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Fragrant Note Book 



OF THE DUMB PORTER 



WANDERING along the lanes and bye-ways of life, 

 should you choose certain turns in their pre- 

 scribed order you would find yourself (as it seems 

 that you have) facing the modest little lodge of my dumb 



j porter. He is dumb and he is ancient, and that of itself being 

 unusual should prove to be interesting, since the aged are cus- 

 tomarily garrulous; but he is a good chap withal and will come 

 stiunping to meet you from his little shelter which has a back 

 and sides but is open in front. He calls it "The Bindings. " 



I The Arab has a saying that where he has struck flint to 



! tinder and tinder to wood and the warming blaze has spnmg 

 up, there for the time being the son of Allah is at home. \ 



■ Even in this spirit of the desert wanderer has a generous ^ 

 hearth been built in the lodge of Caxton my dumb porter, 

 whose hospitality you need never doubt and who will early 

 draw your attention to the old inscription graven over the 

 fireplace, 



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