m^ Mtnter (Barren 



tide of migrating birds had overlapped my 

 garden at sunrise, and was flowing on, 

 tumultuously vocal, toward the land of 

 blue-grass, vast fertile farms, and blooming 

 apple-orchards. 



At breakfast some one of the circle hints 

 a desire to feel a brisk waft of Hoosier air 

 off the Wea plains, and I venture a remark 

 or two upon the fine spring weather re- 

 ported from the Indianapolis station. As 

 if through leagues upon leagues of golden 

 haze, I see the hyacinths purpling a slope 

 at Sherwood Place. Like the mere trickle 

 of water which pierces a Mississippi levee, 

 our desultory mouthing grows firmer and 

 stronger all in one direction, until presently 

 it fairly roars, sweeping away every rem- 

 nant of a barrier; and before we compre- 

 hend fully what possesses us, lo! we are 

 packing our bags and trunks, actually 

 trembling meantime, and breathless with 

 delight at thought of flying northward. 

 An intoxicating sense of moving apace 

 with one of the ancient universal Impulses 

 fills us during our passage over mountain 

 and valley ; for by day we see the song- 

 32 



