MILL CREEK. 191 



of an overhanging oak, hoping to observe the bird to 

 advantage. In this I failed. It saw that my move- 

 ments referred to itself, and wheeling upward rose far 

 above the trees and disappeared. 



It tarried a second before speeding riverward, and 

 suggested, in so doing, that a view from some such 

 height would prove a pleasant variation in my outings. 

 Forthwith I left my boat to climb a tree. 



To most people, I suppose, tree-tops fifty feet above 

 their heads are quite as inaccessible as the antipodes. 

 But this inaccessibility is not real in every case. 



The truth is, I envied the slight breeze overhead, and 

 determined it should fan my brow. It did, and now I 

 am ready to proclaim, happy is he who has sufficient 

 " scansorial ability " to climb inviting trees and take his 

 comfort in their upper branches. 



Before fashion turns the tide that way, let me chroni- 

 cle what I conceive to be the charms of such a journey ; 

 for it is equal to a day's tramp to reach the summit of a 

 towering tree one which has disposed of its branches 

 in such a manner that a man needs to be ten feet long 

 to reach from one limb to the next above him. The 

 climber must exercise a deal of ingenuity at times, and 

 perhaps run something of a risk ; but once at the top, 

 what happiness awaits him ! 



There is an inborn disposition in all to look down 

 upon our fellows, as well as to look up to a few individu- 

 als. Climb a tree and look down upon the world with- 

 out giving any one offence. From my tall tree's upper 

 branches I looked down upon toiling harvesters, and 

 then looking upward saw a cloud of mosquitoes looking 



