192 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



very large stone bottles, are heirlooms. You 

 will hear them say, " My mother left me these ; 

 I was eldest darter like, an' her mother left 'em 

 to her." Yes, and other things they make ; 

 good, honest common-sense teaching them to 

 use that which is close to them, and to be 

 content with it, because it is both handy and 

 good. 



There is always something to be seen in the 

 woods. You may go there a thousand times, 

 and yet not learn one half that they can teach 

 you. There, before your eyes, if you will but 

 see it, are exemplified the two problems that 

 of life, and what we call death. From under 

 the dead leaves new life is already springing 

 up ; and although the leaves are off the trees, 

 you can see that when the time comes they 

 will burst out again. Bud formation, the new 

 growth, is already indicated faintly. If you 

 walk through the fir woods and inhale their 

 life-giving and soothing fragrance, you scent 

 the very life of the firs. 



At their roots you will see that evil, but 

 beautiful fungus, the scarlet abomination of the 

 woodlands. Never a one have I passed yet, 

 leaving it behind me. They are most lovely 

 as vegetable productions, but they can be used 



