The Happy Garden 



once evinced a desire to go for the morning walk 

 with the dogs. . . . Some day I shall allow it. 



But is he happy ? 



I fancy there are no great domestic ties in heron 

 families. Children easily forget their parents, and 

 the bird has probably lost all thought of his kindred 

 in the tree-tops not half a mile away. . . . And, 

 then, does not happiness consist in making other 

 people happy ? 



The heron has made me so. He has blotted 

 out the baleful memory of the livestock tragedy, 

 and given me the very finishing touch I needed for 

 my brown garden with its toy river and Chinese 

 bridge. 



He plays a part in life, and beast and man can 

 ask no more. 



172 



