46 BY-WAVS AND BIRD-NOTES. 
have found a tricycle the most helpful and en- 
joyable thing in exploring the by-ways and 
high-ways of my neighborhood, It has helped 
me to see things that I might not have discov- 
ered had I been on foot, and it has awakened 
sensations never before experienced by me. 
The mere joy in self-propulsion seems to 
sharpen one’s vision, and strengthen one’s re- 
ceptive faculties. I like to stop and sit in the 
saddle, and peep between the rails of a fence, 
letting my eyes follow the fresh green rows of 
young Indian corn that reach far across the 
level field of dark loam. From the same po- 
sition I can make such notes and sketches as 
will be of use to me in the future. Charming 
physical exercise and pleasing study combined 
make up about the most desirable of all com- 
pounds. When I am tired of pedalling I can 
stop in the shade of a way-side tree and draw 
forth a book to read, or I can watch the effect 
of cloud-shadows and wind-flaws on the rank 
green wheat. Meadow-larks and blue-birds 
preen themselves on the fence-stakes, field- 
sparrows sing in the young oats, yonder or- 
chard rings with the medley of the cat-bird. 
Here is a good place to test the qualities of a 
book as an out-door companion. One can fina 
out how its pages will accord with certain 
phases of nature, so to speak. ‘len to one what 
had seemed quite perfect, read in the atmos- 
phere of the library, will fall off toa mere skel- 
eton in the open air. I-have found than, 
strange as it may seem, the poems of Burns 
lose something by out-door reading, whilst cer 
tain passages of Tennyson, Browning, and 
Emerson reach out and gather an increment of 
freshness from pastoral surroundings. The 
