72 BEYOND THE PASTURE BARS 



This is because seeing glories and hearing 

 songs when the sky is dark and the birds are gone 

 is somewhat difficult. It requires an eye and an 

 ear for other things than mere things. The sum- 

 mer woods are full of things; there are things 

 enough, indeed, in the winter woods, if one must 

 have things, but what are the winter woods but 

 an escape from things? 



The wild bird does not beat at the bars of its 

 cage because it wants to be free to find a certain 

 seed, or fly to a certain spot, or meet a certain 

 flock of its kind. No, it simply longs to be free 

 to be out of the narrow cage into the wide free 

 sky on its buoyant wings. So you turn to the 

 open woods and fields, not for this or that, but 

 because you want to go to be free for a day, 

 to wander and range with the wide sky over you, 

 with the natural earth beneath you, with the 

 mighty forms of the trees about you, with the 

 many voices, odors, shapes and vistas accom- 

 panying you and beckoning you on. 



Now, when that feeling comes upon you, do not 

 wait for a summer day; do not wait for a pleas- 

 ant day. Go forth rain or shine, summer or win- 

 ter, into the heart of the woods. 



I have always lived where I could easily reach 



