be interrupted. I will therefore take a ramble--and you shall accompany
me, O friend of my youth, far away in distant lands, but beside me still!
Whither shall we go? It is hard to decide, for all the world is lovely.
Shall we go to my favorite woodland? It skirts the river, and I love the
river; so we pass into the forest.

How regal is the time of the fall of the leaves! A thousand brilliant
colors charm the eyes--the eyes of their faithful lovers. How the mighty
oaks reach out their knotty, muscular arms to welcome us!--how their
ponderous shoulders bear aloft the imperial trappings--trappings of silk
and velvet, all orange, blue, and purple! The haughty pines stand up like
warriors--or call them spears of nordland heroes, holding on their summits
emerald banners! The tulip-trees are lovely queens with flowers in their
hair, who bend and welcome you with gracious murmurs; the slender elms
sway to and fro, like fairest maidens of the royal blood; and sigh, and
smile, and whisper, full of the charming grace of youth, and tenderness,
and beauty.

I salute my noblemen, and queens, and princesses; they bow in return to
me, their king. Let us wander on.

--Ah! that is well; my river view! Of all my broad domain, I think I like
this part the best. Is it not beautiful? That clump of dogwood, however,
obstructs the view somewhat; I must cut it down. Let us move a little to
the right. Ah! there it is! See my lovely river; surely you must admire my
swan-like ships, flying, with snowy canvass spread, before the fresh
breeze. And see that schooner breaking the little waves into foam. Is that
a telescope which the captain of my vessel points toward us? He salutes
me, does he not? But I fear the distance is too great; he could hardly
recognize me. Still I shall bow--let us not neglect the laws of courtesy.