t the walls, together with some trapping implements
and various skins of such wild animals of prey and game as abounded in
the woods of this region: these were associated with the antlers of the
buck, powder-horns, hunting pouches, and a few articles of
clothing,--the whole array giving to the room that air of woodland life
which denotes the habitation of a hunter, and which so distinctly
characterizes the dwellings of our frontier population.

Amongst other articles of household use was a large spinning-wheel that
was placed near the door, and beside it stood the dame who had first
challenged the visitors. She was a woman who could scarcely be said to
have reached the middle period of life, although her wan and somewhat
haggard features, and a surly, discontented expression of face, might
well induce an observer to attribute more years to her worldly account
than she had actually seen. The presence of a rough and untidy cradle
and some five or six children, the majority of whom might be below three
feet in stature, served in some degree to explain the care-worn and
joyless countenance of the hostess. When Butler and his companion were
ushered by Lynch into her presence, she gave them no other welcome than
a slight nod of the head, and continued to ply her task at the wheel
with unremitted assiduity.

In another corner of the room sat a smart-looking young girl who, at
this moment, was employed in carding wool. She was sylvan Hebe, just
verging upon womanhood, with a round, active, and graceful figure, which
was adorned with that zealous attention to neatness and becoming
ornament which, in every station of life, to a certain extent,
distinguishes those of the sex who are gifted with beauty. Her cheek had
the rich bloom of high health; a full round blue eye seemed habitually
to laugh with pleasure; and the same trick of a happy temperament had
stamped its mark upon the lines of her mouth. Her accost was altogether
different from that of the mistress of the house. She arose from her
work immediately upon the entrance of the strangers, courtesied with a
modest and silent reserve, and then proceeded to gather up the rolls of
carded wool at her feet and to dispose of them in a chest near at hand.
Having done this, she left the apartment, not without casting sundry
prying glances towards the guests.

Another member of the family was an aged female: she had perhaps seen
her eightieth winter. Her attenuated frame seemed to b