In Touch with Nature. 13 



me upon the back. There was no stereotyped 

 murmur of the wind high overhead, but, instead, a 

 gentle crooning of every tree and shrub : a com- 

 muning among themselves that my presence did 

 not disturb. I was welcome to all they had to tell, 

 but alas ! who has lived that can report the secrets 

 of a forest ? It is idle to attempt it, but none the 

 less is the rambler repaid who can unaffectedly 

 think of trees as his friends. 



While walking thus aimlessly along, profiting, I 

 trust, through unconscious cerebration, I chanced 

 upon a dark pool that might from appearance have 

 been bottomless, but doubtless was extremely 

 shallow. Probably it would not be remembered 

 now, but for a turtle that proved a physicist, if not 

 a philosopher. It was sunning itself or taking an 

 airing, for the sunshine was limited to very uncer- 

 tain flashes, and resting on a bit of wood more 

 than sufficient for its own needs, but not enough 

 for a neighbor. This latter fact was doubtless 

 well impressed upon its mind, and when presently 

 another turtle popped its head above the surface 

 of the water near the raft and attempted to climb 

 on board, the turtle in possession objected and 



