VERMIN 227 



on the road to the hills. I knew that beneath the 

 rude exterior there was an unsuspected beauty, a 

 very pure love of nature. Very enthusiastically 

 he used to talk about his wild pets ; and when I 

 ventured to ask him if he ever brought any home 



"Na! na! They're better whare 

 they are. I just lie still, and watch 

 them." 



I met him coming back in the 

 evening. He had been out the 

 whole day ; and while the hill breezes blew the 

 soot away, the little drama passed before him, 

 yielding him all the simple delight he asked for. 

 He envied no man; and swept away cheerfully 

 another week in anticipation of another blessed 

 day. 



