GLORY OF THE MORNING-GLORY. 15 



deep within the tube of the corolla and beams 

 out at me with an expression of most tender 

 good will if I but deign to give it passing notice. 

 They are goddesses of the night and early morn 

 born in the former, reigning in the latter, and 

 closing forever their evanescent eyes before the 

 fiercer beams of the noon-day sun. God pity 

 him who sees no beauty in a wild morning-glory, 

 fresh from its natal bud. 



Lying on my side as I write, I am suddenly 

 startled by a rustling noise, similar to that made 

 by a huge snake crawling rapidly. I glance up 

 and see a large marmot or ground-hog within 

 three feet and coming swiftly on. I have been 

 motionless and he, doubtless mistaking me for a 

 log, is about to crawl over me, when involun- 

 tarily I throw up my arm and utter a "shoo," 

 as though to frighten away a flock of chickens. 

 He is as much startled as I, and stopping short, 

 eyes me for a moment, then turns tail and runs 

 as, inethinks, a marmot never ran before. Over 

 the slope out of sight he goes, and probably to 

 the shelter of his den. How I wish I could have 

 repressed that involuntary movement and note 



