84 East and West 
east face is different from its north and west 
face. One is boreal, the other, vernal or 
austral. While this difference is not readily 
definable, the ground hemlock and the her- 
mit thrush confine themselves largely, if not 
altogether, to its boreal face. Birds are 
aware of more subtle distinctions than we, 
and the summer residents among them will 
linger in the autumn upon the austral or 
gracious side of the mountain, while the 
winter visitors will come first to its boreal 
face as being more agreeable to their wintry 
temperaments. 
That is a pleasant sanctuary upon the 
mountain top, where, under spruce and hem- 
locks, rocks and logs are so thickly carpeted 
with moss that the foot sinks noiselessly. 
On the leafy slopes below, protrude chimneys 
not unknown to the world but whose fame 
has not yet reached the top of the mountain, 
and not the faintest harmony or discord pene- 
trates to this peaceful hilltop. Consecrated 
to winter wren and hermit thrush, he who 
would enter must for the time be hermit too, 
and must approach silently to instantly slip 
into the background and lose himself in the 
shadows, there to listen, not to speak, to 
observe, not to be observed. One descends 
