128 BEYOND THE PASTURE BARS 



ness and energy to all his movements (including 

 his shuffle) that seemed to set everything about 

 him in motion. 



Up and down among the glass cases we went, 

 his voice full of the pleasure he felt at seeing his 

 work once more established, his suggestions 

 falling thick and fast as we passed from group to 

 group, until, turning upon me suddenly, he said: 



4 'Go out and get a bird. I must give you a les- 

 son in mounting." 



Yes, things like this have happened often 

 enough in books, but when before did a boy away 

 down in the woods of southern New Jersey have 

 the great man of his dreams appear suddenly 

 before him, and coming instantly to his heart's 

 one deep desire, send him out to get a bird for a 

 lesson in mounting? 



Strange things happen to boys and girls in 

 books, I say. You have read about them. But do 

 you know, stranger things than the things of books 

 keep happening all the time to boys and girls out- 

 side of books, to boys and girls in the country, 

 away in the heart of the woods ; and to boys and 

 girls in the city, away in the heart of the slums? 

 This was surely a very strange thing to happen 

 to me. 



