MY WOOD SURPRIvSE. 53 



necessary, first of all, to awaken genuine interest. The 

 first essential is direct, discriminating, accurate observa- 

 tion. The next is to understand why, and the third is to 

 want to know more. The final result should be the devel- 

 opment of a keen personal interest in every natural object 

 and phenomenon. — Scientific American. 



My Wood Surprise. 



BY SUSY C. FOGG. 



There appeared in Nature Study, Vol. I, No. 5 a sketch 

 entitled "The Single Delight." 



I, too, have occasion to speak of the little flower here 

 mentioned, otherwise known as Moneses unifiora. 



Manchester is well within the geographical range given 

 to this plant, and it would not be rare, probably, were it 

 not for its limited means of reproduction, but I cannot half 

 express the pleasure of finding it, for the first time while 

 tramping through the Shirley Hill woods in company with 

 others. 



We looked before us to the turn in the road, noted how 

 it was walled in on either side with tall pines out of which 

 crept fringy hemlocks, and remarked, "How beautiful !" 

 But we were resolved to seek for deeper treasures in the 

 wood, and turned aside. 



Here was the sifting of the sunlight through the branches 

 overhead, bvtt not one ray penetrated to our feet beneath. 

 The wind, which was so aggressive and unremitting on 

 the hilltop, was not allowed to enter or breathe even a 

 whisper. Not a voice of bird, chipmunk or running brook 

 sounded and the footfalls were hushed in innumerable la}'- 

 ers of pine needles. The place seemed almost stifling in 

 its intense solitude. The tension which arises upon the 

 occasions of birth, marriage, crime and death seems ever 

 present in a spot like this. 



