1fu tbe MooC)s witb tbe JBow 



glue which the dampness of the air dis- 

 solved ; wherefore, when a squirrel tempted 

 me sorely, lo ! a featherless shaft lay across 

 my bow, and my drawing-fingers were 

 sticky with gum arabic. From distance to 

 distance rattled the fine laughter of birds 

 making glee at my discomfiture. 



All periods, good and bad, joyous and 

 sorrowful, come to an end. Jarvis had a 

 load of shingles to haul by cart far down 

 the river. He insisted upon having me 

 keep house for him during his considerable 

 absence ; but I could not consent. Follow- 

 ing a trail northeastward over a mountain- 

 spur, I found the highway — an atrocious 

 pair of ruts winding among the rocky 

 knobs, which would sometime lead me to 

 a railway-station where my trunk and bags 

 were awaiting me. And it was a jolly 

 tramp from cabin to cabin, — not one moun- 

 tain household turned me away, — a slow 

 and halting wander-week, with side excur- 

 sions into bird-haunts, and dreamy resting- 

 spells. Spring went apace with me; the 

 dogwood clumps began to flash their white 

 blossoms; fragrance varied and strength- 

 233 



