XXXVI 



A WINTER WALK 



IN spite of the fact that it was midwinter and 

 the roads were drifted, I determined to take advan- 

 tage of a sunshiny day, rare in January, and visit 

 some of my summer haunts. It is hard to confine 

 one's walk to indifferently cleared sidewalks and 

 conventional paths when one feels that there are 

 things going on out in the real world. The path 

 leading to "Liberty Vale" was sure to be cleared, 

 and once in the open road beyond I would not 

 mind the snow. I listened to no objections, but 

 started up the campus hill, with my face toward 

 the woods along Fall Brook. 



The first thing that attracted my notice was a 

 brown and black "woolly bear," which slowly 

 crawled along the edge of the sidewalk. I was 

 surprised and concerned. What business had he 

 to be going about in that fashion? Did not all 

 the traditions of his family demand that he spin 

 a cocoon as soon as cold weather comes on and 

 retire from active life? Here he was, however, 

 and no book can ever make me believe that "cater- 

 pillars" sleep all winter. This one was awake, 

 although he curled himself up in my hand and 

 "played 'possum." I wrapped him loosely in a 

 note slip, twisted the ends, and put him into my 

 hat. Just what he will do I have plans for finding 



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