OUR FAVORITE JAUNTS 



But within its silent aisles the stillness is oppressive; 

 only the song sparrow refuses to be downcast or even 

 frightened by the sinister hiss of the tiny snake; the 

 frogs, too, form a cheery company, and the profusion 

 of flowers surrounding the forest does its best to enliven 

 the somberness. This tract of marsh land is a paradise 

 to the courageous nature-lover: in its deep retreats, 

 protected from wind and sun, the cinnamon fern, the 

 royal fern, and the sensitive fern flourish with a 

 prodigality and lavishness undreamed of by the out 

 side world. 



These, then, are the objects of our pilgrimage, here 

 is our June rendezvous, but not by the motor car! 

 Preferably on a dark, even a rainy, day what differ 

 ence does a little more water make? with the flattest, 

 broadest hayrack we can borrow, and two strong horses, 

 we sally forth dressed as for wading; for wading it 

 will be, either in treacherous mud or holes of water or 

 grassy pools. This is no woman's undertaking, this is 

 a man's job; but if she is willing to prepare herself 

 properly she may be allowed to join the party, to share 



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