JOTHAM STORIES 213 



keep it but in the snow all winter, but he was the 

 only one that I ever heard of that stored wild 

 geese in that way." 



There are worse tales and more of them, but 

 I fear that cold type chills out the subtle aroma 

 of probability with which Jotham always man- 

 ages to invest them. One needs to hear them 

 told with the fragrance of a barn full of new- 

 made hay in the nostrils, the sw'ish of the north- 

 easter to accompany the voice in his ears, and 

 with his eye on the distant hillside pastures all 

 hung with mysterious draperies of mist to make 

 a proper background of quaint shadows of ro- 

 mance. Then he can really appreciate the folk 

 lore that goes with us by the familiar title of 

 "Jotham stories." 



