In the Sierra 



herself at one's feet within two or three 

 yards, rolling over on her back, kicking and 

 gasping, so as to deceive man or beast. They 

 are said to stay all the year in the woods 

 hereabouts, taking shelter in dense tufted 

 branches of fir and yellow pine during snow- 

 storms, and feeding on the young buds of 

 these trees. Their legs are feathered down 

 to their toes, and I have never heard of 

 their suffering in any sort of weather. Able 

 to live on pine and fir buds, they are for- 

 ever independent in the matter of food, 

 which troubles so many of us and controls 

 our movements. Gladly, if I could, I would 

 live forever on pine buds, however full of 

 turpentine and pitch, for the sake of this 

 grand independence. Just to think of our 

 sufferings last month merely for grist-mill 

 flour. Man seems to have more difficulty 

 in gaining food than any other of the Lord's 

 creatures. For many in towns it is a con- 

 suming, life-long struggle ; for others, the 

 danger of coming to want is so great, the 



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