vj Preface. 



pappus of the pen might float a tiny bit 

 of germ to some barren office desk, where 

 it would spring into fresh memories for 

 some lover of richer fields, who was 

 chained to the desk. 



Many sketches which were published 

 anonymously and in various places have 

 been trimmed out of mind by the sickle of 

 the Reaper, and I do not know where to 

 look for them to-day, but the Editor of 

 Forest and Stream has found in his files 

 a number of contributions that were pub- 

 lished over my name, or over the nom de 

 plume of Mark West, which was adopted 

 from the familiar call of New England 

 sea-shooters. The story from the sandy 

 end of a Connecticut township was pub- 

 lished in The Rider and Driver. 



