CHAPTER IV. 



ALONG THE ROAD. 

 II. 



I HAVE found that walking stimulates observa 

 tion and opens one s eyes to movements and ap 

 pearances in earth and sky, which ordinarily escape 

 attention. The constant change of landscape which 

 attends even the slow progress of a loitering gait 

 puts one on the alert for discoveries of all kinds, 

 and prompts one to suspect every leafy covert and 

 to peer into every wooded recess with the expecta 

 tion of surprising Nature as Actaeon surprised Diana 

 in the moment of uncovered loveliness. On the 

 other hand, when one lounges by the hour in the 

 depths of the forest, or sits, book in hand, under 

 the knotted and familiar apple tree, on a summer 

 afternoon, the faculty of observation is lulled into 

 a dreamless sleep ; one ceases to be far enough 

 away from Nature to observe her ; one becomes 

 part of the great, silent movements in the midst of 

 which he sits, mute and motionless, while the hours 

 slip by with the peace of eternity already upon 

 them. 



When I reached the end of my walk, and paused 

 17 



