FOUR DREAMERS 77 



with dust. I have come through the woods 

 to this convenient knoll on purpose to find re- 

 lief from the prevailing desolation to rest 

 my eyes upon green grass. For the eye loves 

 green grass as well, almost, as the throat loves 

 cold water. 



Even in my boyish country neighborhood, 

 though nobody, or nobody that I knew 

 (which may have been a very different mat- 

 ter), did what I am now doing, there were 

 some, I think (one or two, at least), who in 

 their own way indulged much the same tastes 

 that I have come to felicitate myself upon 

 possessing. I remember one man, dead long 

 since, who was continually walking the fields 

 and woods, always with a spaniel at his heels, 

 alone except for that company. He often 

 carried a gun, and in autumn he snared par- 

 tridges (how I envied him his skill !) ; but I 

 believe, as I look back, that best and first of 

 all he must have loved the woods and the si- 

 lence. He was supposed to have his faults. 

 No doubt he had. I have since discovered 

 that most men are in the same category. I 

 believe he used to " drink," as our word was 

 then. But I think now that I should have 



