172 East and West 
dreams under the sequoias. ‘That was a free 
and heroic world in which to wander with the 
gift of youth. How open it was; how resinous; 
how wild and fenceless and untrammelled! 
Western pines have more sap in them than the 
Eastern; they exude pitch and scent the air. 
They are more vigorous and rude and savage, 
as the landscape itself is more virile. Morning 
in the forest was fair and shining and wonder- 
ful—and life was like the morning. Great 
sugar pines beckoned with their long arms 
outstretched in the blue, and Youth could not 
but follow. Day by day new giants loomed 
ahead and beckoned—into the sunshine and 
the shadow, into the silence of the forest. 
Not only the pines allured, but every stream 
cried “Follow me’”’; the wild doves calling 
in the twilight said, ‘Over here’; and every 
purple ridge whispered, ‘“Come up! Come 
up!’’ Ah, well! they were illusive voices, but 
Youth feeds on illusion and is happy for an 
hour; and doubtless I shall never find any 
other will-o’-the-wisp it pays so well to follow. 
