2ln ID 



the elements, fighting for life, as it were, in its 

 bones. As it was to-day it had a dual interest, 

 an historical or human one, and a natural or 

 zoological one. Both merit some consideration. 



I ventured across the one-time threshing floor, 

 all scarred and dented with the flail's fierce blows, 

 and then, with some misgiving, climbed the wide- 

 runged ladder to the mow above. There was 

 need to be careful, and I stepped cautiously to 

 the single square window that was but partly 

 closed by what remained of its shutter. From 

 here I looked down to get a bird's-eye view of 

 the whole interior, and looked above to the de- 

 caying roof, through which the sun-bright sky 

 peeped as so many stars. Thoughts came and 

 went too quickly to be imprisoned, until I found, 

 by chance, initials deeply cut upon the smooth 

 oak sill on which I sat. 



Four letters only, and yet how much of human 

 interest centered about them ? J. B. and A. S. ! 

 Some John and Anne of more than a century ago. 

 And how easy to picture the hopeful John as he 

 spent a leisure hour carving his own and her ini- 

 tials, building castles in the air as he did so ! It 

 was then, perhaps, that he cast away the last 

 doubt in his mind, and courtship, a wedding, and 

 home-coming followed. I vividly pictured, too, 

 those later years, when the barn was the center of 

 the farm activities; the oxen drawing the heavily- 

 laden wagon, with its load of grain. It was al- 



