T.he Kambles of an Idler 



proved near, early violets starred the frosty 

 earth, hut during all that followed, the pee-wee 

 of that early morning hour was not forgotten. 



The third day, a weasel stood upright in my 

 path, stared fiercely at me and then disap- 

 peared. I looked in vain for its hiding-place or 

 for some evidence of what it had been doing 

 where I saw it. As well attempt to trace the 

 lightning after the flash has vanished; yet I 

 could for the time think of nothing but the 

 creature of which I had only a glimpse and re- 

 call every petty adventure in past years 

 wherein a weasel figured. Even the chirping of 

 birds had an animal-like squeal and imagina- 

 tion came near getting the upper hand for a lit- 

 tle while. It was by no means strange that 

 the only few wild animals we have left were in 

 my thoughts, while I looked across the wide 

 marsh, where I knew were minks, musk-rats 

 and meadow-mice. A trifle may change the 

 current of our thoughts for a whole day. 



The fourth day, the earliest green leaves and 

 swelling buds and golden spice-wood bloom 

 commanded my attention and I thought of the 

 long winter when the trees were bare and how 

 the cheerless outlook depressed at times and 



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