On Keeping Still 



lit on a branch within three feet of my face, turning 

 his head so as to view me with one eye or the other 

 when I kept quiet, or chirping his indignation 

 when I twanged the jews'-harp. Next came a jay, 

 officious as the town constable; then more birds, 

 half concealing their curiosity under gentle man- 

 ners; and a squirrel who had no manners at all, 

 scolding everybody and scurrying about in a 

 fashion which seemed dangerous to his excited 

 head. 



As I watched this little assembly, which seemed 

 to be asking, " What's up? What's up?" the 

 meaning of it suddenly dawned on me like a sur- 

 prising discovery. When I entered the opening 

 I knew simply that birds or beasts would draw 

 near if they found me quiet ; before I left it I had 

 found the explanation: that all the wood folk are 

 intensely curious, as curious as so many human 

 gossips, but without any of their malice; that 

 by inner compulsion they are drawn to any strange 

 sight or sound, as a crowd collects when a man cuts 

 a caper or throws a fit or raises a whoop or looks 

 up into -the air, or does anything else out of the 

 ordinary. When you appear in the quiet woods 

 every bird or beast within sight or hearing is agog 

 to know about you; they are like the Nantucket- 

 Islanders, who named their one public hack the 

 "Who's Come?" Because you are a stranger, and 



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