notes of tbe 



of moonlight. We see the world as through a 

 magnifying glass; and the end of the path, whereat 

 we pass into an open field, it, too, was very far away. 

 Shorten your steps now, and a long journey is be- 

 fore you, though the real distance is as nothing. 

 What strange figures we see where the groups of 

 leaves are edged by the silvery light! There is 

 scarcely a familiar face but you see here the pro- 

 file; and many the moping owls, crouching cats, 

 listening squirrels, and roosting buzzards we detect 

 as we pass from under one tree to another. It is 

 little wonder that savage men are superstitious; 

 for not only, in imagination, is every known crea- 

 ture sporting in the moonlight, but those that are 

 fancy's creation also lurk in the leafy branches. 

 At times these appearances are so real that no 

 arguing with one's self will prevent our pausing 

 and waiting until the passing breeze rearranges 

 the leaves and the monster disappears. This may 

 not seem an enjoyable experience ; perhaps it is 

 not; but surely such a thorn in our side should 

 not deter us from a moonlight ramble. As the 

 time passes, confidence returns, curiosity is aroused, 

 and we forget the fear, if it was really such, that 

 at first possessed us. Unless too noisy, and silly 

 enough to whistle that our courage may not be 

 lacking, real life will soon assert itself; for there 

 is an abundance of it in every woodland tract. It 

 may be a squirrel that stirs upon some branch, or 

 the owl that shifts his position that it may better 

 34 



