THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER 103 



space down to the bare ground, then see that it is 

 bare ground and not a boggy, rooty peat-bed be- 

 neath, that will take fire and smoulder and burn 

 away down under the surface out of sight, to break 

 through, perhaps, a week after you have gone, and 

 set the whole mountain-side afire. Build your fire 

 on bare, sandy earth; have a shovel and can of 

 water at hand, and put the fire out when you are 

 done with it. It is against the law in most States to 

 set a fire out of doors after the 1st of April, without 

 a permit from the fire-warden. 



Now, after this caution, you ought to go out some 

 evening by the shore with a small party and roast 

 some green corn in the husk; then, wrapping some 

 potatoes in clay, bake them ; if you have fish, wrap 

 them in clay with their scales on, and bake them. 

 The scales will come off beautifully when the clay 

 is cracked off, and leave you the tastiest meal of 

 fish and potatoes and corn you ever ate. Every boy 

 and girl ought to have a little camp-life and ought 

 to have each his share of camp-work to perform this 

 summer. 



VI 



At the close of some stifling July day you ought 

 to go out into the orchard or woods and watch the 

 evening come on to notice how the wild life re- 

 vives, flowers open, birds sing, animals stir, breezes 

 start, leaves whisper, and all the world awakes. 



