JUNE DAYS 



the soft, monotonous call that centuries 

 ago gave him a name. 



General Kukushna the exiles in Si- 

 beria entitle him ; and when they hear 

 his voice, every one who can break 

 bounds is irresistibly drawn to follow 

 him, and live for a brief season a free 

 life in the greenwood. As to many 

 weary souls and hampered bodies there, 

 so to many such here comes the voice of 

 the little commander, now persuasive, 

 now imperative, not to men and women 

 in exile or wearing the convict's garb, 

 but suffering some sort of servitude laid 

 upon them or self-imposed. ToiUng for 

 bread, for wealth, for fame, they are 

 alike in bondage — chained to the shop, 

 the farm, the desk, the office. 



Some who hear, obey, and revel in 

 the brief but delightful freedom of June 

 days spent in the perfumed breath of 

 full-leafed woods, by cold water-brooks 

 and rippled lakes. Others listen with 

 hungry hearts to the summons, but can- 

 not loose their fetters, and can only an- 

 swer with a sigh, " It is not for me," or 

 ** Not yet," and toil on, still hoping for 

 future days of freedom. 

 64 



