with the captain, was introduced by him to me, and hearing that I had come from Europe, asked me many questions. We left the house together, after a short time, and walked down the-well, I may as well call it the street. I found out that his birth-place was Canada, and that after passing through one of the colleges there, he had been sent here. "These people," said he, "are the most simple and warm-hearted that you can imagine. Living a secluded life, undisturbed by strangers, they enjoy, to the fullest extent, the blessings of peace and comfort. Each village is like one family. Few quarrels, few differences of any kind arise; and when they do, they are referred to me. No need here of courts and magistrates; a lawyer would starve: and I was about to say that a doctor would not fare much better, because health is almost universal. For myself, I am happy, for where could I find a more pleasant spot? I often imagine that here the early ages have come back again. Here I witness the beautiful scenes of the golden age. I live in those primitive times among primitive people." "I congratulate you on your home," I replied. "I perceive at once how contented you must be, living here, like a father of this large family, going about settling their disputes, honoured and respected." "Just so," said he; "and there are no rival creeds, no other sects to sow the seeds of dis sension among us. You must pardon me for rejoicing that there are no Protestants here, but you know what are the consequences where two creeds exist in one place; what quarrels, what party-feeling and disputation ensue." "Yes, although you are of a different sect, I am glad that there is nothing to interfere with the peace and contenment which ought to rule here. Have you ever been out of Canadathat is, to any place except here-to the United States, for instance?" "No," he replied; "I once had a great long-be ing to visit other countries, but I have no longer such desires. I must confess I should like to see a railroad or steam-boat; but I never have as yet." "Never have! Is it possible? But how do you arrange it with regard to the news of the day?" 66 Oh, nothing." "But what are you doing, really? You must doing something." "I'm working," she said, demurely. The captain offered most gallantly to assist her. She refused, and pushed him away at first, but at length sent him after two pails of water. The well was a long distance from the house, and the little man came back very tired, and sat down without offering to do any more. But Ninette had no pity. She implored him to go out and split some wood for her, adding that her "cher Adolphe" was not there, or she would not make such a request. At that up jumped the captain, and worked away bravely until tea-time. "Oh, occasionally I get a newspaper from the southern part of the province, but I do not take much interest in them; and those which I receive from the 'States' are always filled with unintelligible politics; so I manage to content myself with my little library. But excuse me: I have a duty to perform at that house yonder. Ninette was the life of the house. Coquettish, Mine is at the other end of the village, and I laughing girl! she chattered incessantly; now should be very happy to welcome you there.playfully slapping the captain's hand, then Au revoir." "Now then," said the captain, after Père Lacon had gone, "there is another queer one. You don't often see so wonderfully gentlemanly a fellow as he is, so confoundedly ignorant of the necessaries of life, such as newspapers, and railroads, and steam-boats: but of the last, between you and me, I have a very low opinion. They can't come up to a ship, any way: you see if they can. But come, I'm going down to the mills: do you want to go?" I accompanied him. The mills, as I have said, were close to the water's edge, for the convenience of ships. They were owned by merchants in St. John, whose ships were loaded here for the English market. They were working away in great style, and huge piles of deals covered the yards around. I strolled lazily through the yard where the men were piling deals. The men! why, I was astonished! They were Indians; real live Indians, and working, too, doing very oppressive labour in a splendid manner. They were very strong, and one of them would carry a large deal whose end I could barely raise from the ground. The superintendent was standing near, and I asked him how, under Ileaven, he contrived to make the Indians work. "Oh," said he, "they are willing to come for good pay. They are quiet and industrious, every way preferable to Irishmen, who get drunk, quarrel, and frequently run away. When their work is over, they go peaceably to their village over yonder." "What tribe do they belong to ?" "The Milicetes, a once powerful people, but now, like all others, small and weak. They are all Roman Catholics, and completely under the influence of the priests." drawing near to whisper something, putting her pouting lips in tempting proximity to his face, "Oh! you tormenting little witch!" muttered the captain, at the close of the evening; "you'll do. Yes, you'll jest do!" The days were delightfully passed. In the evening there was no lack of company. There would come Groeneuf, Bontête, the priest, Corinne, and many of the young men and maidens. Adolphe was a fine-looking young fellow, but for some reason, the captain did not like him. Corinne would always contrive some amusement. Lovely Corinne! how witty and merry she was, and what odd stories she would tell! I always walked home with her father, whom she accompanied, he was such a pleasant old man. Ninette was always lively and busy, full of archness and innocent mirth. I did not become so well acquainted with Corinne as I wished. She was too respectful and quiet when I spoke. I wanted her to be more lively when she walked home with me, but she would not. When we happened to be alone, she was quite silent. I asked her why she was so. She denied it, and forced laugh. I was afraid that she had a wrong opinion of me. But Ninette was very different. In one day we had become, I may say, intimate friends, for I knew all her little plans, and she had found out all about me. One day she came tripping to me: "Oh! Jean-I mean Monsieur Jean-we are going to have such a magnificent fête this evening! We are going to have a grand dance and all the world will come. And mother will come, and the Père, and Monsieur Groeneuf, end Corinne, and -oh! everybody! It will be such a time!" And she clapped her hands with intense de |