X. 



AMONG MY TENANTS. 



The first year I was in California the thought 

 of the orchards that were to be set out on my 

 ranch appealed to me much less than what the 

 place already possessed. As an inheritance from 

 the stream that came down in spring through the 

 Ughland canyon — past the homes of the little 

 lover, the gnatcatchers, the little prisoners, and 

 the lazulis and blue jays — there was a straggling 

 line of old sycamores, full of birds' nests ; and a 

 patch of weeds, wild mustard, and willows, which 

 was a capital shelter for wandering warblers ; and 

 a bright sunny spot always ringing with songs. 



So many houses were being put up without so 

 much as a by-your-leave that it was high time for 

 an ornithological landlady to bestir herself and 

 look to her ornithological squatters ; so, day after 

 day I turned my horse toward the ranch and 

 spent the morning getting acquainted with my 

 tenants, riding along the shady line and making 

 friendly calls at each tree. 



Half of the blackbirds who worked in the vine- 

 yard must have been beholden to me for rent, 

 I should judge by the jolly choruses of the sable 



