The Building of the Nest 



the forest-born burden on their backs 

 to bear you where your fancy leads; 

 and presently the old clock in the 

 corner there will strike, and bring 

 your fireside travels to a happy end. 



I am not altogether certain, even 

 after the lapse of many years of close 

 companionship with these two faithful 

 friends, as to which has really con- 

 tributed most to the sum total of life, 

 the fireplace or the clock. Close analy- 

 sis of the psychology of the situation 

 would, I fancy, assign first place in our 

 affections to the flame upon the hearth, 

 but through the darker days and frosty 

 nights of the early spring and fall, 

 when the glowing logs have first put 

 one in the proper mood, there would 

 still be something lacking but for the 

 old clock's soft-voiced measured mark- 

 ing of the hours. 



It is not one of those massively grand 

 affairs with golden chimes and shining 

 brass securely boxed in a mahogany 

 mausoleum with a time-lock on the 



[ii] 



