The weather and the changes of the sea- 

 sons are such common and convenient topics 

 that one need not apologize for talking about 

 them, though he says nothing new. 



Still less need one make an apology if 

 he becomes garrulous in relation to scenes 

 which are now hidden from him by a curtain 

 of darkness, or concerning some humble 

 acquaintances with whom he was once on 

 familiar terms, but who now and hereafter 

 can only be memories, though they are yet 

 near him and he may still hear their voices. 



So without excuse I offer this collection 

 of sketches, which with a few exceptions 

 were first published in the columns of " For- 

 est and Stream." 



R. E. R. 



