I.

All was speed and bustle now,
Hurry sat on every brow,

Nought was heard upon the breeze,
But the sound of falling trees;
Rough logs over streams were laid,
Cabins built and pathways made;
Little openings here and there,
Patches to the sun laid bare,
Growing larger every day;
Merrily time sped away,
Troubles had we not a few,

For the work was strange and new;
Mishaps neither few nor small,

Yet we bore above them all.

II.

Then a change came o'er the scene, The forest doffed her garb of green, For a tawny brown attire,

Streaked with grey, and gold and fire. The wind moaned like a thing bereft,

And the little blue bird left;

And the wild fowl of the lake,

Sought the shelter of the brake;

The humming bird was seen no more,
And the pigeon southward bore.
And the robin and the jay,

With the flowers had passed away ;

Of a change all nature spoke,

And the heavens were swathed in smoke;

The sun a hazy circle drew,

And his bloody eye looked through.

Thus the Indian summer ended,

And the sleety showers descended,
And the trees were stript at last,
And the snow fell thick and fast,
And the lake with sullen roar,
Dashed her foam upon the shore ;
And the wind in angry mood,
Swept the leafless solitude.

III.

Then the wolves their visits paid us,
Nightly came to serenade us;

In the middle of the night,

I have started with affright,

For there were around my dwelling,

More than fifty demons yelling;
I could plainly hear them tramp,
Round the border of the swamp;
I have looked into the dark,
Tried to make old Towser bark :
He would only fawn and whine,
While the terror-stricken swine,
Ran around like things insane;
And the sheep, in fear and pain,
Huddled all within a nook—

How they trembled and they shook
And the frightened cattle bore
Close and closer to the door;

I could see the savage eyes,
Flashing there like fire-flies,-
Then I'd hear a long drawn howl,
Then a little snappish growl,
Then a silence deep as death,
Till the furies drew their breath,
Then above the voice of boreas,
Fifty demons joined the chorus;
Thus they'd keep till dawn of day,
Then they'd scamper all away.

IV.

Tho' winter was long and dreary,
We were hopeful, we were cheery,
We had many merry meetings,
Social gatherings, kindly greetings;
To the wall the log was laid,
And a roaring fire was made;
Tho' the storm might rave without,
We were blithe with song about;
Then the youths would tell their stories,
With the maidens' laugh for chorus:

Of the hunting of the 'coon,

All beneath the Autumn moon;
Of the logging in the fall-
Of oxen terrible to haul;
Of the mighty chopping match,
Gained but by a single natch.
Thus the time would steal along,
With the tale and with the song
Little Mac would sit and sing;

Till the very roof would ring.

V.

I ask not for fortune,

I ask not for wealth;

But give me the cabin,

With freedom and health; With some one to love meJoy's roses to wreathe; With no one above me,

And no one beneath.

Let tools be officious,
And flatter the great ;
Let knaves be ambitious

To rule in the State :
Give alms to the needy,
Give fame to the fool;

Give gold to the greedy-
Let Bonaparte rule.

But give me the cabin,
Tho' far, far apart;

I'll make it love's dwelling

The home of the heart.

With some one to love meJoy's roses to wreathe; With no one above me,

And no one beneath.