EXPLORATIONS 



differs from the bluff heartiness of the 

 earlier bird. It is as if their joy in the 

 strong sun and the awakening of creation 

 was tempered and softened to a touch of 

 tears at some gentle remembrance. The 

 vesper sparrows recall the vanished hap- 

 piness of past summers in their greeting 

 to that which comes. 



After that my way led me home through 

 the purpling woodland toward the golden 

 greeting of the sunset. I had tasted to 

 the full the joy of exploration and dis- 

 covery. I doubt if Humboldt felt any 

 better coming back from his exploration 

 of the sources of the Caspian. My Eu- 

 phrates I know; my Tigris I have re- 

 served for future, perhaps even greater 

 joy of tracing to its source in the mystic 

 depths of, to me, untrodden woodland. 



