y of Beasts and Birds, with a plate representing each, and a
description annexed. It would be impossible for me to convey to the
reader my astonishment and delight. I had never seen a picture or
drawing in my life. I did not know that such things existed. I was in
an ecstasy of delight as I turned over the pages, hardly taking
sufficient time to see one object before I hastened on to another. For
two or three hours did I thus turn over leaves, without settling upon
any one animal; at last my pulse beat more regularly, and I commenced
with the Lion. But now what a source of amusement, and what a multitude
of questions had to be answered by my companion. He had to tell me all
about the countries in which the animals were found; and the description
of the animals, with the anecdotes, were a source of much conversation;
and, what was more, the fore-grounds and back-grounds of the landscapes
with which the animals were surrounded produced new ideas. There was a
palm-tree, which I explained to Jackson, and inquired about it. This
led to more inquiries. The lion himself occupied him and me for a whole
afternoon, and it was getting dark when I lay down, with my new treasure
by my side. I had read of the lion in the Scriptures, and now I
recalled all the passages; and before I slept I thought of the bear
which destroyed the children who had mocked Elisha the prophet, and I
determined that the first animal I would read about the next morning
should be the bear.

I think that this book lasted me nearly two months, during which time,
except reading a portion every night and morning to Jackson, the Bible
and Prayer-book were neglected. Some times I thought that the book
could not be true; but when I came to the birds, I found those which
frequented the island so correctly described, that I had no longer any
doubt on the subject. Perhaps what interested me most were the plates
in which the barn-door fowls and the peacock were described, as in the
back-ground of the first were a cottage and figures, representing the
rural scenery of England, my own country; and in the second there was a
splendid mansion, and a carriage and four horses driving up to the door.
In short, it is impossible to convey to the reader the new ideas which
I received from these slight efforts of the draftsman to give effect to
his drawing. The engraving was also a matter of much wonder, and
required a great deal of explanation from Jackson. This boo