38 Our Araby 



that is a mistake. Speaking for myself, the finest 

 sleep I ever enjoyed was when for a month or so 

 I spread my blankets on the bank of the Tahquitz 

 ditch. With two or three inches of dry brush for 

 mattress, the air cool, still, and sweet with fifty 

 herby essences, Itie moon and stars stealing by on 

 tiptoe so as not to wake me, and Tahquitz telling 

 strange old bits of earth-lore under its breath within 

 a foot or so of my ear — that was sleep as sleep was 

 meant to be. And then to wake up to a desert sun- 

 rise! You positively should try it. 



