BIRDS, FLOWERS, AND PEOPLE 109 



village to fetch it home. He lived about six 

 miles out, on a side road. I inquired about 

 the two or three houses in sight in the valley- 

 clearing below us. It was the " Webb 

 settlement," he said ; " so we always call it.'* 

 I remarked that all hands seemed to have 

 plenty of children. " Yes, plenty of chil- 

 dren," he responded, with a laugh ; and away 

 he drove. 



It was only a few minutes before another 

 man appeared, a foot-passenger this time, 

 walking at a smart pace, with an umbrella 

 on his shoulder, and a new pair of boots 

 slung across it. " You travel faster than I 

 do," said I. " Yes, sir," he answered, smil- 

 ing (all men like the name of being active), 

 " I go pretty peert when I go." He, too, had 

 six miles before him, and believed it would 

 " begin to rain after a bit." It would have 

 been an imposition upon good nature to 

 detain him. There was a bend in the road 

 just below, and in another minute I heard 

 him spanking round it at a lively trot. 



Five minutes more, and a second pedes- 

 trian hove in sight. He, likewise, was in 

 haste. " You are all in a hurry to-day," I 

 said to him. I was in pursuit of acquaint- 



