Night-Prowls in the Streets 109 



of the machine may cause the chippering 

 song. I have no doubt that it is the piping 

 of frogs, but in science or the courts such 

 testimony is not enough. In the country, 

 where, unfortunately, they are sparing of 

 the road-roller, there could be no room 

 for question. 



Air is purer by night than by day, and 

 that is one offset to the heaviness of the 

 dark. Blessed is the stillness that bad 

 weather makes, especially snow. The 

 smell of fresh snow in the streets is nearly 

 as pungent as it is in the fields. These 

 muffled nights and these wild ones, both 

 keeping people in-doors and sending them 

 early to bed, are fine for reflective strolls. 

 We are teased into them if we go to the 

 window. It is so large, so full of mystery 

 out there, that you throw aside your work 

 and pull on your coat. We are entitled to 

 tire of our work, since it is finite. Nature 

 .we never fathom. It is always new, it is 

 always our refuge, it suggests, it gives 

 courage and energy. So we go out and 

 gather strength, and most likely waste a 

 part of the walk in making schemes for to- 



