Some fifty years since a fire of this kind is said to have spread until it inclosed within its lines the lake and the valley, as far as one could see, surrounding the village with a network of flame, which at night was quite appalling in its aspect.  The danger, however, was not so great as it appeared, as there was everywhere a cleared space between the burning forest and the little town.  At times, however, very serious accidents result from these fires:  within a few days we have heard of a small village, in the northern part of the State, in St. Lawrence county, entirely destroyed in this way, the flames gaining so rapidly upon the poor people that they were obliged to collect their families and cattle in boats and upon rafts, in the nearest pools and streams.

Of course, more or less mischief is always done; the wood and timber already cut are destroyed, fences are burnt, many trees are killed, others are much injured, the foliage is more or less blighted for the season; the young plants are killed, and the earth looks black and gloomy.  Upon the whole, however, it is surprising that no more harm is done.  On the occasion of the fire referred to in these woods, we found the traces of the flames to disappear much sooner than we had supposed possible.  The next season the smaller plants were all replaced by others; many of the younger trees seemed to revive, and a stranger passing over the ground to-day would scarcely believe that fire had been feeding on those woods for a fortnight only a few seasons back.  A group of tall, blasted hemlocks, on the verge of the wood, is the striking monument of the event.  The evergreens generally suffer more than other trees, and for some cause or other the fire continued busy at that point for several days.  We repeatedly passed along the highway at the time, with the flames at work on either side.  Of course, there was no danger, but it looked oddly to be quietly driving along through the fire.  The crackling of the flames was heard in the village, and the smell of smoke was occasionally quite unpleasant.

A timely rain generally puts a stop to the mischief; but parties of men are also sent out into the woods to “fight the fire.”  They tread out the flames among the dry leaves by trampling them down, and they rake away the combustible materials, to confine the enemy to its old grounds, when it soon exhausts itself.  The flames spread more frequently along the earth, than from tree to tree.

* * * * *

[FROM HOUSEHOLD WORDS.]

FLOWERS.

  Dear friend, love well the flowers!  Flowers are the sign
  Of Earth’s all gentle love, her grace, her youth,
  Her endless, matchless, tender gratitude. 
  When the Sun smiles on thee—­why thou art glad: 
  But when the Earth he smileth, She bursts forth
  In beauty like a bride, and gives him back,
  In sweet repayment for his warm bright love,