In the Sierra 



joy enlivening the massy sublimity of the 

 mountains like the laugh of a child. Thank 

 you, thank you all three for your quicken- 

 ing company. Heaven guide every wing and 

 leg. Good-night, friends three, good-night. 

 yuly 22. A fine specimen of the black- 

 tailed deer went bounding past camp this 

 morning. A buck with wide spread of 

 antlers, showing admirable vigor and grace. 

 Wonderful the beauty, strength, and grace- 

 ful movements of animals in wildernesses, 

 cared for by Nature only, when our experi- 

 ence with domestic animals would lead us 

 to fear that all the so-called neglected wild 

 beasts would degenerate. Yet the upshot 

 of Nature's method of breeding and teach- 

 ing seems to lead to excellence of every 

 sort. Deer, like all wild animals, are as clean 

 as plants. The beauties of their gestures and 

 attitudes, alert or in repose, surprise yet more 

 than their bounding exuberant strength. 

 Every movement and posture is graceful, 

 the very poetry of manners and motion. 



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