134 THE CLERK OF THE WOODS 



man must look like a weak brother, a cod- 

 dler of himself, ruined by civilization and 

 " modern improvements ; " a lubber who 

 would freeze to death where a chickadee 

 bubbles over with the very joy of living. 



With weather-braving souls like these 

 Thoreau would associate ; and so will I. It 

 is true, what all the moralists have told us, 

 that it is good for a man to keep company 

 with his superiors. Not that in my own 

 case I look for their example and tuition to 

 make me inherently better ; it is getting late 

 for that ; " nothing that happens after we 

 are twelve counts for very much ; " I shall 

 be content if they make me happier. And 

 so much I surely depend upon. Good spirits 

 are contagious. It is the great advantage 

 of keeping a dog, that he has happiness to 

 spare, and gives to his master. So a flock 

 of chickadees, or snowbirds, or kinglets, or 

 tree sparrows, or goldfinches brighten a man's 

 day. He comes away smiling. I will go out 

 now and prove it. 



