th:e solitary wai^k in thu country. 223 



on a log and remaining as quiet, one can really study the 

 animals, sometimes without their knowledge, sometimes 

 even with their consent. 



The most advantage comes to one, I think, from a walk 

 in the country. The city parks are beautiful and we can 

 learn much about the trees and shrubs that grow in such 

 profusion ; or about the birds that find their homes there. 

 But, after all, what a different effect one gets from a walk 

 in the country. Even if it is not the real countrj^ but only 

 a woodsy bit in the outskirts of the city, perhaps by a river 

 or small lake. 



The thought that there, everything is as Nature intend- 

 ed it to be, that there has been no interference from the 

 hand of man, no matter how ari;istic, is in itself a stimulat- 

 ing idea. Then the joy of bringing home a few trophies ! 

 — a handful of acorns, a branch of pine with a few cones on 

 it, a clump of bluets or anemones. Such a bunch planted 

 in a pretty dish and kept moist will make for the table a 

 dainty center piece for a long time. In the parks there is 

 a pleasure and a duty in loving the wood rose and leaving 

 it on its stalk,' but when we are in the country, let's take 

 home a few. 



The psj'chologists tell us that people do not see anj^thing 

 but that of which the}' have already some mental concep- 

 tion. Certainly we all know that after we first learn of a 

 fact, we immediately hear of it on every side. It follows, 

 then, if our minds are filled with images of things we 

 wish to see, that we shall be more apt to see them. This 

 condition of mind would not, of course, preclude surprises 

 on the walk, the seeing of things we had not expected to 

 see on that day. 



In the spring of the year, after the warm rains, millions 

 of seeds begin to germinate or sprout. If, on starting for 

 a walk, one had in mind the single concept, seedlings, he 



