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RURAL HOURS.

prevailing among his people: “In this land of souls, all are treated according to their merits.” “The wicked are haunted by the phantoms of the persons or things they have injured; thus, if a man has destroyed much property, the phantoms of the wrecks of this property obstruct his passage wherever he goes; if he has been cruel to his dogs, they also torment him after death; the ghosts of those whom during his lifetime he has wronged, are there permitted to avenge their wrongs.” “Those who have been good men are free from pain; they have no duties to perform; their time is spent in dancing and singing, and they feed upon mushrooms, which are very abundant.” Thus, mushrooms appear to be the choice food of the Chippewa heroes in the happy hunting-grounds.

Saturday, 23d.—Lovely evening; soft and mild, windows open; the sun throwing long shadows on the bright grass of the lawn. But for a light touch of autumn here and there, we might have believed ourselves at midsummer.

The last melons were eaten to-day. The grapes are ripening; many years we lose them by frost, either in the spring, or early in the autumn. Cold injures them less, however, at this season than in spring.

A large flock of black and white creepers running about the apple-trees, up and down, and around the trunk and branches; they are pretty, amusing little creatures, like all birds of that habit.

Monday, 25th.—Showery again. The woods are still green, but some trees in the village are beginning to look autumn-like. And yet we have had no frost of any consequence. Though an active agent in effecting the beautiful autumnal changes in the fo-