EXPLANATIOX NIGHT 109 



arc's laws is tliat iiolhin^^ shall stand still. Wlieii a 

 tree can no longer grow, it ninst decay and turn into 

 eartli, that some other tree nia)^ grow in its place ; but 

 we should never have killed the wild men and beasts 

 as we did, merely to sliow our superior strengtli and for 

 the greed of killing. It is only about four hundred 

 years since wliite men set foot on this soil, and yet it 

 seems as if in a hundred more there may be no more 

 real two or four-footed Americans left." 



" There is the Deer blouse again," whispered Dodo, 

 who was growing tired, pointing to the hearth corner. 

 The Mouse gathered up some crumbs and licked up a 

 few drops of water that had fallen on the stones, then 

 whisked away again. 



'' He likes supper before he goes to bed. Please can 

 we roast some chestnuts. Uncle Roy?" 



Every one laughed ; no more reasons whij were asked, 

 and Ex2^1anation Night ended merrily to the sound of 

 chestnuts snapping vigorously in a wire corn-popper 

 that the children took turns in shaking over the hot 

 coals. 



