40 FOOTING IT IN FRANCONIA 



drop into in the fall. That, too, I am sure 

 to remember as often as I pass this way. 



In truth, all my Franconia rambles (I am 

 tempted to write the name in three syllables, 

 as I sometimes speak it, following the exam- 

 ple of Fishin' Jimmy and other local worth- 

 ies), — all my " Francony " rambles, I say, 

 are by this time full of these miserly delights. 

 It is really a gain, perhaps, that 1 make the 

 round of them but once a year. Some things 

 are wisely kept choice. 



" Therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare." 



To get aU the goodness out of a piece of 

 country, return to it again and again, till 

 every corner of it is alive with memories ; 

 but do not see it too often, nor make your 

 stay in it too long. The hermit thrush's 

 voice is all the sweeter because he ^s a her- 

 mit. 



This afternoon I do not cross the bridge, 

 but keep to the valley road, which soon runs 

 for some distance along the edge of a hack- 

 matack swamp ; full of gi-aceful, pencil- 

 tipped, feathery trees, with here and there a 

 dead one, on purpose for woodpeckers and 



