292 A BOOK-LOVER'S HOLIDAYS 



and the skimmers had only just begun. The 

 pehcans often flew only a few yards, or even 

 feet, above the water, but also at times soared 

 or wheeled twenty or thirty rods in the air, or 

 higher. They are handsome, interesting birds, 

 and add immensely, by their presence, to the 

 pleasure of being out on these waters; they 

 should be completely protected everywhere — 

 as, indeed, should most of these sea-birds. 



The two Parker boys — the elder of whom had 

 for years been doing a man's work in the best 

 fashion, and the younger of whom had just 

 received an appointment to Annapolis — kept 

 us suppHed with fish, caught with the hook 

 and rod, except the flounders, which were har- 

 pooned. The two boys were untiring; nothing 

 impaired their energy, and no chance of fatigue 

 and exertion, at any time of the day or night, 

 appealed to them save as an exhilarating piece 

 of good fortune. At a time when so large a 

 section of our people, including especially those 

 who claim in a special sense to be the guardians 

 of cultivation, philanthropy, and rehgion, de- 

 liberately make a cult of pacifism, poltroonery, 

 sentimentality, and neurotic emotionalism, it 

 was refreshing to see the fine, healthy, manly 

 young fellows who were emphatically neither 

 "too proud to fight" nor too proud to work, 



