Introductory 1 9 



little stream for a mile up through the 

 meadows to its source, just to see where the 

 trail really did begin. 



I tramped by many a swaying clump of 

 willows, or green cattails. The sweet flag I 

 always marked down in my mind, for I would 

 come some other day and dig the root which, 

 when it was cured with sugar and spice, was 

 fit for a king. 



Many a time I was fooled, thinking I had 

 found the beginning of the trail, but when I 

 would poke away the grass I would find that 

 the tiny stream went still further back for its 

 source. At last I found it however, high up 

 in a hillside. It was a small basin perhaps a 

 foot across, fringed with ferns and water 

 grasses and in its middle the water pure, cool 

 and sweet, bubbled up in a tiny living foun- 

 tain. Up from the cool sweet earth it gushed, 

 a thing of wonder and beauty. 



It was evening when I returned home and 

 I was late in driving home the cows, but I felt 

 well repaid for the long tramp, for I had 

 found the secret of the little stream. I had 



