OUR COUNTRY LIFE 



"Yes, and I 've wanted for such a long time to photo- 

 graph some young herons." 



How we came close enough to watch the mother 

 bird go to the nest and leave again, how we slid over 

 slippery hummocks to reach the desired tree, how with 

 infinite pains we took out those two herons, kodaked 

 them, and replaced them in the dilapidated nest, how 

 the mother watched us from a neighboring branch and 

 comforted her recovered darlings with choice bits of 

 fish — all this forms an experience long to be re- 

 membered. So whenever this enthusiastic nature- 

 lover comes to us we always try to reserve one day for 

 the marshes ; and sometime we hope not only to see the 

 bittern again in his haunts but also to hear his far- 

 famed "love-song," a curious sort of noise that gives 

 him his name of "Thunder-pumper." 



Beside a clear bit of water about twenty-five miles 

 away lives a colony of boys learning by self-government 

 to be able men and honorable citizens. The drive over 

 is through upland and meadow with enchanting pic- 

 tures at each fresh turn; but the encouragement and in- 



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