468 WALL STREET AND THE WILDS 



the drifts, or follow the tracks of wild animals 

 on skis or snowshoes. In the long evenings there 

 is music and dancing, or reading aloud before 

 the blazing logs. Cosy suppers are cooked over 

 the coals with occasional popping of corn and 

 cracking of nuts. Apples and cheese, crackers 

 and cider always appear before taps are sounded. 



In the summer they climb the mountain to 

 camp on its summit or wander with rods along the 

 brook to our beautiful Blue Hole, broiling their 

 trout at dusk on its rocky ledge. 



"It is forty years since I last saw the Blue 

 Hole," said John Burroughs not long ago, "but 

 I can go through the woods straight to it to-day," 

 and he did. He called the pool the loveliest spot 

 in the Catskills and Elaine Goodale Eastman 

 after a recent visit paid it this poetic tribute: 



"Wild Nature's gem of changeful luster bright, 



Now turquoise pure, now shadowy malachite, 

 From its rude setting gleams with elfin light. 



Say rather, as the inner vision clears, 



A well of dreams, a bowl of happy tears 

 Reflecting heaven — the mirror of the years! 



