A NOOK IN THE ALLEGE AN lES 187 



be free enough in his spirit, to become a 

 part of what he sees. Then he may hope to 

 carry something of it home with him. 



It was soon after quitting the summit, on 

 my return, — for I left the valley a picture 

 (I can see it yet), and turned back by the 

 way I had come, — that I fell in with the 

 grosbeaks before alluded to : a single taci- 

 turn female with two handsome males in 

 devoted and tuneful attendance upon her. 

 Happy creature ! Among birds, so far as 

 I have ever been able to gather, the gentler 

 and more backward sex have never to wait 

 for admirers. Their only anxiety lies in 

 choosing one rather than another. That, no 

 doubt, must be sometimes a trouble, since, 

 as this imperfect world is constituted, choice 

 includes rejection. 



The law is general. Even in the modern 

 pastime which we dignify as the " observa- 

 tion of nature " there is no evading it. If 

 we see one thing, we for that reason are 

 blind to another. I had ascended this 

 mountain road at a snail's pace, never walk- 

 ing many rods together without a halt, — 

 whatever was to be seen, I meant to see it ; 

 yet now, on my way down, my eyes fell all 



