128 FOOTING IT IN FRANCONIA 



to trudge along up the railroad track, pon- 

 dering as I go upon the old question why 

 railway sleepers are always too far apart for 

 one step and not far enough for two. At 

 short intervals I pause at the sound of a 

 mourning warbler's brief song, pretty in it- 

 self, and noticeable for its trick of a rolled 

 r. Some of the birds add a concluding mea- 

 sure of quick notes, like wit> wit, wit. It is 

 long since I have seen so many at once. In 

 truth, I have never seen so many except on 

 one occasion, on the side of Mount Washing- 

 ton. That was ten years ago. One a year, 

 on the average, shows itself to me during the 

 spring passage none in autumn. Well I 

 remember my first one. Twenty years have 

 elapsed since that late May morning, but I 

 could go to the very spot, I think, though I 

 have not been near it for more than half 

 that time. A good thing it is that we can 

 still enjoy the good things of past years, or 

 of what we call past years. 



And a good thing is a railroad, though 

 the sleepers be spaced on purpose for a foot 

 passenger's discomfort. Without this one, 

 over which at this early date no trains are 



