The area which had been opened ascended a little from the road, and presented a gently undulating surface, which Mary Erskine thought would make very beautiful fields.

It was now, however, one vast expanse of blackened and smoking ruins.
Albert conducted Mary Erskine and Mary Bell--for Mary Bell had come in with them to see the fire,--to a little eminence from which they could survey the whole scene.
"Look," said he, "is not that beautiful?
Did you ever see a better burn ?" "I don't know much about burns," said Mary Erskine, "but I can see that it will be a beautiful place for a farm.

Why we can see the pond," she added, pointing toward the south.
This was true.

The falling of the trees had opened up a fine view of the pond, which was distant about a mile from the clearing.

There was a broad stream which flowed swiftly over a gravelly bed along the lower part of the ground, and a wild brook which came tumbling down from the mountains, and then, after running across the road, fell into the larger stream, not far from the corner of the farm.