In the Sierra 



moths and mosquitoes, with flower petals, 

 pollen dust and indeed bits of all plants, 

 animals, and minerals of the region adhere 

 to them and are safely imbedded, so that 

 though far from being a naturalist he col- 

 lects fragmentary specimens of everything 

 and becomes richer than he knows. His 

 specimens are kept passably fresh, too, by the 

 purity of the air and the resiny bituminous 

 beds into which they are pressed. Man is 

 a microcosm, at least our shepherd is, or 

 rather his trousers. These precious overalls 

 are never taken off, and nobody knows how 

 old they are, though one may guess by 

 their thickness and concentric structure. 

 Instead of wearing thin they wear thick, 

 and in their stratification have no small 

 geological significance. 



Besides herding the sheep, Billy is the 

 butcher, while I have agreed to wash the few 

 iron and tin utensils and make the bread. 

 Then, these small duties done, by the time 

 the sun is fairly above the mountain-tops I 



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