THE LURE OF THE BERRY 135 



The pleasure of huckleberrying is partly in 

 the season the late summer-time, from 

 mid- July to September. The poignant joys of 

 early spring are passed, and the exuberance of 

 early summer, while the keen stimulus of fall 

 has not yet come. Things are at poise. The 

 haying is over, the meadows, shorn of their 

 rich grass, lie tawny-green under the sky, and 

 the world seems bigger than before. It is not 

 a time for dreams nor a time for exploits; it 

 it a time for for well, for berrying! 



But you must choose your days carefully, 

 as you do your fishing and hunting days. 

 The berries &quot;bite best&quot; with a brisk west 

 wind, though a south one is not to be despised, 

 and a north one gives a pleasant suggestion 

 of fall while the sun has still all the fervor of 

 summer. Choose a sky that has clouds in it, 

 too, for you will feel their movement even 

 when you do not look up. Then take your 

 pail and set out. Do not be in a hurry and do 

 not promise to be back at any definite time. 

 Either go alone or with just the right com 

 panion. I do not know any circumstances 

 wherein the choice of a companion needs more 

 care than in berrying. It may make or mar 



