1 82 J-tV SUMMER. 







have been obliterated, the work would have been 

 undertaken. As it is, the narrow strip is all 'that 

 Nature can call her own, and so, whatever of her 

 charms can find a place, here she sets them down ; 

 and so here a rambler may be happy, or fairly 

 content at least, if he does not raise his eyes con- 

 tinually to scan the horizon. I, for one, on the 

 half-loaf principle, accept the wayside brooks with 

 thankfulness, and now after long years have 

 found that in many an essential feature they do 

 not suffer so greatly as one might suppose when 

 compared with Nature's more pretentious water- 

 ways. Let Nature, on however small a scale, 

 have the upper hand, and at such a spot the ram- 

 bler can afford to tarry. But perhaps I am par- 

 tial, for this was my play-ground, forty years ago ; 

 still, I would say 



Let not the wayside dells go unregarded ; 



Why ever longing for the hills or sea ? 

 Who loves earth's modest gifts is well rewarded, 



And hears the wood-thrush sing as cheerily 

 As when by mountain brooks it trills its lay, 

 To soothe the dying moments of the day. 



Here, where no busy toilers ever rest, 



Where but the wayside weeds reach from the sod, 

 I love to be the merry cricket's guest, 



And find, though all is mean, no soulless clod ; 

 The bubbling spring, the mossy pebbles near, 

 The stunted beech, they all are justly dear. 



