My Boyhood and Youth 



cup, and carried them to the shanty, where we 

 watched them throbbing and flashing out their 

 mysterious light at regular intervals, as if each 

 little passionate glow were caused by the beat- 

 ing of a heart. Once I saw a splendid display 

 of glow-worm light in the foothills of the Him- 

 alayas, north of Calcutta, but glorious as it 

 appeared in pure starry radiance, it was far 

 less impressive than the extravagant abound- 

 ing, quivering, dancing fire on our Wisconsin 

 meadow. 



Partridge drumming was another great mar- 

 vel. When I first heard the low, soft, solemn 

 sound I thought it must be made by some 

 strange disturbance in my head or stomach, 

 but as all seemed serene within, I asked David 

 whether he heard anything queer. "Yes," he 

 said, "I hear something saying boomp, boomp, 

 boomp, and I 'm wondering at it." Then I was 

 half satisfied that the source of the mysterious 

 sound must be in something outside of us, com- 

 ing perhaps from the ground or from some 

 ghost or bogie or woodland fairy. Only after 

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