362 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [15:9— Dec., 1919 



It was with genuine regret that the writer moved away from the 

 house by the ravine and the maple tree, and thus ended his friend- 

 ship with these creatures, so gentle, so beautiful, so trusting; these 

 little "brothers of the wild." 



Grizzly 



Bret Harte 



Coward, — of heroic size, 

 In whose lazy muscles lies 

 Strength we fear and yet despise; 

 Savage, — whose relentless tusks 

 Are content with acorn husks; 

 Robber, — ^whose exploits ne'er soared 

 O'er the bee's or squirrel's hoard; 

 Whiskered chin, and feeble nose, 

 Claws of steel on baby toes, — 

 Here, in soltiude and shade. 

 Shambling, shuffling, plantigrade, 

 Be thy courses undismayed! 



Here, where Nature makes thy bed. 



Let thy rude, half-human tread 



Point to hidden Indian springs, 



Lost in ferns and fragrant grasses, 



Hovered o'er by timid wings. 



Where the wood-duck lightly passes. 



Where the wild bee holds her sweets, — 



Epicurean retreats. 



Fit for thee, and better than 



Fearful spoils of dangerous man. 



In thy fat-jowled deviltry 

 Friar Tuck shall live in thee; 

 Thou ma.vest levy tithe and dole; 

 Thou shalt spread the woodland cheer, 

 From the pilgrim taking toll; 

 Match thy cunning with his fear; 

 Eat, and drink, and have thy fill; 

 Yet remain an outlaw still ! 



