3

evenings in the autumn {fall}, what bright fires we used to
make out here, and sat by it laughing and talking while
our chestnuts were roasting--Happy, happy--days, are
ye gone forever? Oh," continued she with a sigh--"how
happily could William and I still live in this hollow? Glad
would I be here to lay down my body,--here to be buried.
For where can I go? Not even a hollow tree, have I now
to shelter me." [But a shelter must be found," and wiping
the tears away with a corner of her apron, she took up
her bundle, and rose, to continue her journey. She had gone
but a few steps, when with an impulse she could not {retrain?}
she ran back to her dear tree, and clasping her arms round
it, sobbed--nay almost scream'd with agony. "Farewell
forever farewell, my William"--she cried, while she tore
herself from a spot, where his image dwelt.--Slowly
and saly she wander'd on, every tree, every bush, path-
way, or rock, recalling some scene of love and happiness.
"Alas," sighed she, as approaching a wild stream, which
dash'd and foam'd among the rocks, alas, who will now
see me if I should fall in?--there is no one now to
help me over that old tree, that lies across the stream,
and how often have I thought I could not cross it, if William
was not there to help me." [And difficult indeed did she
find the task. The banks were high, and the old tree which
stretch'd across, was grown slippery by {ice ?}.--But we knew
not what we can do, until we are tried, and Lucy
feeble and trembling as she was, did what she thought
she could not do in all the vigour and elasticity of health,
and safely reach'd the other side of the riverlet. After
long wandering through these woodland paths, and scramb-
ling thro' bushes and briars, she at last emerged from the
wood and enter'd on a wide common, or turn'd out
field,* bounded by no inclosure, and completely bare
except where an old cherry, or apple tree, still survived
exposure and neglect, or the Persimmon and sassafras, grew up
in beautiful clumps and little groves, and adorn'd the otherwise
barren scene, with picturesque beauty.--

* On fringe plantations, after cultivating a piece of
land until it is ------------------------------------------[-Cut off ]