124 FOOTING IT IN FRANCONIA 



music. So it seems to me at this moment, 

 I mean to say. At another time, in another 

 mood, I might tone down the comparison, 

 though I could never say less than that the 

 vesper is my favorite. His gifts are sweet- 

 ness and perfection. 



So I cross the level fields to Chase's, where 

 I stand a few minutes before the little front- 

 yard flower-garden, always with many pretty 

 things in it. One of those natural garden- 

 ers, the good woman must be, who have a 

 knack of making plants blossom. And just 

 beyond, in the shelter of the first tree, I stop 

 again to take off my hat, put down my um- 

 brella, and speak coaxingly to a suspicious 

 pointer (being a friend of all dogs except 

 surly ones), which after much backing and 

 filling gets his cool nose into my palm. We 

 are on excellent terms, I flatter myself, but 

 at that moment some notion strikes me and 

 I take out my notebook and pencil. In- 

 stantly he starts away and sets up a furious 

 bark, looking first at me, then toward the 

 house, circling about me all the while, at a 

 rod's distance, in a quiver of excitement. 

 " Help ! help ! " he cries. " Here 's a villain 



