The Rambles of an Idler 



I venture to speak, in the following pages, of 

 that idleness which leads us not merely to touch 

 the hem of Nature's garment, but to clasp her 

 hand. 



Eagerness may make one clumsy in such an 

 attempt and, though he succeeds to a personal 

 satisfaction, yet, lacking grace, his "impres- 

 sions" had better fall back into the ranks of 

 the unrecorded. Good advice this, but no one 

 thinks of its personal application. 



To wander as Nature's guest, has been my 

 aim ; alike in sunshine and in shadow, under the 

 bright blue sky and when the storm-king as- 

 serted his ugly strength; gathering a harvest 

 that does not diminish, however frequent our 

 call upon its store. 



Such harvest contradicts, it seems to me, the 

 assertion often heard, 



Great the effort, great the gains; 

 Idleness and naught remains. 



Argument savors of work and I eschew it. 

 The days came, the days passed by, and be it 

 for good or evil, I am yet able and very glad 



tinder the shade of melancholy boughs, 

 [To] lose and neglect the creeping hours of time; 

 vi 



