192 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



the only persons who reason that one who can devote 

 himself to collecting "rocks and bugs " is crazy. For 

 m}^ part, I have about concluded that I was much nearer 

 perfect sanity in the days spent as a naturalist than 

 than afterward, when breaking down my health by hard 

 work in collecting a fortune." 



"But tell us," asked Abby, "what you were doing 

 in the meadow when Dan saw 3'ou. I don't wonder, if 

 his description is correct, that he did think you a little 

 ' cur 'us.' " 



"Dan's description," I replied, laughing, "was a 

 very good one, from the standpoint of an outside 

 observer. The explanation is this : I had stationed 

 myself by the fence to watch the ' flying spidero ' as 

 they are popularly called. This has been a golden day 

 for the young balloonists, and they have been improving 

 it finely. As I walked out this morning I saw long, 

 white filaments of silk streaming from fence-posts, tall 

 stalks of grass, clumps of weeds, shrubs, almost every 

 elevated object in the fields. I knew by this token that 

 the balloonists were abroad and busy. As I passed the 

 Run I saw just at the point where it widens into the little 

 pool an object of great beaut}^ It w^as a tiny and deli- 

 cate, but perfect, and quite strong suspension bridge." 

 (Fig. 64.) 



"A bridge!" exclaimed Abb}'. "It is some of 

 Harry's work, I warrant. He is the handiest boy in 

 school with his jack-knife, and beats even our New 

 England lads, which is saying a good deal." 



I smiled and glanced at Harry, whose face colored 



