My Boyhood and Youth 



section he had selected four or five miles to the 

 westward. In the mean while we enjoyed our 

 freedom as usual, wandering in the fields and 

 meadows, looking at the trees and flowers, 

 snakes and birds and squirrels. With the help 

 of the nearest neighbors the little shanty was 

 built in less than a day after the rough bur-oak 

 logs for the walls and the white-oak boards for 

 the floor and roof were got together. 



To this charming hut, in the sunny woods, 

 overlooking a flowery glacier meadow and a 

 lake rimmed with white water-lilies, we were 

 hauled by an ox-team across trackless carex 

 swamps and low rolling hills sparsely dotted 

 with round-headed oaks. Just as we arrived 

 at the shanty, before we had time to look at it 

 or the scenery about it, David and I jumped 

 down in a hurry off the load of household goods, 

 for we had discovered a blue jay's nest, and in 

 a minute or so we were up the tree beside it, 

 feasting our eyes on the beautiful green eggs 

 and beautiful birds, our first memorable 

 discovery. The handsome birds had not seen 

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