THE SECRET OF THE SOIL 



signs of human habitation. For the rest, 

 all is wild, free, and natural. Trackless 

 forests clothe the mountains as far as 

 the eye can reach in every direction, and 

 approach even to our very door, and 

 many a visit the wild denizens of these 

 leafy fastnesses pay to our premises 

 through the summer. Deer, bears, foxes, 

 woodchucks, rabbits, and many other kinds 

 of wild creatures frisk over, or crawl 

 under, our fences at will, and find neither 

 guns nor traps awaiting them, and birds 

 of every kind belonging to these alti- 

 tudes nest fearlessly in our trees, eat at 

 our bird table, bathe in our bird bath- 

 tub, and sing gloriously of their satis- 

 faction in the pleasures provided for 

 them. When we first came here we 

 were told that we must have the little 

 red squirrels and chipmunks killed, for 



