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“June 5th.—Our first spring flowers were hepaticas, which actually carpeted the ground as daisies do at home; they were single, but very large, and blue, pink, and white. We had the pretty yellow dog-tooth violets in profusion; then white and crimson lilies; both of them handsome, but with an odious smell: there was another very elegant-looking plant, with a leaf like fumitory, the root a collection of reddish bulbs, and the flower something like a butterfly orchis.
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“We have now abundance of yellow, white, and purple violets, but the white only have a sweet smell. There is also a beautiful yellow lady’s slipper, and numerous other flowers, which I may describe some other time.
“Our shrubs are leatherwood, cranberry, dog-wood, Alpine honeysuckle without scent, and syringa. The trees are elm, maple, oak, beech, cedar, hemlock pine, hiccory, and lime. The oak grows tall and straight; but all the trees grow tall and straight in these forests. I spend what time I can spare in examining the trees and plants that are new to me; I wish my botanical friend Miss Perceval was here to assist me.—We have a great deal of the moss, or rather the tillandsia, about which you inquire; it hangs from almost every tree, and we saw it in quantities along the banks of the St. Lawrence, before we reached Quebec. The captain of our vessel told us it was used in the States to stuff beds; and that he had carried some home to his wife for the same purpose.
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“July 1st.—I must give you a sketch of the manner in which we pass our time. Mr. * * * goes out at five, and returns to breakfast at seven; he then works at his farm till twelve, when dinner is ready; after which he rests some time, and again works till eight, when I summon him to coffee. Household cares and preparations occupy me all the morning, and teaching the children, and working for them, the rest of the day. After they go to bed I have a nice hour for writing or reading.
“It is the custom for the ladies in this country to dress in the morning very plainly, and suited to the hard work in which we must all take a part; after dinner they put on silk gowns and smart caps, and either go out to pay visits, or stay at home to receive them. But we live in such perfect solitude in these woods, that we have no neighbours to go to, or to expect here. We are going on as yet with smiling prospects, and doing something every day that tends to our comfort; but we must be contented to advance very slowly.
“In spite of every effort, my thoughts too often turn to dear home and to former times, or sometimes they take a far stretch forward; but these are only airy visions which I do not encourage. Yet I cannot help praying that we may be permitted to meet again in a few years. I fear setting my heart too much on this, but I trust to the support of Providence under every disappointment, and under every trial. Trials we must have in all places, still more in these dreary woods.”