THE FORESTS OF THE YOSEMITE PARK 133 



around a sequoia camp-fire. Next day we rode 

 through the magnificent forests of the Merced 

 basin, and I kept calling his attention to the 

 sugar pines, quoting his wood-notes, " Come 

 listen what the pine tree saith," etc., pointing out 

 the noblest as kings and high priests, the most 

 eloquent and commanding preachers of all the 

 mountain forests, stretching forth their century- 

 old arms in benediction over the worshiping con- 

 gregations crowded about them. He gazed in 

 devout admiration, saying but little, while his fine 

 smile faded away. 



Early in the afternoon, when we reached 

 Clark's Station, I was surprised to see the party 

 dismount. And when I asked if we were not 

 going up into the grove to camp they said: 

 " No ; it would never do to lie out in the night 

 air. Mr. Emerson might take cold; and you 

 know, Mr. Muir, that would be a dreadful 

 thing." In vain I urged, that only in homes and 

 hotels were colds caught, that nobody ever was 

 known to take cold camping in these woods, that 

 there was not a single cough or sneeze in all the 

 Sierra. Then I pictured the big climate-changing, 

 inspiring fire I would make, praised the beauty 

 and fragrance of sequoia flame, told how the 

 great trees would stand about us transfigured in 

 the purple light, while the stars looked down 

 between the great domes ; ending by urging them 

 to come on and make an immortal Emerson night 



