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THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



learn at first-hand some of the great 

 secrets of nature. The ledges speak 

 to him and the hillside brings its quota 

 of things that have transpired. The 

 nature lover is eager for new fields to 

 conquer. 



In the solitude of his home he is 

 not alone for he has the satisfaction 

 of contemplating what he has seen, 

 re-classifying his knowledge, drawing 

 conclusions and making new plans for 

 further excursions. He is not only a 

 lover but an expositor perhaps of na 

 ture, a geologist, a botanist or a scien- 

 tist. He has learned to see clearly with 

 his own eyes, to reason with his own 

 head. 



The particular boy I have in mind 

 is more than an average student, for 

 he looks carefully at things, weighs 

 their importance, measures cause and 

 effect, and usually draws proper con- 

 clusions. This boy is an ornament to 

 any community, a promoter of the 

 beautiful of science and he deserves 

 encouragement. He is the boy that 

 is worth while. 



The boy who loves out-of-doors can 

 no more be kept from going into the 

 woods than you can keep a duck out 

 of water. 



The boy I have in mind is tuneful 

 in the upper notes of his make-up ana 

 his life shines because he can't help 

 it. He has more than a dash of enthusi- 

 asm in his make-up, hence it is much 

 harder for him to sit still than to 

 climb trees, for he simply can't be idle. 

 There is no remedy except actual out- 

 of-door life. He wants to see things 

 that move and have a being and they 

 alone satisfy his enterprising nature. 



He hopefully starts at dawn of day 

 and walks and looks and listens until 

 the fading sun in the west comes all 

 too soon and the shining stars alone 

 will light his way home, his heart filled 

 with joy, "peace and good will toward 

 men." 



A thrill of spring in the atmosphere 

 calls this boy to the woods. He cheer- 

 fully faces bleak winds and low tem- 

 perature. He gallops through the woods 

 with a new inspiration the first spring 

 morning he is allowed the freedom of 

 the fields. He is dissatisfied with books 

 and abstract knowledge — he wants it 



first-hand, uncontaminated. The woods 

 are to him an irresistible attraction. 

 They are his college — his without haz- 

 ing, no shirking of lessons, no dissipa- 

 tion. He is willing to forego the song 

 of the nesting birds for the zest of 

 watching the slinking fox and listening 

 to the cooing doves. In the autumn 

 the woods everywhere are eloquent 

 with color and in his rambles the snap 

 of a twig arrests his attention as would 

 the crack of a gun. When he starts 

 out on his tramp with a tired mind, 

 how quickly his nature responds to the 

 speech of the woods. They influence 

 him as gently as the shadows of the 

 summer clouds on the hillside farm. 

 The grinding load of business cares 

 which brought the careworn expres- 

 sion of face is quickly lightened by 

 smiles of nature. The real out-of-door 

 life can be compared with nothing but 

 itself. 



A JAPANESE SPANIEL. 

 YO SAN. 

 Her little life came into mine 



As larger things absorb the small; 

 And through the mists and maze of time 

 She well holds me her all in all. 



She nestles close to me at night, 

 And plays about my feet by day; 



While in her large eyes' wonder-light 

 I read what her sweet soul would say. 



Her mother-instinct nightly shows 

 In kisses on my hand and arm; 



And on my sleep her spirit throws 

 A mantle guarding me from harm. 



She brings her little treasure troves 

 For me to hide and watch and keep. 



Her spicy breath, as sweet as cloves, 

 Falls on my senses, soft as sleep. 



I know the world holds her to be 

 A little dog and nothing more; 



And yet my heart holds her to me 

 As oceans hold their lips to shore. 



I see her soul in wonder strive 



To make my larger soul more wise 



With love where primal virtues thrive 

 And shine in light from her brown eyes'. 



I cannot bear the thought that we 

 By time and space shall suffer loss, 



Or severance of this mystery 

 Of golden love without its dross. 



I cannot think that we could part 



This pleasant comradship and peace 

 And perfect trust of heart to heart, 

 Or what our union e'er could cease. 



