198 ESOTERIC PERIPATET1CISM. 



all of them together, that make the glory 

 of the place. It is the wood and this is 

 something more than the sum of all its 

 parts which lays hold upon him, taking 

 him, as it were, out of the world and out of 

 himself. Let practical people sneer, and 

 the industrious frown ; we who retain our 

 relish for these natural and innocent feli- 

 cities may well enough be indifferent to 

 neighborly comments. Whatever world- 

 lings may think, the hour is not wasted 

 that brings with it tranquillity of mind and 

 an uplifting of the heart. We seem to be 

 going nowhere and looking for nothing? 

 Yes; but one may be glad to visit the 

 Land of Beulah, though he have no special 

 errand thither. Who ever saw a child but 

 was fond of an idle hour in the woods? 

 And for my part, while I have with me the 

 children (and the dogs and the poets) I 

 count myself in excellent company ; for 

 the time, at least, I can do without what is 

 vulgarly esteemed good society. A man to 

 whom a holiday affords no pleasure is al- 

 ready as good as dead; nothing will save 

 him but to be born again. We have heard 

 of convicts so wonted to prison cells that 



