A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



HermttsWIld 



When facing the harbor, I could turn to the 

 left and look across the marsh to Dogtown 

 Common. I had to look above and beyond 

 a straggling portion of the city. Dogtown 

 Common, in Revolutionary days, contained 

 forty dwellings ; now it was houseless. I saw 

 only a boulder-covered region of pasture-land, 

 choked by huckleberry and blueberry bushes, 

 with here and there large tangles of catbrier. 



Some of the sunsets seen from the Eyrie 

 were beautiful beyond description. Whenever 

 a massive bank of clouds hung above the 

 western horizon, the setting sun illuminated 

 the city from Riverdale to Eastern Point, 

 and every window in sight glowed like bur- 

 nished gold. 



Until the middle of November the weather 

 continued mild and balmy, with but a few 

 stormy days. I recall, with pleasure and 

 satisfaction, the evenings passed at the Eyrie. 

 Perched on the brow of the cliff, I studied 

 the city by moonlight, lamplight, and gas- 

 light. On dark nights the lights of the city 

 took on the shape of a huge monster, half- 

 20 



