32 The Sort of Life We Lead 



what I like least about gardening, there is much 

 comfort in finding that there is such a thing as get- 

 ting ahead of the weeds if you keep up the battle 

 persistently enough. Wrote from ten to lunch 

 time. After luncheon went with A. and the chil- 

 dren over to the beach, sailing our three miles across 

 the bay with a free wind in less than half an hour. 

 One would scarcely believe that in three weeks so 

 great a change had taken place. Three weeks ago 

 the beach was alive with people, the bay was full 

 of boats, sailing back and forth, the little bathing 

 station on the beach had plenty to do, there were 

 dozens of people in the surf, and scores walking 

 along the sands. To-day we were one of half-a- 

 dozen sails to be found as far as the eye could 

 reach. On the beach there was complete silence, 

 except for the boom of the surf and the pipe of an 

 occasional quail. Tradition says that the quail 

 along this narrow line of sand, which stretches 

 from Fire Island to Quogue, came ashore from an 

 English vessel wrecked off Moriches many years 

 ago. They Were intended for some rich man's 

 estate, but escaped here and have done well. 

 The season is so nearly through, so far as bathing 

 is concerned, that we gathered up our bathing 

 suits, camp-chairs, and beach-shades, and put them 



