XI 

 HAPS IN THE FIELD 



WHEN I desired a change from the bird-life 

 allowed to me by my autocratic neighbor 

 chebec, I betook myself to an old pasture 

 overgrown with bushes and scattering trees, 

 and found a comfortable seat under a tree. 



This place was always attractive, but was 

 especially beautiful at the time the evergreens 

 balsam firs and spruces were putting on 

 their new foliage, every branch and twig 

 decorated with light new tips, looking as if 

 covered with blossoms ; thus showing, as 

 Emerson says, 



" How the sacred pine-tree adds 

 To her old leaves new myriads." 



Even the juniper was frosted over with fresh- 

 ness, and the bayberry looked sweet enough 

 to eat. I tried Thoreau's plan of " browsing," 

 but I did not like it. 



In the pasture I found many birds. The 

 most delightful was the goldfinch, " in amber 



