Oil Roan Mountain, t/ie highest human habitation east of 

 the Rockies, the elouds play an important part in inaiis exist- 

 eiice. JJWien they float high and the sky is e/ear, he has a smi/e 

 for every one ; Jie regards the universe as a limitless expanse of 

 moulded heights upon which his position allows him to gaze. 

 But when they take his home for their resting plaee, and en- 

 shroud ajid fall far below the mountain, he scowls upon them 

 as his enemy. They limit his sphere and his vision. His 

 other enemy is the snow. About Christmas time it begins to 

 fall. Then he must retire to his cabin, taking the wood for his 

 fireside and provisions with him even as a squirrel carries nuts 

 to his hole. Cut off^ thus from all communication with the outer 

 world, he has still one green and fragrant friend. It is the 

 beautiful silver fir. 



To the mountaineer who was to remain in the Cloud Land 

 Hotel over the winter, I said: 



" Do the people about here love this tree ? " 



^'' No, Marm," he answered. 



" Do they love the flowers / " / then asked. 



"' No, Mann,'' he said. 



" Do they use any of the plants to cure illnesses ? " f per- 

 sisted. He shook his head. 



*' What do they do ? " Tasked. 



" They lets ''em come and go.''' 



(IV.) 



